The Housing Problem in New Zealand

Abstract

The problem of securing satisfactory housing for families is as old as the human race, for it has its origin in that "First Law of Nature" - self preservation. The basic urge to self preservation arouses effort directed to the rival, though also to some extent complementary, activities of the securing of Food, of raiment, and of shelter. Even however if the housing problem be considered as one giving rise to public action by states or communities to deal with it one can trace its existence far back into history. We know from the writings of Greek historians that even in the fourth century the Greek communities recognised the existence of a housing problem. Expansion of urban populations within the walls of the cities led to overcrowding among the working class population, and in the effort to meet this problem what was virtually systematic city planning emerged, including zoning to separate residential districts from those set aside for public buildings and temples. There is even better evidence regarding housing conditions in Ancient Rome. The city occupied a comparatively small area, and as population grew and as public edifices, temples, and the dwellings of the wealthy occupied a larger proportion of its total area, the more crowded became the districts allotted to the working population. Similar conditions are also reported to have existed in Byzantium.