Mobility, household change and housing : a study of the owner-occupied sector of the housing market of Palmerston North in 1979 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University

Abstract

An analysis of the owner-occupied sector of Palmerston North's housing market over the period from January 1979 to December 1979, shows high levels of mobility and household movement. The study provides a conceptual framework to aid understanding of the links between mobility, household change, and housing. It looks at how economic and social forces operative in New Zealand during 1979 influenced the national and local housing markets, describes Palmerston North's housing stock, and proceeds to delineate and map submarkets for the city based on age and value of housing. Estimates are made of the relative magnitude of the components of household change associated with mobility, including household formation. Data is presented on reasons for moving, and on search and movement patterns of people and households moving into, within and out of Palmerston North City during the year in question. As well, some attempt is made to describe the spatial nature of intra-city movement. The study provides evidence, using the submarket concept, about what types of households have recently been able to move into what kinds of housing. It also considers whether people moving house are "improving" their housing circumstances by doing so. Hints are offered about the types of households which may have less "choice in housing" in the future. Finally, some implications are drawn about housing outcomes under particular conditions of mobility and population growth,net migration, construction, interest rates and so forth. Questions are raised about the present decline in the volume of rental housing stock in New Zealand, and about the nature and direction of future governmental policy in the housing sector.