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This research project identifies the key barriers to delivering multigenerational housing in Aotearoa New Zealand and to explore practical pathways for enabling more whānau‑centred, intergenerational living options.
The Challenge
The key barriers to multigenerational housing span five interconnected domains. Socio- historical barriers arise from the long‑standing dominance of the nuclear family model, the disruption of traditional communal living patterns through colonisation, and ongoing social stigma associated with extended family living. At the central government level, challenges include the lack of a formal definition within national strategies, procurement processes that privilege conventional housing typologies, rigid Building Code requirements, and insufficient data to understand real demand. Local government barriers include restrictive district plan provisions, inconsistent consenting interpretations across councils, and development contribution frameworks that are often misaligned with multigenerational development models. Industry‑level challenges stem from perceived low demand, difficulty securing finance and development capital, and the prevalence of standardised design approaches over adaptable, flexible homes. At the household level, many families face barriers related to access to suitable land, financing constraints, complex ownership or legal arrangements, and the need for housing that can evolve with changing family needs over time.
The Solution
Addressing these barriers requires coordinated action across policy settings, planning frameworks, financial mechanisms, and data systems. A core recommendation is the formal recognition and clear definition of multigenerational housing within central and local government policy, providing a consistent foundation for decision‑making and investment. More flexible planning frameworks and simplified consenting processes—particularly for Māori land and papakāinga—are essential to reduce regulatory friction and support culturally aligned living arrangements. Targeted financial incentives for developers and Community Housing Providers would help stimulate the delivery of larger, more adaptable homes suited to extended whānau. Strengthening data collection protocols is also critical to ensure multigenerational households are properly captured in national statistics, while a review of NZ Superannuation settings would help avoid unintentionally penalising retirees who live in intergenerational arrangements.
The Journey
The research journey unfolded through a series of deliberate and interconnected phases that build toward a robust, evidence‑based understanding of multigenerational housing. It begins with a comprehensive literature and policy review to establish the current state of knowledge and identify gaps in existing research and regulation. This informs a broad programme of qualitative engagement: ten interviews with councils to understand regulatory experiences and constraints; fifteen interviews with developers to explore industry attitudes, financial drivers, and design considerations; and ten interviews with residents to capture lived experience, motivations, and everyday realities of multigenerational living. These insights are then systematically coded and analysed using thematic analysis, enabling the identification of shared patterns, tensions, and opportunities across stakeholder groups. The project culminates in a final industry‑facing report, accompanied by a policy paper and a public webinar scheduled for June 2025, aimed at translating the findings into practical guidance and sparking meaningful sector‑wide dialogue about the future of multigenerational housing in Aotearoa.
