Category: Airlines

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The three two-bedroom homes in Kawai Street were built on NMIT’s Richmond campus by around 30 carpentry students undertaking the NZ Certificate in Construction and NMIT-managed carpentry apprentices, under the guidance of trade-qualified tutors.

The homes were transported to the Kawai Street site earlier this year, where they were fitted out inside, and landscaping was completed.

Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says the aim of the Kāinga Ora partnership with NMIT is to increase housing supply in the Nelson Tasman region, and to provide enhanced learning opportunities for students entering the construction industry.

“The students have the chance to gain real world experience while building houses for people in need of a warm and dry home,” Ms Campbell says.

The homes, which have replaced one older Kāinga Ora home, were built to Kāinga Ora specifications and Kāinga Ora project managers visited the NMIT site regularly during the build process.

NMIT Executive Director Olivia Hall says the partnership has been beneficial to ākonga (learners) at NMIT, helping to create pathways into the building industry.

“Through this experience, our learners are equipped with the skills they need to hit the ground running when they enter the workforce. We pride ourselves on producing graduates who are industry-ready and this is a great example of that. It’s wonderful to be part of this initiative, which will also benefit local families and the wider community.”

Ms Campbell says residents are expected to move into the new homes in the coming weeks. “Our Kāinga Ora placement team is currently working to place people into the new homes. We’re really looking forward to giving people the keys to the doors.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Kāinga Ora bought the new homes from developer, Soho Group, for use as social housing.

Graeme Broderick, Regional Director Taranaki/Whanganui/Manawatu, says the new homes will help meet the demand for social housing in New Plymouth, in line with the Public Housing Plan.

“We know the positive impact these homes will have on the people and smaller families matched to them and we’re excited to hand over the keys. The central location means the homes are close to everything our customers need in their day-to-day lives, such as shops, schools and recreational facilities.

“The community will play a big part in helping people settle into these new homes. We hope that local residents welcome our customers in the same way they would welcome any other person or family moving into a neighbourhood.’’

Mr Broderick says he is delighted the community space in the complex can be used by those living in the homes, as well as the wider community. The community space will be managed by the Taranaki YMCA.

“To enable vibrant community spaces, we must partner with other organisations. We will be engaging with our customers and community on the wellbeing and social outcomes they want to see unlocked in this new community space,” says Mr Broderick.

The Taranaki YMCA CEO Joanne Dusterhoft adds: “The shared community space will be used for various activities and programs to foster community engagement between Kāinga Ora customers and the inner-city community. Through the Taranaki YMCA’s network of other community organisations services, Kāinga Ora customers will also have access to a wide range of other resources to support their personal and professional development.”

“We look forward to building a stronger, more resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive through this partnership.”

Ben Noone, Head of Project Delivery at Soho Group, says Soho is very proud of the Leach Street development, from site selection and the proximity to the heart of the city to the high-quality design of the building and landscaping features.

“Soho, along with local tradespeople, has delivered well-positioned, functional, warm, dry and comfortable homes for local whānau. Working alongside our contractors and supporting the local community and economy throughout the development was great. There were up to 60 people on-site at any given point, made up of around 30 local businesses.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The church will be removed and ideally some parts of the church building, including the stained-glass windows, will be reused by people in the Hastings community.

The Presbyterian Church Property Trustees decided to sell the church site after the St Marks congregation dissolved three years ago. The Church is a 1960s Lockwood type building and is in poor condition.

St Andrews, Hastings has been looking after the building facilities. They, along with the Presbyterian Church, were keen to see the large, well-connected site used to house Hastings people in need.

The church knows from working with the community that there is a strong demand for social housing, says Reverend Jill McDonald.

“This is based on government data and anecdotal evidence from our congregation. We want to see homes built that that work well for the community and for the people and whānau who will call the new houses ‘home’.”

“Our community needs to make available safe and stable homes for those who do not have an appropriate place to live. Too many of our people are spending the cold winter months living in cars, tents, garages, and overcrowded homes.”

“God has a particular love for people who are struggling and longs for the flourishing of all people. We know that housing is key to that happening. That is why the church wanted to see this unused land repurposed for social housing.”

Removal of the church building and outbuildings will begin from 10 June, 2024.

Anyone interested in the stained glass windows or other parts of the church should contact Stefan Christie at Central Demolition stefan@centraldemolition.co.nz 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The church will be removed and ideally some parts of the church building, including the stained-glass windows, will be reused by people in the Hastings community.

The Presbyterian Church Property Trustees decided to sell the church site after the St Marks congregation dissolved three years ago. The Church is a 1960s Lockwood type building and is in poor condition.

St Andrews, Hastings has been looking after the building facilities. They, along with the Presbyterian Church, were keen to see the large, well-connected site used to house Hastings people in need.

The church knows from working with the community that there is a strong demand for social housing, says Reverend Jill McDonald.

