Effective measures to ensure everyone has access to a decent home must give
particular attention to disadvantaged individuals, communities and populations.
Services, facilities and infrastructure
Housing must ensure facilities essential for health, security and comfort, including for
New Zealand’s rural and remote communities. For example, residents should have
access to safe drinking water, sanitation and washing facilities, refuse disposal and
emergency services, and energy for heating, lighting and cooking.
Location
Housing must allow access to employment options, healthcare services, schools
including te reo education, childcare and other social facilities, including for New
Zealand’s rural and remote communities. Housing should not be so close to pollution
sources that inhabitants’ health is jeopardized.
Respect for cultural diversity
Housing has a very important cultural dimension. In Aotearoa New Zealand, which
aspires to a dynamic inclusive multiculturalism grounded on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, this
dimension is crucial. For example, Māori, Pacific people and numerous culturally
diverse communities have models of living that include the extended family (whānau
or aiga). The national housing system is required to reflect our cultural diversity and
Te Tiriti foundations: one model does not suit all. Also, regeneration and other
projects must not sacrifice places of special cultural significance.6
Security of tenure
Everyone should have security of tenure which guarantees legal protection, including
due process in relation to eviction, discrimination, harassment and other unfair
treatment. Tenure, which has a cultural dimension, takes a variety of forms,
including Māori systems of land tenure, owner-occupation, rental (public and
private), individual and collective, cooperative housing, social housing and
emergency housing. It should take account of the interests of children, at-risk adults,
all family types, and people of all abilities, stages of life and cultures. Tenure places
obligations on all parties, including tenants who have a responsibility to treat with
respect other occupiers, landlords, neighbours and their community.
52. Conclusion. One way for individuals, communities, government and the private
sector to implement the UN ‘decency’ housing principles is to promote universal
design. Universal design advances inclusive, accessible, healthy buildings and
environments, and respect for cultural diversity.7 It considers people throughout
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