Engaging Communities in the Design of Homes and Neighbourhoods in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Community engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand is a variable practice. Generally driven by local and central government, much of it could be described as superficial at worst and naïve at best. This paper sets out concerns with existing practice as evidenced by my own experiences working on projects with local and central government. Drawing heavily on Atawhai Tibble’s tips for engaging with Māori, I outline how we might move engagement towards meaningful practice that is rooted in the Aotearoa New Zealand context.