Tomorrow, the UN Special Rapporteur, Leilani Farha, will meet with a group of Māori leaders in this sector who have diverse housing needs and aspirations, with a specific focus on sharing critical insights, experiences and challenges for iwi Māori in achieving adequate housing.

“The unaffordability and lack of adequate housing, short term tenancies and frequent changes in social-economic circumstances of whānau means that they are often isolated and unable to secure safe and affordable homes that are connected to their communities,” says, Prof Jenny Lee-Morgan. “This is an important opportunity to describe our experiences, as well as voice our solutions to the UN Rapporteur”, adds Rau Hoskins, Chairperson of Te Matapihi.

The UN Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to examine and report on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. UN Special Rapporteur is visiting New Zealand from 10-19 February to assess developments in housing in Aotearoa, as well as challenges and gaps in the protection and promotion of the right to adequate housing.

Te Matapihi he tirohanga mō te Iwi Trust and Ngā Wai a Te Tūī Māori Research Centre will co-host Leilani Farha at Ngā Wai a te Tui, Unitec on Friday 14 February between 10.00 – 11.30 am.

She will present her preliminary findings and recommendations at a press conference in Wellington on Wednesday 19 February.

Mauri ora,

Rau Hoskins, Chairperson Te Matapihi

Phone: 021 658 019

Email:

Professor Jenny Lee-Morgan, Director of Ngā Wai a Te Tūī Māori Research Centre

Phone: 021598225

Email: