Throughout November, planners, policymakers and the public will gather around the country to look at how to plan and build in ways that create more connected communities.

This month Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities (BBHTC) - Ko ngā wā kāinga hei whakamāhorahora - is sponsoring a number of key events to inform how we deliver affordable, healthy homes, create attractive, functional urban neighbourhoods and build Māori housing.

The activity kicks off today at the Australia and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools (ANZAPS) conference at the University of Waikato.

The two-day event features urban planning academia from Australia. Professor Nicola Gurran and Professor Jago Dobson are the keynoter speakers.

The event is focusing on what is needed to enable planners to give the public what we say we want.

BBHTC programme leader Dr Kay Saville-Smith will host a panel discussion on planning and housing with Professor Gurran from the University of Sydney this afternoon while Professor Jago from RMIT University in Melbourne will open day two with his address.

“It’s important that we look deeply at the architecture of decision-making and the processes we follow to plan and build our homes, towns and cities in ways that enable communities to thrive,” says Challenge Director, Ruth Berry. “This conference brings together some of the brightest minds to work together in planning for better outcomes.”

Māori housing solutions are also firmly on the agenda. Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawahia plays host to the annual National Maaori Housing ConferenceNational Maaori Housing Conference, which takes place from 13 - 15 November, 2018.

Simultaneously, the University of Auckland will host the 2018 International Indigenous Research Conference, at Waipapa Marae. Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Te Maanaki O Te Marae programme will present parts of their research during a workshop at the pre-conference day on 12 November 2018.

Finally, at the end of the month, Taranaki will host the Kaumatua Service Providers Conference from 20 - 22 November 2018.

“This is a significant month for everyone involved in Māori housing,” explains Challenge Director Māori, Dr Jessica Hutchings. “We are all looking at solutions that allow us to build self-determined spaces fit-for-purpose for our communities. We are excited about the potential of what is to come because ultimately this is about getting more Māori into homes.”

Since BBHTC launched in May 2016, the Challenge has funded more than 100 research projects - from scientists across both public and private institutions - into New Zealand’s built environment.

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