Supporting improved housing and living conditions

A healthy home is important for the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. There are groups of people in Aoteaora who have worse health outcomes due to less control over the quality, type, affordability, and occupancy of their homes, especially:

• people with disabilites;
• renters in private of social housing;
• Maori and Pasifika;
• individuals or families on low incomes;
• families with infants;
• elderly people on fixed incomes;
• solo parents; and
• people with complex health or mental health needs.

Aoteoroa is also experiencing a “housing crisis” with some of the least affordable and poorest quality housing in the world. Our national Building Code is behind other comparable countries and there has been persistent under supply of the housing needed for our communities.

• Find out about housing outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development).

The National Public Health Service in Canterbury has identified six key areas where supporting better housing outcomes will improve health and wellbeing:

1. Ensuring equitable outcomes for renters in social and private housing.
2. Increasing appropriate housing options for people with disabilities.
3. Reducing harm to those with hoarding behaviours.
4. Collaborating for solutions to address energy poverty.
5. Supporting solutions for financial disadvantage.
6. Coordinating the housing sector, so it is more responsive to needs.

Find out about how Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health deals with insanitary housing issues, such as hoarding behaviours.

Documents and Links

Home heating and seasonal concerns

• Stay warm and well this winter (Community and Public Health 2019).
• Understanding the magic of curtains (Beacon Pathway, the Home Performance Advisor Training Programme and BRANZ).
• Consumer Winter Heating Guide (Consumer 2017) – mobile and tablet friendly-version also available.
• How choose a heat pump and use it wisely (GenLess).

• Unflued gas heaters (Ministry of Health).
• Home Heating (Environment Canterbury).
• Keeping your child’s bedroom warm (Kids Health).
• Tips to use less energy in your home (GenLess).
• Stay cool and well this summer (Community and Public Health 2019).

Dealing with mould and damp homes

• Mould Removal (Christchurch City Council).
• The effects of mould on your health (The Conversation).

Housing standards and building energy efficient homes

• Healthy Home Standards (Tenancy Services NZ).
• Build a climate-friendly house (Gen Less).
• Healthier Homes Canterbury (Environment Canterbury).

Housing affordability and homelessness

• Small Homes are our Past and Future: Hapū Experiences and Aspirations (Building Better Homes, Town and Cities – National Science Challenge 2024).
• The Experience of Homemaking in Unaffordable and Precarious Housing (Building Better Homes, Town and Cities – National Science Challenge 2024).
• Kāinga Kore: The Stage One Report of the Housing Policy and Services Kaupapa Inquiry on Māori Homelessness  – Wai 2750 (Waitangi Tribunal 2024).
• Homelessness and human rights: A review of the emergency housing system in Aotearoa New Zealand (Human Rights Commission 2022).
• 24 month progress report on the Homelessness Action Plan (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 2022).
• Te Tapeke Fair Futures in Aotearoa: Spotlight on housing (Royal Society Te Apārangi 2021).
• Housing-related experiences of families with young children in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand (Ministry of Social Development 2021).
• Youth’19: Brief on Housing Deprivation (University of Auckland 2021).
• Where will we live in the future? Research into the Unmet Housing Needs of People with Disabilities, their Family and Whānau (Disability Connect 2021).

• Somewhere to live: Exploring solutions to the housing affordability crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand (Helen Clark Foundation 2020).
• Severe housing deprivation in Aotearoa New Zealand 2018 (He Kāinga Oranga/ Housing and Health Research Programme at University of Otago 2020).
• Aotearoa New Zealand Homeless Action Plan: Phase One 2020-2023 (Ministries of Housing and Social Development 2019).
• No fixed abode and support services: A free directory of Christchurch accommodation and service for people without a safe, secure home (Christchurch City Council 2019).
• Measuring the impact of social housing placement on wellbeing (Social Investment Agency 2019).
• Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey.

Key regional documents

• Enabling Spaces: Supporting older people who hoard in Canterbury (Canterbury DHB 2020 – 6MB).
• Our Space 2018-2048: Greater Christchurch Settlement Pattern Update 2018 -2019 (Greater Christchurch Partnership).
• Health Impact Assessment: Review of Environment Canterbury’s Air Plan (Community and Public Health).
• Canterbury DHB’s position on home heating and air quality.

Key national documents

• Premiums Under Pressure: How climate change is reshaping residential property insurance and what to do about it (Helen Clark Foundation and WSP 2024).
• Healthy Homes Initiative: Three year outcomes evaluation (Te Whatu Ora 2022).
• Report on housing and retirement among Pacific Peoples in Aotearoa (Ministry for Pacific People 2022).
• Warmer Kiwis Study: Interim Report – An impact evaluation of the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency 2022).
• MAIHI Ka Ora: National Māori Housing Strategy Implementation Plan (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 2022).
• MAIHI Ka Ora: National Māori Housing Strategy (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 2021).

• Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 2021).
• Māori housing investment (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 2021).
• Public Housing Plan 2021-2024 (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 2021).
• Housing in Aotearoa 2020 (Stats NZ).
• A Stocktake of New Zealand’s Housing – February 2018 (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment).
• BRANZ Housing Condition Survey.

Tips for keeping cool and energy conscious this summer

Dealing with hot and humid days in summer can present some issues. You might need to keep your house cool without needing to blast your heat pump.

• Find out how to stay cool and well this summer (Community and Public Health).
• Get tips for keeping your house cool this summer (Community Energy Action).
• Get tips on saving on your power bill during summer (Community Energy Action).

Summer is also a good time to check your insulation and address any issues – so that you are ready before winter.

How to find a healthy rental property

You may be looking for a new flat this year especially as the beginning of the university academic year approaches.

Use this PDF tenant checklist to help you find a healthy rental (Raise the Standard).

Warmer Kiwi Homes Tool

Find out if you are eligible for a grant for heating or home insulation and connect with a service provider for a no-obligation quote.