Huaki “To bring to Light”
Edition 26
Friday, November 28, 2025
Building the Future: Reflections from the National Māori Housing Conference 2025
T
he National Māori Housing Conference 2025 at Waitangi marked a powerful turning point for Māori led housing. Over three days, voices from across Aotearoa and the world gathered on Ngāpuhi whenua to share solutions, restore connections, and strengthen the collective drive to build homes rooted in whakapapa. From the outset, the conference carried a tone of collaboration and momentum. Te Matapihi and the Ngāpuhi Group led a well organised and culturally grounded event that balanced policy discussions with community driven kōrero. The pōhiri at Te Tii Marae and the workshops across Te Whare Rūnanga and Waitaha Conference Centre reminded attendees that true housing solutions begin with whakapapa and mana whenua. During the pōhiri, the taumata spoke of the need for Māori to return their skills and pūkenga to their hapū and iwi. A wero was laid, challenging Māori housing professionals to ensure that the knowledge and kōrero shared throughout the conference would not end as talk alone, but lead to tangible outcomes that benefit the people. This message set a powerful tone that carried through the following days of discussions and presentations. A highlight was the strong line up of international speakers who brought a global Indigenous lens to housing and design. Their perspectives reinforced that the challenges faced by Māori are shared across many Indigenous nations, yet so too are the strengths, creativity, and resilience found in community led approaches. One of the most inspiring shifts was the visible growth of taitamariki representation. The number of Māori under 30 engaging in kōrero, design, and planning was noticeably higher than in previous years. Their contributions reflected a fresh perspective, one that blends innovation with tikanga and a sense of responsibility for the generations to come. Architectural and design professionals brought technical insight into conversations once dominated by funding and policy. This broadened scope highlights the growing recognition that design thinking and mātauranga Māori must sit side by side in creating sustainable papakāinga and community spaces.
Local pakihi had space and representation throughout the event, adding to its sense of community and connectedness. Their involvement underscored the importance of supporting Māori enterprise as an integral part of the housing conversation. Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services (NISS) Haukainga Podcast Caravan was onsite capturing kōrero throughout the conference. The team recorded reflections on what housing means to Māori today, from papakāinga aspirations to accessible housing for whaikaha Māori. This year’s strong whaikaha representation added depth to discussions, ensuring accessibility remains central to both design and policy. The NMHC also provided a valuable opportunity to connect with others across the industry. While some new relationships were
formed, the real strength was in reconnecting and deepening existing partnerships. In the busyness of everyday work, it is rare to have genuine space to kōrero, reflect, and listen. The conference created that space, reinforcing the importance of collaboration over competition and highlighting how much more can be achieved when people work together. Delivering a conference of this size in a region without major event infrastructure highlighted the strength of relationships across Te Tai Tokerau. It was a testament to what can be achieved when communities, providers, and kaupapa driven teams work together with a shared purpose. Perhaps the most encouraging outcome has been the ripple effect that has followed. Hapū have already begun taking steps toward
developing their own housing strategies inspired by the kōrero and examples shared during the conference. These localised movements reflect the event’s core message, that the power to transform Māori housing lies with the people themselves. The National Māori Housing Conference 2025 was a call to action, not just conversation. The collective commitment, leadership, and unity displayed at Waitangi have set a clear direction: Māori housing futures are strongest when they are led by Māori, informed by whakapapa, and driven by the shared belief that every whānau deserves a home grounded in identity and belonging.