Dr Simon Opit staff profile picture

Contact details +6492127318

Dr Simon Opit BA, BA (Hons), MA, PhD

Research Officer

SHORE Centre

Dr Simon Opit is a Research Officer at SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre. He is a human geographer whose work sits at the intersections of housing, transport, and urban design. His research examines how these domains shape social and health outcomes, with the goal of fostering individual and community resilience and wellbeing.

Simon has contributed to a number of multidisciplinary and multi-institutional programmes, including the ACTIVATION project, the National Science Challenge Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, the URBAN project, Kids in the City, and Resilient Urban Futures. He works closely with central and local government agencies, iwi, and third-sector organisations, and has received research funding from BRANZ, MBIE, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Council, and the National Science Challenges (Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, Healthier Lives, and Ageing Well).

His current interests are:

  • Affordable alternative housing tenure pathways, in partnership with Community Housing Providers

  • Accessible housing designs and their impact on health outcomes, health service provision, and wellbeing

  • Inter-agency collaboration in the design and delivery of active travel infrastructure

  • Strategies to support schools in lower socioeconomic areas to keep their grounds open after hours for children’s play

  • Incentivising e-bike use in lower-income communities

  • Policy and planning responses to housing unaffordability

Simon completed his PhD at the University of Auckland, where he explored how young adults’ previous housing experiences influenced their preferences and attitudes toward compact urban designs.

Dr Simon Opit is a Research Officer at SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, Massey University. His research investigates the critical relationships between housing, transport, and urban design, examining how these interconnected systems influence social equity and health outcomes. His current research examines urban systems through three interconnected lenses: affordable alternative housing tenures and pathways to homeownership, accessible housing designs, and equitable active transport solutions for underserved communities.

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Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts - University of Auckland (2011)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - University of Auckland (2011)
  • Master of Arts - University of Auckland (2012)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - University of Auckland (2018)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Affordable alternative housing tenure pathways, in partnership with Community Housing Providers
Accessible housing designs and their impact on health outcomes, health service provision, and wellbeing
Inter-agency collaboration in the design and delivery of active travel infrastructure
Strategies to support schools in lower socioeconomic areas to keep their grounds open after hours for children’s play
Incentivising e-bike use in lower-income communities
Policy and planning responses to housing unaffordability

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Built Environment And Design (120000):
Health Promotion (111712):
Human Geography (160400):
Medical And Health Sciences (110000):
Policy and Administration (160500):
Public Health and Health Services (111700): Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified (111799):
Studies In Human Society (160000):
Transport Planning (120506): Urban and Regional Planning (120500): Urban Design (120508):
Urban Policy (160514)

Research Outputs

Journal

Opit, SL., & Witten, K. (2025). Overcoming barriers to delivering active travel infrastructure: inter-agency collaboration in a state-led neighbourhood redevelopment. Case Studies on Transport Policy. 22
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Witten, K., Opit, S., Mackie, H., & Raja, A. (2024). Challenging the inequities of ebike access: An investigation of a community-led intervention in a lower-income neighbourhood in Aotearoa - New Zealand. Journal of Transport and Health. 39
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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2
Opit, SL. (2022). The Private Rental Sector in Australia: Living with Uncertainty. Urban Policy and Research. 40(2), 165-166Retreived from http://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08111146.2022.2051238
[Book Review]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., Kearns, R., Witten, K., & Fergusson, E. (2021). Density in the Suburbs: Families with Children Adapting to Living in a Medium Density Social Housing Development. Urban Policy and Research. 39(4), 397-413
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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3
Witten, K., Kearns, R., Opit, S., & Fergusson, E. (2021). Facebook as soft infrastructure: producing and performing community in a mixed tenure housing development. Housing Studies. 36(9), 1345-1363
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., Witten, K., & Kearns, R. (2020). Housing pathways, aspirations and preferences of young adults within increasing urban density. Housing Studies. 35(1), 123-142
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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35
13
Opit, S., & Kearns, R. (2014). Selling a natural community: Exploring the role of representations in promoting a new urban development. New Zealand Geographer. 70(2), 91-102
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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11
7
Oliver, M., Witten, K., Kearns, RA., Mavoa, S., Badland, HM., Carroll, P., . . . Ergler, C. (2011). Kids in the city study: Research design and methodology. BMC Public Health. 11
[Journal article]Authored by: Carroll, P., Lin, E., Moewaka Barnes, H., Opit, S.
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75
56
Badland, HM., Opit, S., Witten, K., Kearns, RA., & Mavoa, S. (2010). Can virtual streetscape audits reliably replace physical streetscape audits?. Journal of Urban Health. 87(6), 1007-1016
[Journal article]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Report

