Category: Housing Sector

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The Kāinga Ora customer arrived in Christchurch from Sāmoa with her family when she was three months old and spent her childhood wanting to speak the language of the country she had left behind.

“It was really tough. We were told that we didn’t need our language. That left me traumatised and I ended up losing my language,” Tiresa explains.

A few decades later and Tiresa – now a fluent Sāmoan speaker who can also understand some Tongan, Arabic and speak Afrikaans – has not only reclaimed her language, but uses it every day in her work advocating for people and families in need of housing,  many of whom are Pasifika.

For two hours each day, Tiresa works at the Rowley Community Centre, a community centre in Ōtautahi. Word of Tiresa’s knowledge of Sāmoan and other languages has spread, and she now gets referrals from across the city.

“Now I’m in a role where I use my language 70 percent of the time. I liaise with the Ministry of Social Development and the Kāinga Ora housing support team on behalf of the people I work with,” she says.

Tiresa, who was born with cerebral palsy, has spent 15 years volunteering in her local community in Christchurch where she has lived since 1989. She’s done a huge amount of voluntary work, including being one of the founding members of the ‘Rowley Mamas’ – a group of Mums set up to support struggling families –  and serving as a member of FAGASA Christchurch, an organisation dedicated to nurturing the Sāmoan language, for 10 years.

She’s currently a member of the Christchurch South Community Patrol and one of the project leads behind the Pasifika Mātua Olympics event being held in September.

Tiresa volunteered alongside her different paid jobs, before her health started to deteriorate. That’s when her current role came along.

“I love this community and I’ve lived most of my life in a Kāinga Ora home. I had to leave previous jobs because of my health, but after a while I was missing the community work and I wanted to be more involved – so I started coming in here [Rowley Community Centre] and sitting in the lounge talking to others offering support. Then I was asked if I wanted to work here. That was four years ago,” Tiresa says.

Tiresa has recently moved into an accessible Kāinga Ora home with her Mum and son, and it has meant the world to the family. “With my cerebral palsy, I’m losing my mobility and I get around on a mobility scooter outside. When we found out we were moving into an accessible home, my Mum just broke down as she’s wanted this for me,” she says.

The home includes features designed to make life easier for Tiresa, such as wider doors, lower light switches and an outdoor plug so she can charge her mobility scooter outside.

Tiresa says she enjoys helping others because she knows what it’s like to struggle, but also to have someone in your corner.

“I’ve used this experience when I’m working with other people. Living with cerebral palsy, my Mum has been my strongest advocate all my life. She’s a Queen and she’s kept us above water. I am where I am because of her.” 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The homes Gisborne include five homes that have been built by trade academies and seven more homes for Manuka Street, Elgin.

Homes in Konini Street, Grafton Road and Mary Street have come from the Iconiq Building Academy based at Gisborne Airport. Homes in De Costa Avenue and another one in Grafton Road have come from the Massey High School Building Academy in Auckland.

The homes are all warm, dry, healthy homes built to New Zealand Green Building Council 6 Homestar standards. Site works, including landscaping and connection to services, are complete and the homes are ready for whānau to move in.

The final seven of 14 new homes are now complete in Manuka Street, Gisborne.  Building started in May last year after four old homes were removed to make better use of the large sections they were on. Whānau started moving into the first seven homes in May this year.

Some of the 14 new homes have been matched to whānau most in need on the Ministry of Social Developments housing waiting list. As at March 2023, there are 582 applicants on the list in Tairāwhiti. This translates to whānau who are sleeping in cars, garages, motels and overcrowded homes.

The difference these new whare will make for whānau was made clear as an infectious smile lit up Morehu (Beau’s) face, when he entered his new, two-bedroom home for the first time.

Beau is moving into one of the two fully accessible homes in the Manuka Street development.

The unit he has been living in became unsuitable due to his increasing health issues. There were steps at the front and back doors and the shower was situated over the bathtub. This has meant Beau has had to rely on extra services, and other people’s help, to negotiate these two things.

Most of his working life Beau worked on large coastal stations, mainly with sheep and cattle. In 2017 Beau was forced to move into town from his home town of Waipiro Bay. Since then, mobility and retaining independence have been significant challenges for him. However, perseverance, his persistent nature and whanau support, have helped to him pull through.

Fortunately for Beau, his neighbour for the past seven years was always there to help.  “I am ever so indebted to her for her kindness and aroha, also, to whanau, friends and health professionals,” says Beau.

As the sun shone into the new, warm and comfortable house with ramps at both entrances, a wet room style shower, laundry and toilet with accessible doorways, it was clear that life is going to get better for Beau and his whānau.

“I am pleased to be living in Elgin because of its location, being close to the hospital, not too far from the airport and just a walking distance to the Olympic Pools and Waikanae Beach.”

“The new home has a battery charging station and access for a mobility scooter. Shopping will be easier, and the big difference is, I will not need to rely on anyone else to get my groceries.”

More information

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Housing Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods opened the homes today, alongside Te Arawa and Ngāti Whakaue, delivering on the Government’s housing plan and commitments in the Rotorua Housing Accord to build a better housing future for whānau in the city.

Also at the event were representatives of Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue and Rotorua Lakes Council.

