HOUSE PARTY was a series of events (panel discussions, exhibitions, walking tour, film screenings etc.) on the topic of houses and housing. Here is a record of HOUSE PARTY 2014.

Collaborators

Programme

MONDAY 1 September 2014

Housing for older people: what are the options? (45-60min)
[venue: 12.30pm Wellington Museum of City and Sea]

Chair: Christine McCarthy

Panelists: Judith Davey (Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, VUW); Vicki McLaren, (Wellington City Council); Peter Matcham (Grey Power); Derek Wilson, retired architect

Like many western nations, New Zealand has an ageing demographic – that is to say an increasing percentage of our population will be over 65 years. Statistics NZ has predicted that the 65+ age group will make up over 25% of NZ’s population from the late 2030s. In 2005 this age group constituted 12% of New Zealand’s population. Population ageing highlights an issue which, while affecting more of us in the future, is also of significance today: how to provide appropriate housing for older people.

TUESDAY 2 September 2014

Building Homes, Transforming Lives
[venue: 8am-5pm WCC foyer, 101 Wakefield St; until Friday 12 September]

An exhibition of Wellington’s council housing from the 1920s until today.

NZFA Screening: Design & Architecture (60 min approx.)
[venue: Nga Taonga Sound & Vision]

cost: $6

This screening includes a wide selection from films on design, houses and housing over the three decades of the 1940s through to the 1960s.

includes excerpts from:
Things we are fighting for: homes for free people (1941)
Weekly Review 145 (1944)
Weekly Review 176 (1945)
Housing in New Zealand (1946)
New Zealand Mirror No. 4 (1950)
Weekly Review 455 (1950)
Pictorial Parade 28 (1954)
Pictorial Parade 62 (1957)
Pictorial Parade 92 (1959)
New Zealand Mirror No. 26 (MK4) (1959)
A World to Walk on (1961)
Pictorial Parade 193 (1967)
Christchurch Architecture (1969)

Designing the wind out of housing (45-60min)
[venue: 12.30pm Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queen’s Wharf, Jervois Quay]

Chair: Matthew Lander

Presenters: Mike Donn (School of Architecture, VUW) + Luke Price (Beca)

Wind is the environmental aspect which is most often associated with Wellington. It is something we live with, but also something that our built environment can help ameliorate or can exacerbate. This lunchtime talk will look at the relationship between Wellington’s wind and our architecture, with a specific emphasis on research looking at how design can lessen the negative impacts of wind on domestic outdoor spaces.

WEDNESDAY 3 September 2014

NZFA Screening: Design & Architecture (60 min approx.)
[venue: 12.15pm Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, cnr Ghuznee & Taranaki Sts]

cost: $6

This screening includes a wide selection from films on design, houses and housing over the three decades from the 1940s through to the 1960s.

Housing Students in our City (45-60min)
[venue: 12.30pm Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queen’s Wharf, Jervois Quay]

Chair: Nick Denton (student, School of Architecture, VUW)

Panelists: Maria Goncalves-Rorke (Manager, Financial Support and Advice, Student Services); Daniel Haines, President, NZ University Students’ Association; Amy Heise (Business Manager, 222 Willis); Rick Zwaan (Welfare Vice President, VUWSA)

With Massey University, Victoria University and WelTec all having inner-city campuses, students from Wellington’s teritary institutions are a vital part of our city. Student housing takes various forms, including residential halls, homestays, and flatting, and, especially with student flats, it can some times be hugely varying in quality. This panel discussion will involve people employed by tertiary institutions who manage student accommodation, as well as students themselves to discuss issues, challenges and successes in student housing.

Building Homes, Transforming Lives
[venue: 8am-5pm WCC foyer, 101 Wakefield St; until Friday 12 September]

An exhibition of Wellington’s council housing from the 1920s until today.

THURSDAY 4 September

The Future of NZ Housing (45-60min)
[venue: 12.30pm Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queen’s Wharf, Jervois Quay]

Chair: Kate Linzey

Panelists: Pam Bell (Prefab NZ); Morris Altman (School of Economic and Finance, VUW); Jason Strawbridge (Barrier Free)

Housing is a topic which has been in the headlines frequently in recent years, often in terms of affordability and supply. It seems from these accounts that provision of housing will be a challenge for years to come. This panel discussion will include experts from the building industry, and in universal design, and economics to consider what really are the issues which will affect and determine the future of housing in New Zealand.