Raja, A., Opit, S., Mackie, H., & Witten, K.(2023). Māngere ebike trial Stage 2: Integrating an e-bike in daily life. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., & James, B.(2022). Innovating Housing Futures: Case Study of the Nelson Housing Reserve Fund. Porirua, New Zealand: Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities National Science Challenge and the authors
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., Witten, K., & Mackie, H.(2022). Inter-agency collaboration for active mode shift: Māngere West, Auckland. Interim report prepared for the Ageing Well and Healthier Lives National Science Challenges. Auckland, New Zealand: Te Ara Mua – Future Streets
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Witten, K., Carroll, P., Opit, S., Parker, K., Grayson-Guy, T., & Huckle, T. (2022). The New Zealand Rental Sector. ( Report No. ER78). Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ).
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Raja, A., Mackie, H., Witten, K., & Opit, S.(2021). Māngere ebike trial Stage 1: “Give-it-a-go”. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., Carroll, P., & Witten, K. (2020). Community Acceptance of Medium Density Housing Development. ( Report No. ER57). Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ).
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Witten, K., Opit, S., Ferguson, E., & Kearns, R.(2019). Summary report: Developing community: Following the Waimahia Inlet affordable housing initiative. Poririua, New Zealand: Building Better Homes, Towns, and Cities (BBHTC) National Science Challenge
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., & Witten, K.(2018). Unlocking Transport Innovation: A Sociotechnical Perspective of the Logics of Transport Planning Decision-Making within the Trial of a New Type of Pedestrian Crossing. Porirua, New Zealand: Building Better Homes, Towns, and Cities (BBHTC) National Science Challenge
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Witten, K., Opit, S., Ferguson, E., & Kearns, R.(2018). Developing community: following the Waimahia Inlet affordable housing initiative. Auckland, New Zealand: Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Shaping Places
[Technical Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Conference

Opit, S., & Witten, K. (2022, November). Inter-Agency Collaboration for Active Mode Shift: Challenges and Opportunities. Presented at New Zealand Geographical Society. Christchurch.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Opit, S.
Opit, S., & Witten, K. (2022). Inter-Agency Collaboration for Active Mode Shift: Challenges and Opportunities. In Programme: New Zealand Geographical Society Conference 2022: Toitū: Geographies of Resistance(pp. 54 - 55). , New Zealand Geographical Society Conference 2022: Toitū: Geographies of Resistance Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Geographical Society
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., Witten, K., Ferguson, E., & Kearns, R. (2019). Families Adapting to Density in a Suburban Mixed-Tenure Community Housing Development in Auckland, New Zealand. State of Australian Cities Conference. : 9th State of Australian Cities National Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., & Witten, K. (2018, July). 'Unlocking Innovation: A Sociotechnical Perspective of the Logics, Processes and Practices of Transport Decision Making. Presented at NZGS-IAG. Auckland.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Opit, S.
Opit, SL.The Challenge of Translating Innovation into Transport Decision-Making. . Sydney International Conference Centre, Sydney, Australia
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., & Witten, K. (2018, November). Creating Space for Innovation: Understanding the Inertia within Transport Planning Decision-Making as a Sociotechnical Assemblage. Presented at Australia and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools. Hamilton.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Opit, S.
Kearns, R., & Opit, S. (2015). A new housing development at Hobsonville: promoting and buying into a ‘natural’ community. https://apo.org.au/node/59789. : 6th State of Australian Cities Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Other

Carroll, P., Opit, S., & Witten, K. (2024). Adapting Q Methodology to Tackle Ableism and Increase Participation of Disabled Young People in Sport, Physical Education, and Active Recreation. : Sage Publications Ltd
[Internet publication]Authored by: Carroll, P., Opit, S.
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Opit, S., & Murphy, L. (2019). New Zealand macroprudential policy and the housing market: decision-making, justifications and evaluation. In Porirua, New Zealand: Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities National Science Challenge
[Working Paper]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Media and Links

Media

  • 04 Aug 2024 - Television, Online
    Concerns raised over building of five crossings
    One News Interview related to Thorndon Quay safety improvements
  • 01 Jun 2021 - Magazine
    Private Sector Renting
    A recent follow-up of a 2015 survey into the private rental market shows that, while there has been some improvement in securing tenants’ rights and many homes are now insulated, some renters are stil
  • 01 Apr 2021 - Magazine
    Acceptance of good MDH grows
    When it doesn’t dominate the streetscape, is well designed and well located, Aucklanders are warming to medium-density housing – seeing it as a necessary part of responding to housing need.