Jacqueline Paul
From South Auckland to MIT: indigenising urban planning for housing justiceRetry
Jacqueline Paul exemplifies the potential of combining Indigenous knowledge with world-class academic training to transform urban planning. From South Auckland to MIT, her journey reflects both exceptional academic achievement and unwavering commitment to addressing Māori housing inequities.
Her research bridges traditional papakāinga concepts with contemporary urban development challenges, demonstrating how Indigenous design principles can deliver culturally grounded, sustainable housing solutions. Through extensive work evaluating Te Aranga principles and developing kaupapa Māori assessment frameworks, she provides practical tools for developers, planners, and policymakers working alongside Māori communities.
Paul's contributions to the Waitangi Tribunal's housing inquiry and her advocacy work on rangatahi homelessness have influenced national housing policy debates. At MIT, she continues advancing research on Indigenous housing innovations, finance mechanisms, and the constitutional dimensions of housing rights, positioning herself to return home and create lasting impact for Māori communities across Aotearoa.
