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Dr Simon Opit staff profile picture

Contact details +6492127318

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

Research Officer

SHORE Centre

Simon is a Research Officer at SHORE & Whariki Research Centre. He is a human geographer who specialises in the intersections of housing, transport, and urban design. His research focuses on how these elements impact social and health outcomes, with the goal of fostering individual and community resilience and wellbeing.

Simon has been a member of several multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research programs, including the ACTIVATION project, National Science Challenge: ‘Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities,’ the URBAN project, ‘Kids in the City,’ and Resilient Urban Futures. He collaborates with central and local government agencies, as well as third-sector organisations, and has received research funding from BRANZ, MBIE, NZTA/Waka Kotahi, Auckland Council, and National Science Challenges: Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, Healthier Lives, and Ageing Well.

His recent research has investigated:

  • Affordable Alternative Housing Tenure Pathways

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

  • Incentivising ebike use in lower-income communities

  • Local government solutions 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.

Simon is a Research Officer at SHORE & Whariki Research Centre and a human geographer specialising in the intersections of housing, transport, and urban design. His research seeks to enhance social and health outcomes, fostering resilience and wellbeing for individuals and communities. He has collaborated in multidisciplinary projects such as ACTIVATION and National Science Challenges, working closely with government and third-sector organisations. Simon’s recent research investigates affordable housing pathways, active travel infrastructure, and local solutions to housing unaffordability.

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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 housing pathways and tenure models
Transport planning and active travel infrastructure
Urban design and inter-agency collaboration
Psychosocial needs in housing and sense of home
Private rental sector and housing affordability
Community resilience and public health outcomes

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

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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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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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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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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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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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). M膧NGERE E-BIKE TRIAL STAGE 2: Integrating an e-bike in daily life.
[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. : 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 M膩ngere West, Auckland: interim report. futurestreets.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Inter-Agency-Collaboration-Interim-Final.pdf: Metamorfose 9
[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).
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Raja, A., Mackie, H., Witten, K., & Opit, S.(2021). M膧NGERE EBIKE TRIAL STAGE 1: “Give-it-a-go”.
[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).
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Opit, S.
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Opit, S., & Murphy, L.(2019). New Zealand macroprudential policy and the housing market: decision-making, justifications and evaluation. : NSC11: Building Better Homes Towns and Cities
[Technical 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., 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, S., & Witten, K.The Challenge of Translating Innovation into Transport Decision-Making. . Sydney
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Opit, S.
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.

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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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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鈥� rights and many homes are now insulated, some renters are stil
  • 01 Apr 2021 - Magazine
    Acceptance of good MDH grows
    When it doesn鈥檛 dominate the streetscape, is well designed and well located, Aucklanders are warming to medium-density housing 鈥� seeing it as a necessary part of responding to housing need.