The Methodist Alliance gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau on 8 - 9 March, with housing as the focus of discussion. This was the first time the Alliance National Forum has had a single focus, and it provided an excellent opportunity to examine this critical issue in depth. There was a great deal of experience and expertise in the room and conversation over the two days was rich and productive.

MCNZ President Rev Peter Taylor, opened the Forum, and reminded us of the scriptural roots of the importance of having a home, and being secure in that home.

Jill Hawkey, Executive Director Christchurch Methodist Mission, gave an overview of current Methodist engagement in housing, which is extensive. Just how extensive was well illustrated by the range of people present, whose mahi spanned the housing continuum from supporting those experiencing long-term homelessness and in emergency and transitional housing, through to social housing and affordable home ownership.

On the first morning three people with expertise, experience, and critical current roles, in the housing sector addressed the forum.

Andrew Crisp, Chief Executive Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, spoke on the challenges of the current situation: not enough houses have been built over the last few decades; there is a serious infrastructure deficit to support new housing; and housing in Aotearoa has long been treated as a commodity rather than a right. He noted that the new Government’s housing strategy included planning regulations being set to release more land, a different and possibly more contestable model for social housing, and criteria being tightened around who can access emergency housing.

Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive Officer, Community Housing Aotearoa, spoke on the responsibilities of the ‘Article 3’ churches, that is, the Anglican, Methodist and Catholic churches, all of which were influential in the signing of Te Tiriti. All have a considerable amount of land, some of which is lying fallow, and they have financial resources, often in Trusts. The challenge for these churches is not only to be faithful stewards of this money, but also to be fruitful stewards, so that it is used to do good. This became a significant theme in conversations throughout the forum.

Ali Hamlin-Paenga, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Te Matapihi spoke on the work and long-term vision of Te Matapihi in helping Māori address housing insecurity. Homelessness for Māori begins with the loss of land and this needs to be addressed if the housing crisis for Māori is to be addressed. Ali referred to some great prototypes pursuing Māori-led solutions, including by organisations such as Toitū Tairāwhiti. She urged those present to explore partnership options with Māori.

In the afternoon session, Sam Stubbs, Chief Executive Officer of Simplicity, a non-profit fund manager, presented the model used by Simplicity to build homes, showing that it is feasible to build low-cost, high-quality homes as long-term rentals, and to support people into first homes with low-cost mortgages.

Setting the focus for our second day, General Secretary Rev Tara Tautari reflected on how, as a Connexional Church, Te Hāhi Weteriana can respond to the housing crisis. Tara reminded us that the Methodist Church called for a national housing programme back in 1936 and that a practical commitment to social justice is at the heart of our work. Housing must be built on whenua, and so the kōrero papatupu whenua, the land stories, of Methodist properties must be explored, and partnerships between tangata whenua and tauiwi developed.

Tara reminded us that Conference has asked parishes to consider land they have which may be suitable for social housing. It has also established a Methodist Housing Group as a contact point for parishes regarding land they may wish to be used for this purpose.

In plenary discussion about the difficulties of navigating Church channels to access land, and loan finance, Tara agreed to call the Housing Group and the Methodist Trust Association Board together in a roundtable to find a solution to the difficulties that Methodist community housing providers are currently experiencing.

It was also agreed that communication about housing within the Alliance should be strengthened, and that assistance should be given to parishes to help them to consider Conference’s challenge to look at their own land use.

As well as identifying challenges, the Forum heard about important signs of hope. In particular, Siaola is having great success supporting Pacific families to create pathways towards home ownership by assisting with savings plans and budgeting.

Participants came away from the Forum inspired to develop an action plan to address three critical questions: (i) What do we have to offer the government to serve the people? (ii) How can we work better as a Church to help build houses? (iii) How can we continue to work together as the Methodist Alliance to advance this Kaupapa?