Category: Housing Sector

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

With family nearby, friendly neighbours and the kids now settled into school, Paula and Fia have established a strong sense of community – and created a new extended family.

A year after moving into their new homes, both families are thriving.

While the two families have developed a supportive relationship over the past year, Paula, Fia and their families first formed a bond while they were both experiencing the uncertainty and challenges of living in emergency housing. By coincidence they moved into the same housing development on the same day last year.

For Paula, knowing that her new light, bright, modern home is somewhere she can put down roots with her young family has made all the difference.

“Our life has changed. I don’t need to worry about where we will be next week or where we will be next month. I finally feel secure,” Paula says.

“The children are happy and getting involved in sports at school. They are really enjoying having friends over and having their own rooms to decorate. I had always dreamt of growing my own vegetables and now we are eating the lettuce that I planted.”

And it’s not just the warm, dry home that has helped make this a life-changing move for Paula and her children – it’s the neighbours around them and the great relationships they’ve developed within the community.

“It is a friendly place to live with the neighbours all saying hello and being respectful to each other. I feel really safe here,” Paula says.

“An added bonus is having Fia and her family just across the lane. After meeting at the Omahu accommodation complex a couple of years ago, it was reassuring to see the familiar faces of Fia and her family when we first moved in. Now the kids move freely between the two homes playing and sharing meals – it’s just great.”

Fia agrees. “This feels like a community – a family. Paula’s older girl Rylynn is a big help. She loves coming over to help with my baby and play with my little girls.”

“Recently we have been harvesting asparagus. When we have some spare or get other free things from the community, we share it with Paula’s family and our other neighbours. They do the same with us.”

For Fia, her husband Fred and their large family, their last emergency accommodation saw them living in a campground. “With the girls in one cabin and the boys in another,” says Fia.

“Our biggest blessing in our new home is that we now get to have family time together. In the evenings we gather around for prayers, play music and spend time with each other. We couldn’t do that at the campground. We just used it for sleeping.”

“My kids are now more relaxed, and they don’t miss school anymore. The older ones have their own room, and the bigger space means the kids have room to play.”

The development Paula and Fia call home was built as part of wider work in Hastings to deliver more homes through a place-based approach. In 2019, Hastings became a pilot for the place-based housing initiatives that provide suitable housing solutions for individual communities. Kāinga Ora is one of the partners, working alongside iwi, Council, local organisations and build partners to find housing solutions for Hastings whānau.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Year one and two students from Rangiora Borough School were invited to 61-65 Church Street opposite their school, to view the construction of new Kāinga Ora homes in action from a bird’s eye view on an elevated platform.

The very excited children received a lesson in site safety from Contract Construction, who are building the new homes, that included a fun game of ‘spot the safety feature’. They were also able to ask Kāinga Ora staff questions about how the organisation builds homes for whānau in need.

Year seven and eight students then came along to a panel question and answer session, with representatives from across the construction industry, who work with Kāinga Ora and Contract Construction, sharing what they do in their construction roles.

Each panellist let the students know how they ended up working in the construction industry and why they love what they do. This was followed by some questions from the students.

Rangiora Borough School Principal Shane Buckner says the kids had a great time up on the platform looking down at the new homes being built and learning about the construction process and the safety features on site.

“You could tell by the look on their faces and the inquisitive questions they had that they were enjoying themselves.

“Our older students really appreciated hearing about the prospects of a career in construction. It got them thinking about what subjects they may like to engage with as they get prepared to take the leap to their first year of high school.

“We’re really thankful to Kāinga Ora for creating this opportunity to see the construction of much-needed new homes in action and for the fantastic information they provided about the meaningful work they do in the community,” Shane says.

Kāinga Ora Canterbury Regional Director Liz Krause says it was wonderful to connect with the local school and provide this opportunity to some of the community’s young people.

“We have a steady stream of new homes in the pipeline for Waimakariri so having an opportunity to connect and show people what we do is so valuable.

“We hope we were also able to inspire a few budding tradies or health and safety advocates to consider a career in the construction industry,” says Liz.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

For Lester, moving into a Kāinga Ora house last month has been truly life changing. Not only is it a brand-new home, but it has been designed specifically to meet the accessibility needs of a wheelchair user – allowing Lester to regain his independence.

After losing the use of his legs as a result of a spinal infection, Lester found it difficult to live well in his private rental. With a steep entrance, stairs, narrow doorways and high benchtops, Lester had to rely on help to not only get in and out of his home but live within it.

