Abstract:
Cities in Aotearoa New Zealand face simultaneous crises: housing affordability and the climate emergency. Both issues are two sides of a single metaphorical coin. Humans depend on safe environments, but the unaffordable housing crisis has resulted in families living in cars, garages or within a single room contributing to preventable illnesses. The authors – a social work academic and an urban planner – argue that to be kind to people, we must equally be kind to the environment. Affordable housing is critical to human wellbeing but so is environmental security. Urban planning for affordable and resilient communities able to adapt to the climate emergency is needed. To be kind to the environment is to express kindness to people as an ethical commitment. By exercising manaakitanga (kindness), we recognize the mana (dignity) of others by acting with respect, kindness and compassion; and by aroha (compassion, love, empathy), our responsibility for people’s wellbeing.
