The implications of the five pillars of the Ottawa Charter in improving access to good housing and reducing household crowding in New ZealandIntroductionShelter is a basic need for good health (WHO, 1986 ). Lack of access to warm, dry, affordable housing for many New Zealanders is a growing concern (Baker, McDonald, Zhang, & Howden-Chapman, 2013). This paper focuses on household crowding (HHC) as a specific determinant of health in New Zealand, examining the population groups most affected by overcrowding and the relationship between HHC, individual behavior and poor health. The negative effects of crowding on health are evident. Increasing access to quality, affordable housing is therefore key to reducing this problem. The Ottawa Charter (1986) for Health Promotion is used as a tool to guide health promotion interventions and initiatives to improve access to quality affordable housing thereby reducing HHC. Actions are explored further along with practical examples and ideas. Housing and Household Crowding (HHC) Determinants of health are defined as the conditions in society that, directly or indirectly, create and maintain or diminish the health of individuals and populations (Dahlgren & Whitehead, 1991 ; Keleher & MacDougall, 2011 ). Figure (1) below shows the stratification of different conditions/factors that influence health, including housing, which is seen as an environmental living and working condition that affects health. (Ministry of Health, 1998). Figure 1: Dahlgren and Whitehead's scheme of determinants of health (Dahlgren & Whitehead, 1991). Evidence suggests that housing has a combined direct impact on the health of New Zealanders (Baker, Goodyear, Telfar, & Howden-Chapman, 2012). The comb...... center of the card......angahau Hauora to Eru Pomare.Statistics New Zealand. (2013). Subnational crowding tables 1991–2006. Retrieved April 2, 2014, from http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/housing/subnational-crowding-tables-1991-2006.aspxThomson, H., Thomas, S., Sellström, E., & Petticrew, M. (2009). The health impacts of housing improvements: a systematic review of intervention studies from 1887 to 2007. American Journal of Public Health, 99(3), 681-692. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.143909OMS. (1986). The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: World Health Organization. WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health. (2008). Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health: Final report of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.