New Zealand Delegation Visits Osmania University for Affordable Housing Solutions

A visiting New Zealand trade delegation held talks with Osmania University in Hyderabad to explore partnerships in housing research, sustainable construction, and urban development. The delegation stated that Indian innovations in cost-effective, large-scale housing could offer valuable lessons to help address housing needs among Māori and Pacific communities in New Zealand.

The delegation was led by Ali Hamlin-Paenga, Chief Executive Officer of Te Matapihi, and its visit to India formed part of a broader initiative to seek international partnerships for improving housing outcomes. Alongside Hamlin-Paenga, the visiting group included economist Dr Jay Whitehead and Hyderabad-based Head of Business Sustainability Naveen Maddisetty.

Hamlin-Paenga noted that India's scale of innovation in affordable housing, sustainability, and digital transformation offered an opportunity for New Zealand to bring global knowledge home while strengthening economic and cultural ties. During the discussions, participants focused on housing affordability, climate resilience, and infrastructure needs.

The delegates showed particular interest in Osmania University's work regarding sustainable building materials, scalable construction technologies, water and solid-waste management, and smart-community technologies. Both sides also examined the potential use of artificial intelligence in housing design and digital service delivery, as well as indigenous-led research models.

In addition, the delegation identified potential for exchange programmes designed to strengthen technical and leadership capabilities among rangatahi, or young people, in New Zealand.

Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram stated that the university is interested in developing practical solutions through collaboration in engineering, sustainability, and community-focused development. Both parties agreed to identify specific areas of expertise to pursue formal university partnerships, joint research initiatives, and technology-based pilot programmes.

During their visit to the campus, the delegates also toured the Department of Civil Engineering at Osmania University, where they interacted directly with faculty members and research scholars.