Instant communities: an investigation into the mass state housing project in Porirua

Abstract

Over a brief period of time the government planned and built thousands of houses in New Zealand. They were built in various areas of the country in order to solve the problem of a housing shortage. This research looks specifically at one of these areas, Porirua. By building all these houses the government's actions would have many other implications. They were not only providing a roof over people's heads, weather they were aware of it or not, they were also building communities. I have called them 'instant communities' as massive amounts of houses were built in short periods of time. Never before in New Zealand had a community or city be formed in this 'unnatural' and pre determined way. By building large areas of housing in whatever way they chose, they were always bound to have direct social implications on the people that would live there. The housing scheme began in Porirua in 1948 and neared completion in the late 1960's. Porirua is possibly the best example of the development of a mass housing scheme in New Zealand. Without meaning to offend anyone, I think it's fair to say that throughout New Zealand Porirua East has been generally viewed as a less than desirable suburb in which to live. It is commonly associated with the poor and is represented by negative crime and education statistics. Weather statements like this are valid I'm not too sure and they were not the reason for this research, these were however, the kind of perceptions that led me to become more interested in the area. The aim of this research became focused on finding out what really happened, what the government intended for the area and what was actually built. I wanted to know how Porirua East became what it is today. Was there enough thought at the planning stage of this development adequate to provide a suitable environment for such a place to exist successfully or was it destined to become a 'ghetto community', a place for the poor. As I began to investigate the scheme I found that there was some evidence to justify the areas negative reputation. There are currently a number of initiatives in operation trying to improve the built environment in various ways. The government has recently in 2001 given 20 million dollars towards 'community renewal' for the areas of Porirua East, Cannons creek and Waitangirua. The programme is not intending to renovate every house but they have identified specific target areas such as multi-unit blocks that will be improved.