ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata
when the land is well, the people are well
ABOUT US
Spatial Justice Aotearoa is an independent research organisation dedicated to advancing spatial justice across Aotearoa New Zealand.
We work at the intersection of research, policy, and practice; producing rigorous, evidence-based insights that support more equitable outcomes in our cities and communities. Our work spans housing, urban development, transport, and the systems that shape how people experience place.
As an independent organisation, we are not tied to any single institution, sector, or agenda. This allows us to take a long-term, kaupapa-driven approach, working alongside iwi, communities, public agencies, and industry partners to shift narratives and support meaningful change.
SPATIAL JUSTICE DEFINED
Spatial Justice refers to how space, resources, access and power are distributed.
Indigenous Spatial Justice asks whether Indigenous peoples’ rights, relationships and authority are recognised in the shaping of place.
Māori Spatial Justice recognises that in Aotearoa, just space must uphold te ao Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori rangatiratanga, so that whenua and the built environment support Māori presence, wellbeing and futures.
OUR KAUPAPA
STREETSCAPES
How streets, neighbourhoods, and cities are designed, used, and contested, and how this shapes safety, access, and everyday life.
(RE)CLAIMING INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTS
Upholding mana whenua in the making of place, including relationships to whenua, cultural landscapes, Indigenous-led design, and decolonising planning and development.
HOUSING & HOME
How people access and experience home, including affordability, tenure and security, quality, and pathways for whānau housing.
KNOWLEDGE, NARRATIVES & POWER
How spatial knowledge is produced and communicated, whose stories are centred, and how evidence, data, and storytelling influence decisions and outcomes.