Workshops
Theme: Delivering Today

Workshops to engage and support community housing providers to enhance their services and delivery models. Topics range from building new homes to effective management and stewardship of your people, properties and the planet.

Can We Build It? Yes We Can!

Presenters: Gareth Ready, Signature; Luke Strom, Community Finance

Description: Delivery - what do we need to know planning, managing, financing and building three 15 minute presentations with 15 minutes of Q&A. This is a delivery focused session that outlines in practical terms the process, the risks, the ways to identify and manage the risks, the considerations, and the key elements that need to be in place to deliver new housing supply with the provider as the driver of that process. – looking at this through three distinct lens – project management from an idea through to a finished community development, and finance – if there is no money then there is no delivery, so how do we finance appropriately, and the mechanics of construction delivery in a changing context.

Audience: Community housing providers, governance, management and project delivery staff who are considering the development of new homes.

Leading Change in a Changing Environment 

Presenters: Bridie Morell

Description: Change is a constant in the community housing sector — and with it often comes uncertainty, resistance, and fatigue for the people we lead. Understanding why change feels hard, and what your team needs to feel capable of navigating it, is one of the most valuable skills a leader can develop.

In this workshop, we'll explore the psychology of change and what people need to feel safe and supported through uncertainty. We'll introduce a simple change management framework as a practical lens for leading change, before rolling up our sleeves to apply it — working together to generate real, actionable ideas you can take back to your organisation.

Audience: People managers and leaders in any functional area who would like to gain knowledge and skills to support their people. Also suitable for other staff who would like to better understand change and uncertainty they are experiencing along with tools to support themselves and peers.

Kevin Anderson

Bridie Morell
Independent

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Bridie Morell is an independent culture and capability consultant dedicated to enabling flourishing people and culture. Bridie is an engaging and clear communicator, with a wealth of knowledge and expertise across the people and culture spectrum, information technology, change management, and customer experience: including over 11 years in leadership roles. Bridie has worked in commercial, government, small business, tech startup and NGO contexts. She has several qualifications, none of which help her remember what she needs from the supermarket or where the heck she put the sellotape, and lives with her family in Canterbury.
Bridie leads the CHA Workforce Capability Project on a part-time basis. 

Accessible, Affordable, Adaptable and Safe Housing

Presenters: Kevin Anderson, Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust; Dennis de Reus, ADAPT; Mike Potter, Disability Connect; Ratenesh Sharma, Homes of Choice

Description: This workshop session uniquely blends lived experience, design insight and delivery on the topic of delivering Accessible, Affordable, Adaptable and Safe housing today. Through panel conversations, case studies and an activity - participants explore why housing benefits everyone and the resources to achieve this.

Audience: For anyone interested in how accessible, affordable, adaptable and safe housing can be delivered in practice. It may be of particular interest to architects and designers, community housing providers, planners, funders, advocates, and those involved in building or retrofitting homes.

Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson
Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust

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Residential Housing
The trust was established in 2006 and residential housing is the primary objective and the principal service offered. We provide wheelchair accessible homes at affordable rents. We do this in two ways for our tenants:
Community Housing Provider
Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust is a Registered Community Housing Provider (CHP), Community housing is rental housing provided by registered community housing providers (CHPs), rather than private landlords. It is long-term rental housing, provided under the rules set out in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, for those in need on the Social Housing Register. As a CHP we provide good quality, affordable homes for long-term rental that have been specifically designed for wheelchair accessibility to enable independent living for our tenants with disabilities.
Affordable Rentals
We also offer discounted market rents for tenants who need an accessible home but do not qualify for the Social Housing Register.
Initially the Trust bought existing homes and modified them for accessibility but now we purpose build.
Our designs and features are ever evolving due largely to tenant feedback which gives us excellent insight from a range of people with differing abilities. There is no perfect build for every situation however, we are fortunate that our tenants tend to be long term and we can make changes to the house specific to their needs.
With 20 years experience we are always happy to share our learning with individuals and organisations who are looking at accessibility options for their own situation or new builds.
Contact via website: https://whangareiaccessiblehousingtrust.org.nz/or by emailing Kevin at:housing.manager@accessiblehousing.org.nz