“To begin with, I couldn’t move my legs or hands. Overnight I’d gone from being a hardworking man to being paralysed,” recalls Lester.

“The letting agent wouldn’t agree to adjustments like a ramp to make it accessible for me, which meant I had to be carried in and out by my kids. It was scary for everyone because it wasn’t safe, so I stopped going out.”

But all of that changed earlier this year when Lester was offered a brand-new Kāinga Ora home in South Auckland.

With wide door frames and hallways, a wet room and a kitchen he can navigate easily, it was the perfect set up for Lester and his daughter, Jada Lee who is a big source of support to him. There was even a hoist he could use to get himself in and out of bed, and easy access to a deck and garden.

“He’s much happier here than at our last house,” says Jada Lee. “Back there, he never came out of his room but once we moved, he was happy. Now he’s out every day – it’s good to see him smiling again.”

Now able to move around his new home with ease, Lester says he’s already noticed his energy lifting.

“As time goes by, I’m getting my independence back and getting back into the things I love – I’ve even gotten back into painting and carving,” he says.

“I particularly love spending time with my moko (grandchildren). They like having little rides with me in my wheelchair.”

This Christmas, Lester is hosting a BBQ for his Auckland whānau at his new home – something he is really looking forward to.

“It’s going to feel completely different – just easy. I can easily move through the sliding glass doors to get out to the BBQ or sit in the garden with the family. It’s going to be a very special Christmas.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

A single tree stood in the yard when David moved into his Kāinga Ora home 25 years ago.

“Everywhere else was just grass,” he says.

But it didn’t stay that way for long. Using only hand tools and the guidance of “a few good books”, over the decades he transformed that lawn into a paradise of native trees and palms, upcycled ornaments and birdsong.

And it’s in those details you’ll find the secret to creating a sanctuary of your own – and how to do it on a budget, he says.

“With this garden, I got a lot of bright ideas because I don’t have a lot of money. So you put your thinking cap on.”

“I like attracting wildlife with some of the plants I have in my garden – the palms are all self-sown because birds are attracted to plants with red berries.”

So planting red-fruiting plants brought the birds, which eat the seeds and, well, “they’ve got to do their business somewhere,” David says.

“I get seedlings pop up all over the place.”

And if he doesn’t need those seedlings himself, they’re still an opportunity. At times, David has donated seedlings to a teacher friend whose schoolchildren have been able to sell them at a fundraiser. Otherwise, he’ll trade them with friends and neighbours, and everyone gets something they’ve been looking for.

“It’s all about being people-friendly and talking to your neighbours … it costs you nothing to be kind and give,” he says.

David estimates his garden is now home to 50 or 60 different species, and hundreds of individual plants and trees. Palms, succulents and natives are mostly what he goes for as they do well in his local environment – another of David’s tips.

“You’ve got to know what your weather does – how the wind blows, what gets wet when it rains and what doesn’t … a little bit of knowledge goes a long way.”

And with another friend occasionally supplying free mulch and a few good hand tools looked after over three or four decades, the cost to create his oasis was minimal.

So when he won the top award in this year’s Great Gardens of Kāinga Ora competition and was awarded a $250 Give a Garden gift card, he knew he could make it go far. But what did he have in mind for his first purchase?

“Chilli plants and pumpkin seeds,” he says.

They’ll join the tomatoes, beans, zucchini, gem squash and strawberries in his veggie patch.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Te Mātāwai in central Auckland is not only the largest public housing development in Aotearoa New Zealand but also the first providing single site supported housing where residents have access to around the clock, on-site support services.

Glen says even after only living at Te Mātāwai for 3 months having onsite support services is already making a difference for him.

“I haven’t worked for 16 years because of health issues and I find the wrap around supportive environment that Te Mātāwai provides is moving me to a place where I am healthier and am now actively looking for work.”

We also asked Glen what else he likes about living at Te Mātāwai.

“My new apartment is so modern and warm, and I feel the warmth every time I walk in the front door. What I also think is special about living here is the narrative gifted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for the site. Learning about some of the early history of the area including the Waihorotiu Stream which runs close to Te Mātāwai is something that I am really enjoying learning more about too.”

“As I don’t own a car the location in the heart of the city means all the activities, I like doing are right on my doorstep. I can walk down Greys Ave to the Town Hall to enjoy a free concert and over to Wynyard Quarter. I can also visit all the amazing local parks that are near to here. As someone who has cycled all his life Glen says he has a place to safely store his bike and use it when he needs it. “In addition to using my bike for practical reasons like shopping I also enjoy taking the local bike paths to places like Maungawhau and the esplanade under the harbour bridge.”