The single storey two, three and four-bedrooom homes have been built offsite and completed at pace, in around 18 months from when the build ready subdivision was bought.

Most of those who will move in are expected to be families and come from emergency and transitional housing.

Darren Toy, Bay of Plenty Regional Director, says it is rewarding to see the new homes looking great and ready for people to move into.

“These are much needed new homes for Rotorua, and whānau who will be moving into them are excited to start their new lives in these warm, dry and safe whare.

“These homes have been delivered more quickly through the innovative use of offsite manufacturing, and been built by our build partner BuiltSmart and had onsite work completed by Maxion.

“I look forward to whānau settling in, their tamariki going to school, and the wider community welcoming their new neighbours as they start a new chapter of their lives.”

The homes are high quality low maintenance fully insulated 6 Homestar homes, with carpets, curtains, double glazing, off-street parking and fenced private section.

The built homes were transported to the site overnight from the BuiltSmart factory in Huntly, and then connected to services and had porches, decks, parking pads, fencing and landscaping completed.

The development also has a shared green space, and Kāinga Ora will work with the new residents and the wider community around how they would like this to be used, for example seating and children’s play equipment.

More information

• Since November 2017 over 270 public and supported homes have been delivered in Rotorua by Kāinga Ora, including 25 earlier this year at the Ranolf Street and Malfroy Road development. Currently Kāinga Ora has around 500 homes in planning or under construction for the city.
• The Rotorua Housing Accord(external link) was established in December 2022 between the Government, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Iwi to work together, with a focus on care, wellbeing and management of emergency housing, and increasing housing supply.
• See more public housing developments in the Bay of Plenty
• Read more about off-site manufacturing

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The 200 public housing customers that will live within Te Mātāwai, along with 50 Kāinga Ora customers living next door, will get access to around-the-clock, on-site support services. They will also have access to shared communal spaces that will provide opportunities to connect with neighbours, helping to foster a sense of community and belonging.

“The public housing homes at Te Mātāwai will provide a stable home to people from many different walks of life, creating a diverse and mixed community,’’ says Kāinga Ora Regional Director Central and East Auckland, John Tubberty.

“It is also a place where a number of people who require a higher level of support to be able to live well, can get a warm, dry and safe place to call home and access to support, when they need it, to help improve their wellbeing.’’

Te Mātāwai will also have 76 homes available for rent for the wider rental market happening as part of a one-off mixed tenure pilot to help create a more diverse and mixed community. Initially the Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) will also lease 21 of these homes to provide housing for those impacted by the Auckland floods.

“What is also extra special is that the first customers moving into Te Mātāwai this week used to live in the old building at Greys Avenue. These customers have chosen to return and it’s great to be able to welcome them back”.

“We also recently invited neighbours to have a look around Te Mātāwai and more than 100 locals came along. We received some very positive feedback on the thoughtful design, support services and community spaces. Neighbours were also united in their support for this innovative approach to housing and wellbeing”, Mr Tubberty said.

“With customers now moving in, our focus is on getting settled in and making this a great place to live for everyone”.

More information about Te Mātāwai

• At the Te Mātāwai complex, there are 3 tower blocks of between 9 and 13 storeys high.
• At the beginning of the project Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei also gifted an overarching narrative for the site which was used as a base to design the building and 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. Read more about the narrative.
• Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei also recently 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. Read about the dawn blessing for Te Mātāwai
• 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.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Construction of the new three-storey public housing complex on Riccarton Road began in June 2022 and took a year to complete.

Liz Krause, Regional Director Canterbury, says customers living in the new one-bedroom units will benefit from the first Allume SolShare unit system to be installed in New Zealand. This is a world-first technology that will take electricity generated by solar panels on the complex’s roof and share it equally among everyone living in the complex.

“This technology monitors when a resident is using energy and will direct solar power to their unit to reduce electricity bills as much as possible,” she says.

“This can increase the amount of solar used in the building by up to 50%, meaning there’s less reliance on expensive grid power, and higher savings for residents. We’re expecting this system to reduce customers’ power bills by around $350-$400 per year.”

The complex also includes a heat recovery system, which will help to reduce heatpump costs in each unit, and has an 8-Homestar rating, which means it has been built to be warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.

Liz says this development will also provide a boost to accessible housing stock in Christchurch. It is the first high-density Full Universal Design complex Kāinga Ora has built in the city. This means the units are more accessible, with features such as wider doors and level entryways, and can be made more accessible in the future if needed.

Five of the new units on Riccarton Road also have another room for a carer, and two have additional accessibility features such as a larger wet area shower and a lowered bench in the kitchen. All the units are serviced by a lift.

Residents will also enjoy living in a well-connected area of the city, Liz says. “We’re aiming to provide more homes for people in need in areas such as Riccarton that are close to transport routes, shops and other amenities.  By building up, more people can enjoy living in a prime location that connects easily to all the services they may need,” she says.

Greta Bond, Age Concern Canterbury Chief Executive, says the complex is a “game changer” for Christchurch people on low incomes who need accessible housing.

“We often find that people need accessible housing but don’t necessarily need to be in residential care. It’s beautifully designed, warm, very accessible, high-quality housing in a great location….it’s just delightful,” she says.