Multi-stakeholder perspectives of housing intensification and adequacy in Selwyn District: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Lincoln University

Abstract

The New Zealand housing crisis discourse is dominated by affordability concerns, often overlooking the equally important issue of housing adequacy. While the government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) is promoted as a key solution to address the supply shortage and affordability, its potential to deliver adequate housing remains underexplored. The study explores how housing intensification in Selwyn District can be implemented to advance housing adequacy, drawing on the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. Qualitative methodology including semi-structured interviews with embedded case study was conducted with four local developers, three professionals and two local residents from Selwyn District. The findings of the interviews reveal that stakeholders’ understandings of housing adequacy are subjective and deeply shaped by lived experience, rather than static policy definitions. The findings identify a significant tension between the one-size-fits-all MDRS policy and peri-urban contexts like Selwyn District. The main critique of the MDRS is its emphasis on housing quantities rather than housing adequacy (housing quality). Key obstacles to implement intensification in Selwyn District identified by local key stakeholders include council consenting delays, high development contributions and a lack of infrastructure. However, incorporating with housing adequacy is a way to achieve successful intensification in Selwyn District from this research. This research concludes that to implement intensification successfully in Selwyn District, a genuine partnership with local key stakeholders is needed to develop a mandatory, context-specific design guides that bridge the gap between national policy and local adequacy needs. A national Housing Adequacy Standards akin to the Healthy Homes Standards is recommended to the central government to ensure providing more adequate houses.