Glen says he is a person who likes to be involved particularly if it benefits himself as well as others. “I’m enjoying the many onsite activities for residents and have joined the resident’s group. As a musician, I’m enjoying the singing and kapa haka group and in the future I’m keen to learn Te Reo.”

“As exercise is such an important part of my life I have also joined other residents on day trips. We don’t know where we are going until we arrive and a trip to Muriwai was one of my favourites. We were out in the fresh air and got to see the gannets and I also enjoyed some really good exercise while we were there,” Glen says.

Way to go Glen and thanks for sharing with us what it’s been like for you living at Te Mātāwai. We look forward to catching up with you again next year to see how things are going.

More about Te Mātāwai

• At the Te Mātāwai complex, there are 3 tower blocks of between 9 and 13 storeys high.
• All 276 homes are built to Homestar 7 standard, meaning they will be warmer, healthier and more energy efficient for customers and their whanau.
• About 60% of the units are also either accessible or universally designed and have been recognised with Lifemark ratings of 3 or 4.
• As well as the common accessibility features such as level access, wide doors and shower rooms, a number of the units have additional features such as benches that are able to be raised and lowered, side opening ovens and lower shelving to allow people in wheelchairs to live independently.
• Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei also gifted an overarching narrative for the site which was used as a base to design the building. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei designers also worked alongside the construction design team to input into the design ensuring the design followed Te Aranga design and bought the narrative alive.
• Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei also gifted the name of the complex – Te Mātāwai and gifted the names for the three tower blocks that make up Te Mātāwai – Waitapu, Waiora and Wainui.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Driving home through Roskill South now means travelling along 32,000 square metres of upgraded roads.

Nearly 150 new streetlights guide the way, framing those roads in place of power poles removed as electricity was fed underground – among 28 kilometres of new utility lines.

More than 5km of new mains connect homes with fresh water, and 4.5km of new wastewater pipes see to its safe removal. Rainfall is prevented from flooding nearby homes thanks to nearly 9km of new stormwater pipes and an upgraded Freeland Reserve(external link), where you’ll find many of Roskill South’s almost 28,500 new plants and 370 additional trees.

After five years of work, this is just some of what has been delivered for the neighbourhood, and that neighbourhood is just one of 18 in the 162-hectare Roskill Development – itself just one of the Kāinga Ora large-scale projects set to deliver tens-of-thousands of new homes.

“Across all of our large-scale projects, Roskill South was the second to start and we’re the first to finish our civil infrastructure,” says Lucy Smith, Kāinga Ora Senior Development Manager for Roskill Development.

“Kāinga Ora and our civil construction partner LEAD Alliance have delivered more than $150 million worth of this work in Roskill South alone.”

All of that work lays the foundation for hundreds of new homes to be built in the neighbourhood over a number of years under Roskill Development. It also means Kāinga Ora build partners can deliver it at a faster rate than before.

“You could say it’s like decorating your bedroom,” says Lucy. “When you start, you have to spend a lot of time doing the prep, sanding, priming and filling. That’s the civil construction. All of that prep means your painting – or, in our case, the house builds – can actually happen quite quickly, but that’s where you see the biggest transformation.”

Kāinga Ora and its development partners have removed or relocated 265 older houses in Roskill South, with 970 new homes to be delivered across a range of sizes and types. Those new homes will be a mix of public housing and homes for sale both at market rates and more affordable price points.

Already, Kāinga Ora has completed about 350 homes in Roskill South, including almost all of the new public housing planned for the neighbourhood.

And all of that civil construction is not just for the benefit of the new homes delivered through Roskill Development, says Sikander Malik, Kāinga Ora Senior Project Manager – Infrastructure and Civil Construction.

“Infrastructure is the key to success for any development. It’s the foundation of a housing project and for Kāinga Ora we build infrastructure not just for the new homes we have planned, but to support future private development and to provide better services for the homes that are already here,” he says.

“When we started in Roskill South, we quickly found that it was a much bigger job than earlier studies had suggested – with things like stormwater infrastructure, we found the pipe size suited the weather patterns of the 1950s, for example, so it was already unsuitable for existing homes, let alone this community’s future growth.”

For Lucy, who has worked in Roskill South since the project began, the drive to deliver for the neighbourhood goes beyond upgraded services and new homes.

