To mark the end of the BRANZ’s medium-density housing research programme in its current state, BRANZ is holding an industry-wide forum on the programme’s findings. Following the completion of several BRANZ-commissioned study reports, BRANZ has developed a broad body of knowledge about the challenges associated with MDH and a series of recommendations for how these challenges could be made easier.
BRANZ has made the decision to re-shape the medium-density housing research programme as from 31 March 2020. The decision was made as BRANZ focuses on new areas of research. Many areas of the MDH programme's focus (including research in the area of MDH liveabilty) will be adopted by BRANZ into new research programmes and existing programmes.
To mark the end of the BRANZ’s medium-density housing research programme in its current state, BRANZ is holding an industry-wide forum on the programme’s findings. Following the completion of several BRANZ-commissioned study reports, BRANZ has developed a broad body of knowledge about the challenges associated with MDH and a series of recommendations for how these challenges could be made easier. These reports can be broadly categorised into three themes:
- Consumer experiences and issues
- Technical issues
- Consenting issues
To ensure that this body of research gains impact, we are inviting representatives of government and the building industry to attend the forum to hear about our research and to discuss how it can be practically applied.
The goal of holding a BRANZ-led forum on the medium-density housing programme is to foster change through transferring gained knowledge regarding MDH to decision-makers and key industry representatives.
Location and speakers
The forum will be hosted by BRANZ on the 16 March 2020 at the InterContinental, Wellington, from 9am-4pm. It will commence with a welcome, an overview of the forum programme and what the forum’s objectives are. This will be followed by a series of presentations by key speakers on each research theme:
- Consumer experiences and perceptions of MDH – presented by
- Orin Lockyer (BRANZ)
- Dr Simon Opit (SHORE research centre, Massey University)
- Dr Natalie Allen (The Urban Advisory)
- Technical issues - presented by
- Michael Nuth (BRANZ)
- Kevin Frank (BRANZ)
- David Carradine (BRANZ)
- Kevin Golding (Winstone Wallboards Limited)
- Consenting issues – presented by
- Verney Ryan (Beacon Pathway)
- Associate Professor Dr Morten Gjerde (Wellington School of Architecture)
Workshops - please choose one
Following the presentations, the forum will break for a catered lunch. Following lunch, three facilitated workshops will run concurrently on each of three key issues. The aim of the workshops is to discuss with government and industry representatives how research findings can be adopted and applied. The workshops will also provide forum attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on the research and to discuss their thoughts on how it can make a difference.
Option A - Consumer experiences and perceptions of MDH
Facilitator: Dr Natalie Allen - The Urban Advisory
Or
Option B - MDH Consenting Issues
Facilitator: Verney Ryan - Beacon Pathway
Or
Option C - MDH Technical Issues
Facilitator: Michael Nuth - BRANZ
Upon completion of each workshop, forum attendees will report back to the wider group about how research findings can be practically applied.
Audience
Invitees include industry stakeholder groups within government and industry.
This includes:
- Property Council New Zealand
- Territorial authorities
- Building Officials Institute New Zealand
- New Zealand Institute of Architects
- Registered Master Builders Association New Zealand
- Kainga Ora
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment