What Does CHA Do?
Our mission is supporting the growth and development of community housing in New Zealand. We do this in collaboration with a diverse range of organisations and individuals.
We believe adequate housing is a human right, and we're committed to seeing all New Zealanders well housed.
Our purpose is to support our members as they deliver proven solutions, innovate, and improve housing outcomes for their communities nationwide.
Supporting community housing providers
The foundation of our work is supporting our members and other housing providers dedicated to creating positive change to their communities by providing affordable homes.
Knowledge Sharing: We foster connectivity and knowledge exchange within the sector, providing relevant insights that empower all members, regardless of size, to make informed decisions.
Resource Provision: Through our leadership role, we deliver knowledge, insights and resources to strengthen every entity involved in community housing provision.
Working with government and other stakeholders
We collaborate with government, councils, financial institutions, the building industry and other stakeholders - providing data, research, and best-practice insights from New Zealand and overseas. Helping to shape housing policy and drive meaningful change.
As a peak body, we have privileged access to financiers, government officials, ministers, mayors, and councillors. We bring our members' voices, the voices of lived experience and knowledge to decision-making tables, as we collectively work to improve our housing system. We also collaborate closely with Kāinga Ora, New Zealand's largest social housing provider.
Bringing everyone along for the journey
We believe lasting change in housing happens when all New Zealanders understand what needs to change, and how it benefits their families, communities, and the country as a whole. Our role is to share the housing story, and bring everyone on the journey with us.
Our mission extends beyond technical solutions to include education and informing the public about the role of community housing.
Housing is integral to wellbeing and healthy communities. No single entity can deliver all that is required. We hope to inspire everyone to contribute their solutions.
Who we are
Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body within New Zealand's housing sector. We work alongside Te Matapihi, an independent Māori voice for housing. CHA is a charitable incorporated society, with members who vote on important matters, set direction, and elect representatives to the CHA Council, which serves as our Board.
Our members and partners
CHA's membership spans two categories, Members and Partners.
Members are groups that either provide or intend to provide community housing. They can be groups of residents or tenants of community housing, or groups that advocate for community housing.
Currently, we have 94 full members. Many deliver a wide range of services from housing system navigation and financial capability support to transitional housing, affordable rentals, and progressive home ownership programmes.
Members are typically supportive landlords and co-owners, deeply embedded in their communities. They have established relationships and built trust, often bringing years of volunteer work and unfunded support services. Many began their organisations providing health or social services, before expanding into housing. They reflect the culture and context of their operating environments.
Around 40 of CHA's members identify as Māori organisations, with a growing number of Pacific peoples' organisations also providing community housing. Some are small and focused on local needs, whilst others manage thousands of homes across the motu. All share a commitment to delivering stable, affordable homes suited to their communities.
Partners include individuals, local authorities, professionals, financiers, private developers, and other public or private entities that invest in, lend to, operate, own, or develop affordable, community, or social housing.
