Researchers at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland are launching a major study into whether housing reforms can improve educational equity by giving more families access to higher-performing schools.
The project, supported by a Spencer Foundation Racial Equity Research Grant, will use Auckland as a case study to examine the impact of the city’s landmark 2016 zoning reforms, which saw around three-quarters of residential land rezoned to allow medium- and high-density housing.
The research will investigate whether the increase in housing options enabled lower-income families to move into higher socio-economic neighbourhoods and, in turn, improved educational opportunities for school-aged children.
The study builds on preliminary findings suggesting the 2016 reforms helped some lower-income households relocate to areas that were previously out of reach because of high housing costs.
Principal investigator Dr Sam Stemper says Auckland’s large-scale upzoning created a rare opportunity for researchers to examine how changes in housing policy can influence access to schools and neighbourhoods.
While zoning reform is often discussed as a way to improve housing affordability and increase supply, the researchers say its potential role in reducing educational inequality has received far less attention.
Associate Professor Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy says traditional zoning rules have historically reinforced social inequality by limiting many high-income suburbs to detached housing, effectively excluding families unable to afford larger properties.
Allowing a wider range of housing options, including townhouses and apartments, may provide more families with opportunities to live in areas that offer greater access to quality education and community resources.
The research team, which also includes doctoral candidate Jia Liu, will analyse migration patterns using detailed housing and demographic data alongside geospatial mapping to determine whether children gained access to higher-performing schools following the zoning changes.
Researchers believe Auckland’s experience offers one of the first opportunities internationally to study whether large-scale zoning reform can influence educational outcomes through changes in residential mobility.
The findings could help inform future housing and urban planning policies both in New Zealand and overseas, particularly as governments seek ways to address housing affordability while improving access to education and reducing long-standing inequalities.
The study reflects growing recognition that housing policy extends beyond where people live, influencing opportunities for education, employment, health and long-term social wellbeing.
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