Mickey Mouse with Prime Minister of New Zealand, Robert Muldoon, in the Prime Minister’s office at the Beehive. Mr Muldoon is holding a jar of jellybeans that had been presented to him by Mickey Mouse. Photograph taken 28 January 1982 by an Evening Post staff photographer. [ATL : EP/1982/0277/9a-F]

Politicans on Housing
[venue: 7.30pm LT1, School of Architecture, VUW, 139 Vivian Street]

Chair: Maria Bargh (Te Kawa a Māui, VUW)

Confirmed politicans and candidates include: Chris Bishop (National), Ngaire Button (Māori Party), Gordon Copeland (Conservatives), Grant Robertson (Labour), David Stonyer (United Future), and Holly Walker (Green Party).

The parties’ housing policies are available at: http://architecture.org.nz/events/house-party/house-party-political-party-housing-policies/

Building Homes, Transforming Lives
[venue: 8am-5pm WCC foyer, 101 Wakefield St; until Friday 12 September]

An exhibition of Wellington’s council housing from the 1920s until today.

FRIDAY 5 September

Getting Council Housing Right (45-60min)
[venue: 12.30pm Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queen’s Wharf, Jervois Quay]

Chair: Jules Molony (HoS, School of Architecture, VUW)

Panelists: Andrews Banks (Studio of Pacific Architecture); Vicki McLaren, (Wellington City Council); Gary Nichols (Urban Plus Ltd); Simon Novak (Novak+Middleton)

Wellington City Council has been involved in the provision of housing since the 1920s. In 2008 the council began a joint 20-year project with central government to upgrade its social housing. In 2007 Hutt City Council transferred its housing portfolio to Urban Plus, a council controlled trading organisation, using a structure different to WCC to manage its social housing stock. This panel discussion will include people involved in providing social housing from both councils, and some of the architects working on the WCC housing upgrades.

Building Homes, Transforming Lives
[venue: 8am-5pm WCC foyer, 101 Wakefield St; until Friday 12 September]

An exhibition of Wellington’s council housing from the 1920s until today.

SATURDAY 6 September 2014

Residential Mt Victoria: Historical All-sorts (2 hours)
[venue: 1-3pm meet on the cnr Austin & Majoribanks Streets, Mt Victoria (The walk will finish in Pirie Street near the dairy/No. 2 bus stop.)]

Take a guided tour of part of this inner-city suburb with Mt Victoria Historical Society convenor, Joanna Newman, and learn more about the variety of residential options it has provided over the years since its European settlement in 1840. From buildings, to stories of residents and housing activism, the walk will reveal little-known facts about this densely-settled historic suburb.

Numbers are limited to ensure a good experience for all, so please rsvp via the Mt Victoria Historical Society website

Links

DESIGN STANDARDS

Housing NZ Warrant of Fitness trial

Guidance on Building Warrant of Fitness and Compliance Schedules (Department of Building and Housing)

Lifemark Design Standards

Living Standards NZ

New Zealand Green Building Council

Universal Design Further Information (BRANZ)

HOUSING EXAMPLES

SOCIAL HOUSING ORGANISATIONS

Community Housing Aotearoa

Council of Social Service Dunedin

Housing NZ

Social Housing Unit (SHU)

Urban Plus Ltd

WCC Social Housing

Ministry of Social Development Social Housing

RESEARCH

Demographic Aspects of NZ’s Ageing Population (Statistics NZ)

Healthy Housing (He Kainga Oranga)

Ministry of Social Development Mental Health and Housing Research

MEDIA REPORTS

“Nick Smith pilloried at housing forum” New Zealand Herald (3 Seeptmber 2014)

Niall, Todd “Clash over Auckland Housing Solutions” Radio New Zealand (3 September 2014)

Nichols, Lane “New Zealand housing among the most overvalued in the world” New Zealand Herald (2 September 2014)

“Homeless overwhelm Auckland trust” Radio New Zealand (31 August 2014)

Anderson, Penny “Can a new guide and app ensure a happy flatshare?” The Guardian (31 August 2014)

“Housing – Crisis of Challenge?” article on “Primetime with Sean Plunket” Prime (29 August 2014)

Gibson, Anne “Landlords complain about bank loan tactics” New Zealand Herald (27 August 2014)