“This is based on government data and anecdotal evidence from our congregation. We want to see homes built that that work well for the community and for the people and whānau who will call the new houses ‘home’.”

“Our community needs to make available safe and stable homes for those who do not have an appropriate place to live. Too many of our people are spending the cold winter months living in cars, tents, garages, and overcrowded homes.”

“God has a particular love for people who are struggling and longs for the flourishing of all people. We know that housing is key to that happening. That is why the church wanted to see this unused land repurposed for social housing.”

Removal of the church building and outbuildings will begin from 10 June, 2024.

Anyone interested in the stained glass windows or other parts of the church should contact Stefan Christie at Central Demolition stefan@centraldemolition.co.nz 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

“What’s not to love?” Tony asks as he admires the green outlook of the nearby park. “I feel blessed to be here. My home, the park, being surrounded by nature – it’s bliss,” he says.

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means Tony is taking a short stroll from his home to the onsite community room for a regular committee meeting.

Tony is one of five Kāinga Ora customers, who put their hand up to help manage and run what is Northland’s first community room at a Kāinga Ora development.

Gifted the name ‘Taparoto’ by local hapu, the room is used for everything from baby showers, to birthday parties, community meetings and after school care.

“If you’d have told me a year ago, I’d be sitting here, looking out to this park and being a member of this committee, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he says.

Tony and the other committee members hold practical responsibilities for the room such as scheduling bookings, checking the room is left clean and tidy, restocking essentials, and ensuring keys are returned. They have also established a set of practical rules for use of the room, which everyone follows and respects.

In a show of true community spirit, Tony and his fellow committee members have also run a successful community-wide ‘meet your neighbours’ day. The event, which was loved by all who attended, included a bouncy castle, face painting, a bbq and games enjoyed by the kids and parents alike. 

“Having Taparoto and events like the neighbour’s day, means we’ve gotten to know each other really well. Before I just had neighbours, now, for the first time I feel like I’m part of a community,” says Tony.

“Just knowing each other’s names, talking to your neighbours, having the kids scooter past and say hi or stop to pat Keeber, it all builds trust,” he says.

Prior to becoming a Kāinga Ora customer, Tony and Keeber were stuck in unsuitable accommodation, which was starting to have serious health impacts.

“I didn’t realise how bad it was at first, but I just started feeling worse and worse. Physically and mentally – everything just started going downhill. I couldn’t think, I was hardly living.”

But hope came in the form of a phone call. A call from Kāinga Ora, offering Tony a warm, dry, brand-new home.

“A home is everything, trust me. It can change everything,” he says.

“My health started improving from the day I moved in and now I can think clearly again. I have the motivation to be part of each day.”

Zephyr Marshall, Northland’s Community Development Manager at Kāinga Ora, has been part of Taparoto since its inception and still attends every committee meeting in a support role.

The committee will often look to her for guidance which she is happy to give, but she’s also quick to remind them that community room decisions are theirs to make.

“From meeting to meeting I see their confidence grow. Being part of a committee is a real commitment and it’s been a pleasure to see their hard work turn into successful events that empower and improve this community,” she says.

“For me the success of the neighbour’s day demonstrated how a seemingly simple room, can be so much more. It can provide room to reflect, grow and come together.”

As this month’s committee meeting wraps up, Tony reflects on being in his home for close to a year.

“Living here and having access to Taparoto and the beautiful park where I walk Keeber – I feel cared for, and that has given me a sense of peace,” he says.

“For me, the honeymoon phase is over, and that’s a real good thing. Now I can do what I wanted to do all along, start living.”  

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Students studying joinery at the Western Institute of Technology Taranaki (WITT) have built the planter boxes and, complete with soil and seedlings, some have now been delivered by the Bishop’s Action Foundation (BAF) to Kāinga Ora customers in the region. 
 
To keep the vegetables and whānau thriving, Sustainable Taranaki (through the Marfell Community Garden) will provide advice and guidance on caring for the plants.  
 
Daniel Fuemana, Director of Trade Training, Primary and Creative Industries at WITT, says building the planter boxes teaches the Year 11, 12 and 13 students various joinery skills. 
 
“Providing meaningful mahi will really bring the learning alive for these joinery ākonga (students) and they take great pride in knowing the planter boxes will be used to help community members,” says Daniel. 
 
Maya Harrison and Misha Hoskin, Year 12 students from New Plymouth Girls’ High School, say the planter box project has been rewarding, especially knowing the boxes will be used in the community for people to grow food. Both have been doing woodwork at school and have enjoyed the opportunity through WITT’s Secondary Tertiary Pathway to develop their skills by using a wide range of hand, power, and fixed tools in the carpentry workshop on campus.  
 
The planter box initiative grew out of the need to increase food resiliency in the community, says Mieke Verschoor, workshop coordinator and facilitator at Sustainable Taranaki. 
 
