Ecology of community: Exploring principles of socially-based tenure in urban papakāinga and cohousing communities

Abstract

Social (or communal) tenure refers to systems of rights which are based on social norms, processes and relationships. Social tenures are a feature of many Indigenous cultures, where land and resources are managed from a collectivist, rather than an individualist, standpoint. For instance, in New Zealand, Māori society was traditionally based around territorial tribal living, with hapū (sub-tribes) controlling and defending particular territories. Western governance ushered in by Te Tiriti o Waitangi eroded this form of living by favouring individualised land tenure, and individualised tenure, private ownership and commodification have since tended to dominate the literature on housing and property. A danger of individualised systems is that they often separate land rights from social connections, responsibilities and relationships – you can be an unpleasant neighbour without compromising individual property rights. This begs the question of whether there are ways in which elements of socially-based tenure can be reintroduced within a contemporary context.

Based on a series of in-depth interviews, spatial analyses and field observations, this thesis investigates elements of socially-based tenure and how they are embodied in urban papakāinga (Māori housing) and cohousing communities. Despite differing origins, papakāinga and cohousing models share goals of enacting social facilitation, cohesion and whanaungatanga (relationships). Thus, a dialogue between the two models has merit in uncovering common lessons, as well as for identifying areas of tension and uniqueness. This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge as the first in-depth study exploring the similarities and differences of urban papakāinga and cohousing models, and highlights the diversity of residents’ lived experiences. This diversity suggests a regionality or specificity of community outcomes, beset by a few core, potentially universal, principles.

Findings from this thesis have the potential to inform the wider New Zealand planning and housing debate, and to inform future housing development in our cities, both by Māori and non-Māori, in more socially-connected ways.