Vance, Andrea ““Homes still out of reach under Labour”” Dominion Post (27 August 2014)

“Labour’s house-build plan a “wish list”” Radio New Zealand (27 August 2014)

Chapman, Katie “Special housing areas targeted for new builds” Dominion Post (27 August 2014)

Chaplin, David “Inside Money: National messes KiwiSaver house rules” New Zealand Herald (26 August 2014)

Watkins, Tracey “National offers $20k kick-start for homeowners” Dominion Post (24 August 2014)

“National unveils new housing policy” Radio New Zealand (24 August 2014)

“Report sees housing shortage for NZ” Radio New Zealand (24 August 2014)

“No housing crisis” Q+A TVNZ (24 August 2014)
Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Labour’s Phil Twyford debate the housing issue

“Housing Debate Part 2” Q+A TVNZ (24 August 2014)
National’s Dr Nick Smith and Labour’s Phil Twyford debate the housing issue

“Govt pressuring Housing NZ – analyst” Radio New Zealand (26 April 2014)

“Housing NZ Complex gets thumbs up” New Zealand Herald (27 March 2014)

“Rental housing “warrant of fitness” trial announced” Voxy.co.nz (16 December 2013)

OTHER

Age Concern: Blog

Age Concern: Housing and Care

Construction of a Nation: NZ Post history of houses stamps

Energywise (EECA)

Information on Tenancy (Department of Building and Housing)

“Housing” beehive.govt.nz: the official website of the New Zealand Government

“New Zealand Estate Guide” ENZ

WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities

Transforming Cities: Innovations for Sustainable Futures

ELECTION INFORMATION ETC.

Electoral Commission

TVNZ VoteCompass

On the Fence

Political Parties Housing Policies

Films

The following are links to digitised films of party political broadcasts about housing and the built environment from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision‘s catalogue.

Launch

PROGRAMME: 4.30-5.30PM 22 May 2015

4.30 Affordable Housing
LAUNCHPAD 1 4.40 Te Papa’s earthquake house
LAUNCHPAD 2 4.50 The recently opened National War Memorial Park, Pukeahu
LAUNCHPAD 3 5.00 The proposed Airways Tower
LAUNCHPAD 4 5.10 City to Sea bridge: should it stay or should it go?
LAUNCHPAD 5 5.20 Why Wellington is a fabulous city, GIVEALITTLE

CHRISTINE: Hi everyone, good you can join us to launch our latest fund-raising efforts. Welcome along. We are about to start on Launch Pad 1 with a discussion on affordable housing. Victoria and I will keep you all up to speed with what is happening on each of the sites, while Duncan co-ordinates the discussion on these. We’ve got an action packed hour, and we already have raised $265 – so thanks everyone.

VICTORIA: The affordable housing discussion has started with Mark Southcombe discussing the gap between the haves and the have nots…

CHRISTINE: He’s definitely not impressed that the government has left housing supply to the market.

VICTORIA: Sam Donald has thinks the true cost of housing is not what it costs now.

CHRISTINE: Yep – definitely that conflict between short term and long term costs – no doubt they’ll get into transport, infrastructure and land costs soon. Nigel Case is about to say something.

VICTORIA: We’re yet to hit the jackpot with the money so join the other donors and givealittle now.

CHRISTINE: Yep, those 5 generous donors are looking a bit lonely.

VICTORIA: We’ve started the discussion on the Te Papa Earthquake House on Launch Pad 2

CHRISTINE: Ben (8yrs) has given a fabulous image of a shaky and possibly perspiring earthquake house. I think it looks a bit nervous.

VICTORIA: Back at Affordable Housing Nigel C is talking about the disconnect between the house buyer, the renter and new home construction. And Sam K agrees with Mark and mentions Thomas Picketty’s work that suggests increasing concentration of wealth will just make the housing problem worse.

VICTORIA: Lisa can’t talk yet but she can imagine what it would feel like in an earthquake.

CHRISTINE: so she’s a frequent vistor to Te Papa is she?

VICTORIA: There’s a great video from Rose (5 and a half) and Alannah (5), there’s a lot of shaking going on.

CHRISTINE: Yes … back to the more serious corner of the debate, things are getting quite detailed in affordable housing. Nigel Case has noted that strategies seem to be reaction. What is also apparent is that these guys have been thinking carefully about these issues in some detail. Over on Launch Pad 3, the discussion about the recently opened Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is about to start.