“These new homes are crucial for the neighbourhood, but Roskill Development is so much more than that – the built form, it’s carefully designed and you hope everybody will like it – but all of this is about delivering health and wellbeing outcomes for this community,” she says.

“That’s why I love what I do.”

Roskill South – by the numbers:

• $150 million in new and upgraded infrastructure.
• 970 new homes in total – a mix of public housing and homes for sale both at market rates and more affordable price points.
• 350 homes completed so far, including most of the public housing planned for Roskill South.
• 620 more new homes to be delivered over the course of the development.
• 265 older homes removed or relocated.
• 32,020 square metres of upgraded roads.
• 28,443 plants and 368 new trees.
• 2,621 square metres of new footpaths.
• 8,897 metres of new stormwater pipes.
• 4,572 metres of new wastewater pipes.
• 5,421 metres of new water mains.
• 28,443 metres of new utility lines underground.
• 102 power poles removed.
• 148 new streetlights.
• One new, and one upgraded greenspace. 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Every inch of the soil behind her brand-new home in West Auckland is sprouting fresh produce; neat rows of kale, onion, spinach and courgette are all thriving under Kabonye’s eager green thumb.

Growing food is in Kabonye’s blood, having grown up on a farm in the Democratic Republic of Congo where her family lived on the food they produced. She has been a gardener since childhood, honing her skills and quickly adjusting to the vastly different New Zealand climate when she moved here as a refugee several years ago.

Through her friend and translator, Mary, Kabonye explains she is very happy to share her vegetables with her new neighbours. She is very grateful to have a vegetable garden again, having lost hers during the Auckland Anniversary floods earlier this year.

“I was living in a different Kāinga Ora home nearby with six of my children and a big vegetable garden that I loved. On the day of the flood it was just raining normally then all of a sudden the carpet started to lift up with water. Within a few minutes it started to lift the chairs up.”

With her children safe away from the rising water, Kabonye was carried outside by her son and nephew.

“It was very frightening – I have never experienced anything like it.”

The whānau was thankfully unharmed, but could no longer live in their much-loved home and moved into temporary accommodation while a permanent home was found.

It was a rough few months, but now Kabonye’s family is settling into their new Kāinga Ora home  in plenty of time to celebrate Christmas together.

“It is a big relief to have got this house,” she says. “I am so happy to be here.”

On Christmas Day, after attending church in the morning, Kabonye and her children will return to their new home for music and a feast of fish, chicken, rice, and of course, the freshest vegetables in town!

“My friends will come, and my children’s friends too. Everyone will come to this house – our home.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The two-bedroom homes on the corner of Rintoul Street and Riley Place were blessed by local iwi Ngāti Waewae earlier this week. 

The homes have replaced one flood-damaged house that was previously on the site and was removed last year. 

Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says people are expected to move into the homes in time for Christmas.  

“Our specialist team is currently speaking with people who will benefit from living in these new homes. Before placing a customer in a Kāinga Ora home, we talk to them about both their housing needs and connections to the community, and other groups, to help us make a suitable housing match,” she says.  

Ms Campbell says Kāinga Ora is increasing the number of homes available for people in need in several ways, including replacing older homes with a greater number of homes on the same site, as part of its redevelopment programme. 

“We’re really pleased to be able to provide two modern homes on a site where one home once stood. We’re also looking forward to welcoming people into homes that are within walking distance to shops, schools and other amenities,” she says. 

The homes were manufactured off-site at Rolleston Prison, near Christchurch, under a partnership between Kāinga Ora and the Department of Corrections. 

After excavation and foundation work was completed, the two homes were transported to Rintoul Street in August this year before being lifted on the piles and connected to key services. Other work such as landscaping and the construction of concrete driveways and paths, a timber deck and stairs was then undertaken. 

The total cost of constructing the homes is $837,564 excluding GST. This includes the cost of constructing the homes off-site, relocating them to the Rintoul Street site and all associated work on-site (including civil, infrastructure and landscape work). 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Jacqui is a driving-force at the hub, with a passion for bringing people together to create a sense of connection. Located in the heart of a diverse and welcoming community, Jacqui and her team of volunteers at the hub are passionate about celebrating the range of cultures represented in the area through cultural events, classes and by simply sparking conversation.

“When people pass the hub, they stop to look and chat, and right away they’re making connections – which is what it’s all about. Some go on to volunteer with us, and we love having that help and the chance to get to know each other.”

