Public Housing Design Guidance:
Ministry of Housing and Urban:
Development (HUD) is committed to working in partnership with Community Housing Providers to support new public housing that creates thriving communities with good quality homes that are warm, safe, and dry and where everyone has a place to call home.
HUD is working with Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and developers to increase the supply of new public housing. The demand for new public housing is at an all-time high, so we need to adopt a long-term approach that ensures all new homes are of good quality and fit for years of sustainable, comfortable living by their occupants. Public housing residents do not have the same degree of choice as to what type of house they live in as those New Zealanders in the private rental market; this guide has therefore been created with the needs of a broad range of future residents at heart, and our belief that everyone deserves a good quality home.
The aim of this guide is to provide direction on the desired level of amenity we want to promote in future long-term public housing which accesses the Income Related Rent Subsidy. Many of the specific design details relate to a general, rather than targeted resident cohort, with there being an ability to discuss any proposed variations with the HUD – New Supply team early in the process. This document should not be interpreted as strictly imposed standards, but rather as a guidance document for a collaborative design process.
HUD is also committed to embedding a kaupapa Māori approach in the way we engage with Māori, iwi, and whānau to deliver housing solutions. Kaupapa Māori approaches essentially provide for the practical application of mātauranga māori (indigenous knowledge) and Tikanga (customary values, protocols, and practices) in the delivery of housing outcomes. This may manifest in bespoke approaches to design, layout, and functionality which best reflect hau kāinga values and aspirations.
In that respect, this document should not be interpreted as strictly imposed standards, but as a starting point for a collaborative design process, HUD has adopted the MAIHI partnerships framework for engagement with Māori providers. HUD is committed to discussing any such developments as early as possible within the concept stage so that both Te Kāhui Kāinga Ora and the New Supply team can collaborate with the provider on their desired outcomes.
We want to work in partnership with all our Community Housing Providers across Aotearoa to deliver great housing outcomes for public housing residents.
This guide is a tool for Community Housing providers (CHPs) and developers to understand HUD’s design expectations by providing some measurable criteria for public housing catering for a general resident cohort. It is intended for use with a range of resources mentioned throughout the document.
It is expected that the resident cohort type, specific resident cohort needs, and the physical attributes of the development site will affect the design outcome. Variance from these guidelines is not prohibited but it is encouraged to discuss such variances with the HUD – New Supply team early in the design process.
Development controls are governed by several legislative regulations like the Building Act 2004, Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019, and the relevant district plans. These regulations take precedence over any guidance provided in this document.
This guide has been developed to provide guidance for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and developers who are seeking funding for public housing from Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Design Guide focuses on the requirements for the Fit for Purpose element of an application for public housing funding.