VICTORIA: And remember to go to the givealittle to donate.

CHRISTINE: Right, the conversation on Memorial Park is quite concise, but good to see a definite contrast in views appearing. The word slick seems to be a relevant one. and of course there’s a bit of that ongoing desire for Gummer’s avenue down to the waterfront.

VICTORIA: I have to admit I am yet to visit the site, the photos look ok.

CHRISTINE: I think what Victoria is trying to say is that she is not a superficial person and she cares deeply about the built environment of Wellington and that MCH take a good photo.

VICTORIA: Back at the earthquake house, Lewis has posted a rather dark image of the earthquake house.

CHRISTINE: Yep it’s quite accurate all that brown colour must be the darkness inside – it’s just like the youtube video of it.

VICTORIA: No one has responded to our call for donations, perhaps everyone is too busy following the discussions about affordable housing, earthquake houses and memorial park.

CHRISTINE: No they are all just working hard – but now it’s just gone five no doubt the money will start pouring in.

VICTORIA: There is a lot of discussion on affordable housing, obviously it’s a very important topic for people.

CHRISTINE: Well it has entertained politicians for well over a century. It’s great to see the detail and depth on thinking. The Airways Tower debate has just started on Launch Pad 4. Not too many kind words yet.

VICTORIA: James thinks the proposed tower is definitely a missed opportunity to be aspirational.

CHRISTINE: Yeah I have to admit I find it a bit of an anti-climax. Pete Wood has described it as an office block liberated from the 1980s.

VICTORIA: Christine I see you think it’s a two dimensional gimmick.

CHRISTINE: It’s certainly a first reaction. I guess simple extrusions need exquisite design to be compelling.

VICTORIA: Perhaps more time was needed to develop the design. Meanwhile the debate on whether the city-to-sea bridge should stay or go has started on Launch Pad 5. Gerald thinks it should stay and Guy thinks it should go or at least be designed better.

CHRISTINE: I quite like the City to Sea bridge – it seems to be a good start to the whole philosophy of the waterfront as not being afraid of testing things and potentially making mistakes, which could also be a symptom of a progressive attitude to the city. Would be a shame for it to go – don’t you think?

VICTORIA: I think there is potential for a better, more direct visual connection similar to post office square. We’re almost at the end of the fundraising virtual launch party and now discussion will look at what makes Wellington great. For me it’s the walkability of the city.

CHRISTINE: You’re a walking submission – I must have a much more simple brain – I love the wind – Wellington is a place that never lets you forget that it’s alive. But we also have some thoughts about others re: Wellington. Alan Smith – a long time chair of the Civic Trust until recently says Wellington is a great place to live because of its …

“Geography; climate; compact CBD; coastlines; national capital. Wellington – and by Wellington I mean that part of NZ recognized as such from elsewhere in NZ and from abroad, so including Kapiti, Eastbourne, and all the other places within the Metlink network – has all of these and they combine together in a delightful and inspirational way. Sure, it’s usually been my home town, and was the hometown of several generations before me, so that adds an extra dimension. but what makes Wellington great is the way all these things interact and come together. Geography places hills, coast and flat spaces close together; climate is “bracing” in a way which actually encourages close human contact; compact CBD is a real feature, of lead public and private sector entities as well as diverse retail and exciting entrepreneurial ventures; coastlines range from the rugged (south coast) to the tranquil (Oriental Bay, Paremata) ; national capital incorporates both the ceremonial and the actual essence of sovereign independence. A fine mixture held together my imaginative architecture, good transport connections and great people who enjoy being here. Let’s celebrate those interconnections!”

and finally a word from the Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown

“Wellington is an amazing city with quirky corners, dramatic landscapes and friendly people from many cultures. What makes the capital great is its compactness, making it the most walkable city in Australasia, its wealth of reserves, making it a rich natural capital, and its excellent visual and performing arts. This cool little capital has an array of national institutions including Parliament, Te Papa, National Library, National Portrait Gallery & Turnbull Library. My perfect day in Wellingyon is kayaking on the South Coast first thing, cycling to work to talk to people in smart jobs about exciting new projects, eating at our Cuba night market and then going to the ballet to see a worldclass premiere! Ka rawe Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui.”

Thanks everyone for tuning in – and helping us virtually launch the site.

Christine, Victoria and Duncan.