GLOBAL INDIGENOUS & NATIONAL MĀORI HOUSING CONFERENCE
A BIENNIAL EVENT HELD THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS
The History of the National Māori Housing Conference
The National Māori Housing Conference is a cornerstone of Māori housing advocacy. It unites iwi, government, and community stakeholders to tackle housing challenges and share innovative solutions. Since its inception, it has been a platform for collaboration, reflection, and progress, fostering a shared vision of better housing outcomes for whānau Māori.
The journey began in 2010 when a hui at Tamatekapua Whare Tūpuna on Te Papa-ī-Ōuru Marae in Rotorua mandated the establishment of Te Matapihi He Tirohanga Mō Te Iwi Charitable Trust. Officially launched at the first National Māori Housing Conference in Waitangi in 2012, Te Matapihi became the national peak body for Māori housing, advocating for whānau Māori and acting as a conduit between Māori and the Crown.
This biennial conference has grown into a vital tradition, hosted across Aotearoa with unique themes and milestones:
2014 (Whanganui): A platform for housing showcases and Tariana Turia’s $16M rural housing funding announcement.
2016 (Tauranga-Moana): Focused on Māori housing strategies and Indigenous perspectives, drawing 300+ attendees.
2018 (Waikato-Tainui): Centred on resilience and rebuilding, with over 400 attendees engaging in transformative kōrero.
2021 (Ngāti Kahungunu): Highlighted papakāinga successes and Māori-led solutions despite COVID-19 challenges.
2023 (Ngāti Whakaūe, Te Arawa): With 800 attendees, it marked a return to Rotorua and celebrated Te Matapihi’s roots.
Through the years, the conference has showcased best practices, advocated for funding, and strengthened partnerships. It celebrates Māori leadership and innovation while providing a space to reflect on achievements and co-create solutions for the future.
The 2025 National Māori Housing Conference returns to its origins in Waitangi, hosted by Ngāpuhi from 20th–24th October. With the theme “Toitū te Tiriti” and inspired by Tā Himi Henare’s whakataukī, the event will focus on systemic change, delivering safe and mana-enhancing kāinga for whānau Māori, and showcasing indigenous leadership on a global scale.
Join us in Kotahitanga as we honour the past and shape the future of housing for whānau Māori and Indigenous communities worldwide.
Stay tuned for updates on the programme, registrations and sponsorship options.
NATIONAL MĀORI HOUSING CONFERENCE ARCHIVES
