The Mental Health Foundation is pleased to be hosting an event with Grand Design's Kevin McCloud in Christchurch today.

Kevin, who's in Christchurch to support organisations involved in the Christchurch re-build, will be the Foundation's guest of honour this evening at an event focusing on the importance of supportive communities and affordable, good quality, sustainable and healthy homes, that nurture good mental health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders.

It has long been recognised that housing and environment are two of the key determinants of wellbeing. Cold, damp, rundown, over-crowded housing surrounded by poor urban development, lack of green spaces and little or no community facilities, has a negative impact on mental wellbeing as well as the physical health of those people living this way. If you can eliminate these conditions with good urban planning, positive results for the population groups affected will follow.

Participants at this evening's event include Canterbury business leaders, engineers, City Owners Rebuild Entity (CORE), Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), Council Urban Design, architects, Community Energy Action and heritage groups.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together people to be inspired by Kevin's ideas, energy and experience", says Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive Judi Clements who will open the event in Christchurch today at 5pm.

"I know we all wish to ensure a future where people are at the heart of decisions made about the environment in which we live", says Ms Clements.