So, what exactly happens at the hub? As the beating heart of the community, the hub is a base for all sorts of wonderful services and activities including Kai Connect, a local food parcel service; Making Ends Meet, a ‘free shop’ of donated clothing and household items; and free workshops in te reo Māori and tikanga.

And Jacqui plays a key role in all of it – including leading the te reo Māori classes.

“I grew up speaking te reo Māori and I want to give others the opportunity to learn, reconnect with their cultural identity and fill their kete with knowledge,” Jacqui says.

“Running these classes is an opportunity for me to give back to the parents in our community. Our tamariki learn te reo Māori at school, and this lets them learn the same thing their tamariki are learning so they can continue to speak and learn te reo Māori together at home.”

But Jacqui is clear that she is just one in a network of amazing volunteers who help make the Glenavon Community Hub the lively meeting place it is. Two of these volunteers – and Jacqui’s friends – are Wahine and Wiki, also Kāinga Ora customers who live nearby. The pair volunteer to help with Kai Connect, saying it’s their way of giving back to the community that has welcomed and supported them.

They’re modest about their contributions, pointing out that to give is to receive.

“I know what it’s like to struggle and I do whatever I can to help out – we all do,” says Wahine. “We have a great relationship and understand that working together benefits everyone, and we always have a laugh!”

Wiki agrees, having been blown away by the support the community wrapped around her when she needed help herself.

“When we were in lockdown for COVID-19, Whaea Jacqui delivered a kai parcel to help get me and my family through,” Wiki explains.

“So when we got out of lockdown, I came to the hub and asked Jacqui how I could help out. I know that helping people in need makes a big difference and I wanted to be part of it.”

And for Jacqui, stories like that are what it’s all about.

“We’re a family here and our priority is to focus on what we can improve for our people and to bring everyone together. This way we can make our community safer and stronger.” 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Ngarangi had her hands full raising five moko (grandchildren) when disaster struck. The whānau were at a wedding when she received a call to say her home in Mt Wellington was on fire.

Dashing home, her heart pounding, Ngarangi’s worst fears were realised when she arrived: the house was destroyed. Still, she felt a small sense of comfort knowing the house was insured.

But later that night, she received the terrible news that her insurance policy had lapsed five weeks earlier. Distracted by sole care of her moko and her work as a cleaner, she had overlooked the policy renewal date.

“There are no words to express how it feels to watch 60 years of your life go up in smoke. I grew up in that house with my parents and three sisters, then it had become home for me and my moko. Suddenly we had nothing except the clothes we were wearing. Where were we going to go? I didn’t have enough money to start all over.”

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, now known to have been caused by an electrical fault, Ngarangi and the children received huge support from neighbours, many of whom she’d known for decades. That night, they stayed in a neighbour’s sleepout.

“When we woke up next morning, there was a pile of donations at the gate – clothes, blankets and food. The local shopkeeper invited me to choose whatever I needed at no cost. I just cried. I’m not a taker, I’m usually the one giving so it was overwhelming.”

A storage container was delivered and very soon it was full of furniture and household goods donated by well-wishers, ready for when Ngarangi had a new home. In the meantime, she and the children, ages seven to 17, moved into a self-contained garage on her cousins’ property.

Buoyed by support from locals and also her employers, who donated new beds and a lounge suite, Ngarangi devoted herself to house-hunting.

Emergency housing was offered but because pets were not permitted, it would have meant rehoming their treasured dog, Hunter. Ngarangi felt the children could not cope with any more loss. Their brother, Amulek had died at 10 when he succumbed to a hereditary illness and of course they’d just lost their home and belongings.

During the next few months, Ngarangi searched for a private rental to no avail. Then came the call that would change their lives: a Kāinga Ora house had become available, a newly refurbished house in Papakura with five bedrooms and a fenced backyard.

“It was a huge relief,” remembers Ngarangi. “It was a chance to start over, to put some bad memories behind us.”

The first few months in their new home were dizzying as the children settled into new schools and the whānau familiarised themselves with their neighbourhood. Now, says Ngarangi, it’s home.

“Knowing the house is permanent helps us feel settled. It’s home and the kids love it. These days I have contents insurance, car insurance and funeral insurance. I’m determined to provide for my grandchildren.

“I honestly don’t know where we would be if it wasn’t for Kāinga Ora. I used to wonder how people ended up in public housing and now I’m one of them and I couldn’t be more grateful. We’ve got a safe home, and we can get on with living.”