Just when you thought navigating New Zealand’s building code couldn’t get any more complicated, here comes a call to “weave tikanga and wairua” into your next resource consent application. Because, obviously, what our housing sector really needs isn’t fewer regulations it’s spiritual guidelines and indigenous architecture footnotes from 1823.
According to one PhD candidate’s epiphany, the biggest barrier to Māori housing isn’t economics, land ownership complexity, or decades of red tape no, it’s the outrageous injustice of being asked to follow the same building rules as everyone else. Apparently, this is a “one size fits all” oppression model, ignoring the sacred right to construct a whare with techniques not seen since muskets were high tech.
Sure, forget about load bearing walls, insulation standards, or fire safety let’s see how totara bark holds up in cyclone season. And while we’re at it, let’s slap a “cultural exemption” on seismic engineering too, because who are we to impose colonial concepts like structural integrity?
It’s a bold new vision: not so much progress, as heritage cosplay in the housing sector. And if you raise concerns, well you’re clearly not in touch with your inner wairua. Let’s not waste time improving housing access or cutting through regulatory thickets for everyone instead, let’s rewrite the national building code to accommodate symbolism over structure.
Because nothing says 21st-century housing crisis solution like nostalgic romanticism, handcrafted loopholes, and policy by PhD dream journal.
Steven Mark Gaskell writes > Karakia, Cash & the corporate classroom
Sure, forget about load bearing walls, insulation standards, or fire safety let’s see how totara bark holds up in cyclone season. And while we’re at it, let’s slap a “cultural exemption” on seismic engineering too, because who are we to impose colonial concepts like structural integrity?
It’s a bold new vision: not so much progress, as heritage cosplay in the housing sector. And if you raise concerns, well you’re clearly not in touch with your inner wairua. Let’s not waste time improving housing access or cutting through regulatory thickets for everyone instead, let’s rewrite the national building code to accommodate symbolism over structure.
Because nothing says 21st-century housing crisis solution like nostalgic romanticism, handcrafted loopholes, and policy by PhD dream journal.
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Steven Mark Gaskell writes > Karakia, Cash & the corporate classroom
Welcome to the curious case of the New Zealand Skills and Education College (NZSE) where cultural symbolism meets private enterprise and taxpayer dollars meet spiritual blessings.
Privately Owned, Publicly Funded
NZSE isn’t Māori-owned or run. It’s a private business under the New Zealand Skills and Education Group (NZSEG), founded by Brijesh Sethi. The Sethi family controls over 56% of the company, with Sethi Trustees Ltd pulling the strings. While the brochures highlight cultural inclusivity, the ownership story is pure private sector.
Government Money, Strategic Spin
In 2024, NZSE received $160,000 in strategic funding from the Tertiary Education Commission your taxes at work. The pitch? Expanding "social services and education." In practice? Likely more certificates in community leadership and cultural navigation low cost to run, high-return in public funding points.
Māori as Marketing Gold
NZSE smartly packages itself with Māori friendly programs like Kia Takatū and Whai Rawa, ensuring access to equity funding and good press. Real support or branding exercise? Either way, it keeps the funding taps flowing and makes a private college look like a public cause.
A Karakia for Capitalism
When the new Auckland campus launched, it was blessed with a traditional karakia a sacred Māori prayer. Respectful? Maybe. Strategic? Definitely. In New Zealand 2025, invoking indigenous spirituality isn’t just ceremonial it’s commercially prudent.
* NZSE is a polished operation: privately owned, publicly funded, and culturally branded. It’s not about breaking rules just mastering the system. In the business of education, the new sacred trinity is identity, influence, and investment return.
Source: Facebook
3 comments:
So, a public private partnership, (one of those PPP's) driving the corporate apartheid agenda then.
Should be reported to the Scam Help Line !
What a crock,
Paid for by the public with zero benefit to the public.
Again anonymous people handing over our taxes without questioning what the return will be - do they know anything about ROI ?
Because the msm largely ignores topics which may arouse sceptism toward maori, papaikianga housing developments are difficult to follow. But huge assistance and leniency now seems to be applied. Apparently the building rules, site usage etc etc applicable mere others is not relevant. Nor construction standards. (As it was the 1930s before some rural maori got around to long drop toilets, and huts with earth floors persisted beyond that, insulation, extractor fans, double glazing, heat pumps does seem somewhat frivolous.) Does this housing pay full rates.? Do they adequately contribute to extension of servïces as do conventional and not remote subdivisions, often with a vengeance? Seems to me ghettos of insurgency bent welfare idle are being created often conveniently remote from the risk of employment. Of course many otherwise neighbours may consider the taxpayer contribution a good investment.
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