Kevin Anderson

Dennis de Reus
ADAPT

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Dennis joined ADAPT after a career in the public service, bringing senior-level experience across government and the private sector in communications, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management.He has extensive experience in the housing sector, leading strategies to support complex policy and service initiatives. He has also led national campaigns on major public sector programmes, helping to connect with people and communities and make a real difference.Dennis takes a genuinely people-centred approach and believes that clear communication and collaboration are essential to creating lasting impact. Drawn by the chance to align his skills with his values, he joined ADAPT to support the social sector and contribute to initiatives that improve people’s lives.

Kevin Anderson

Mike Potter
Disability Connect

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Mike Potter is an experienced not‑for‑profit leader who brings both professional expertise and lived experience of disability to his work. Before a 2008 motor vehicle accident resulting in a spinal cord impairment, Mike was an international runner and lecturer in Marketing at AUT. Today he is a strong advocate for equitable housing choices and inclusive communities for disabled people and their families. He holds a Master of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Auckland and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Theology and Mission from Carey Baptist College, and serves on the boards of cbmnz and ADAPT.
Disability Connect is a long‑standing, parent‑directed disability organisation with a primary focus on Auckland and a growing footprint across the motu. With more than 4,000 disabled people and families in our membership, and over 1,900 professionals, schools and organisations connected to our work, we are one of the country’s most trusted sources of disability information and support. In response to repeated requests from communities supporting disabled people and whānau, Disability Connect established New Zealand’s first dedicated Disability Housing Information Service in 2025. This service was created to improve the capability and confidence of disabled people and their families in Auckland to find a home in a complex and often inaccessible housing system.. Through the data we collect, we are advocating for system change and for housing that better meets the needs of an increasingly disabled and ageing population.

Kevin Anderson

Ratenesh Sharma  
General Manager Homes of Choice

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Ratenesh joined Homes of Choice in October 2021 and is an experience leader within the non- profit sector. He brings over 22 years of experience in leading development projects, facilities management, residential and commercial property management. Skilled in social housing development projects, telecommunication construction projects, retail & office fit-out and commercial development Projects. Ratenesh has in depth of experience creating partnerships across business, government, and social sectors. He leads strategic decision-making, operational performance and sustainable growth of Homes of Choice and brings together diverse teams to develop solutions to support people into housing.

Affordable Housing for Older People – A Crisis and Solutions

Presenters: Jill Hawkey and Annie Smith, Christchurch Methodist Mission

Description: We will need 400,000 homes for older renters by 2050. How will we address this emerging crisis and what solutions can we identify? Opportunity to hear about and join the doors for dignity campaign. Small group work looking at creative solutions.

Audience: Anyone interested in housing solutions for older people, no matter your role or organisation.

Kevin Anderson

Jill Hawkey
Christchurch Methodist Mission,

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Jill Hawkey has been the Executive Director of the Christchurch Methodist Mission (CMM) for the past 12 years. Amongst its housing services, Wesley Village provides affordable and social housing for older tenants. The Village also includes Whare Tiaki, a supported living whare for kaumātua Māori. The high demand for a home in the village led to the Methodist Mission initiating the  Doors to Dignity campaign, highlighting the signficant number of older people in housing distress.

Kevin Anderson

Annie Smith
Christchurch Methodist Mission,

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Annie Smith is the Housing Operations Manager at Christchurch Methodist Mission, where she oversees the organisation’s social housing portfolio, transitional housing contact and the sustaining tenancies services. With 10 years' experience in the housing sector at CMM, she has a strong commitment to supporting whānau to access and maintain safe, secure, and affordable housing. Annie is particularly passionate about housing solutions for older people and whānau with tamariki, recognising the vital role stable housing plays in wellbeing and community connection.

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