“Many people have realised through the COVID lockdowns and supermarket food shortages how important it is to grow their own kai. It helps them be self-reliant and share what they don’t need with whānau, friends and neighbours. In addition, we also know that gardening and growing food is important for someone’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.” 
 
BAF Chief Executive Officer Simon Cayley agrees that kai is an important connector, allowing people to share with neighbours and engage in community initiatives like crop swaps and community gardens. 
 
“Food grown in the planter boxes can be harvested and enjoyed in a nutritious shared meal with friends, family, and neighbours that they can feel proud of. By learning to grow their own food, Kāinga Ora customers will be able to share their knowledge with family and friends, passing on their learnings to the next generation.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

And connecting people is precisely what Anna likes to do, so it is unsurprising that her family calls her a “people collector”.

The list of Anna’s community initiatives is long: from running Facebook groups, including the ‘Palmerston North Women’s Social Group’, ‘Friends of Savage Park’ and ‘Savage Community Group’ to organising events in the reserve and establishing a community garden.

One of the events Anna looks back on with pride is the open-air cinema she organised in the reserve a few months ago. “A massive number of people turned up and everyone had a great time,” she says.

Having experienced housing transformation overseas, Anna understands the importance of communities getting to know each other as cities change.

“When I lived in London, the city went through a transition where original homes were being replaced with skyscrapers. There are positives to this style of living, but it can also become isolating without the usual foot traffic and interactions with neighbours,” says Anna.

“I remember one woman decided to build a community centre, and the benefits of getting locals to come along, get to know each other and build community connections were really incredible.

“That’s what I aspire to do for others. I like it when I find out that one person has connected with another person in the community and that this made a difference in their lives. Because that is how I think these things spread and ripple out.”

Alongside good planning, it takes people like Anna to help build sustainable, thriving, and inclusive communities. In her work, Anna aims to not only bring people together but also to support the environment.

“Luckily, my backyard is close to the reserve, so I contacted Environmental Network Manawatū, who helped me turn it into a community garden. We’ve got quite a few winter veggies ready for harvest for the community already.”

Anna’s backyard turned community garden is also a collection point for the community’s household food waste as part of a new Community Composting initiative by Manawatū Food Action Network.

Anna has hundreds of other plans for the future, big and small, but it’s the community that has her heart.

“People in the community often ask me why I do the community work. It‘s because I am absolutely enjoying it, and I am sure I would be bored otherwise!” Anna says.

“The busier the reserve gets, the better. We know people are enthusiastic about having events there and I’m currently exploring opportunities to organise a local market. There are so many opportunities for the community to connect!”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Te Kauwhata College students are placing the building blocks for their futures as they explore how a construction career could work for them.

Eleven rangatahi, aged 16-18, have just completed the first part of Future Squad – a three-day workshop with career panels, site visits, projects and expert guidance from consultants, build partners and urban development, planning and design professionals.

And for some of those students, those three days are just the beginning.

“Part of our workshops included a really important step for anyone entering the workforce – real-life job interviews,” says Nigel Chandra, Construction Plus Manager.

“Two of our build partners – Finesse Residential(external link) and DEN Property(external link) – are providing opportunities for some of these students to gain on-site work experience at their developments currently under way in Lakeside.”

And, like any new job, it all starts with an interview. From there, students will spend one day on site each week, for up to six weeks.

“We’re really grateful to Finesse and DEN,” says Nigel. “They’re giving some of these students a chance to explore their interest in construction and develop really important skills that’ll help them reach their career goals.”

Led by Nigel, Future Squad is part of the Kāinga Ora Construction Plus programme, which connects people living in communities undergoing urban development with industry training and employment opportunities.

“The pathways created by Future Squad are only possible because of the efforts of so many different people and groups involved,” says Nigel.

“Along with our build partners, members across the various Kāinga Ora teams are all pitching in to give these students a really good look at what’s involved in urban development and construction.

“The Get Group are also helping students turn their work experience into tangible results – some of them have the potential to earn 21 NCEA Level 3 credits for completing Future Squad. Of course, it’s also important to say that none of this would be possible without the support and work from the team at Te Kauwhata College.”

Natalie Langman, Gateway Coordinator at Te Kauwhata College, says students “really enjoyed the course” and a chance to better understand how housing and urban development sector operates.

“These courses give students amazing opportunities to explore more of what is available out there,” she says.

“With Te Kauwhata being a small town, halfway between Auckland and Hamilton, having Lakeside Development here has given us and our students heaps of opportunities.

“It’s meant being able to get work experience in the construction industry that we wouldn’t have been able gain otherwise.” 

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

On Church Street, three existing homes have been replaced with seven new 3, 4 and five-bedroom homes. Around the corner on Lindon Street two existing homes have made way for five 2 and 3-bedroom homes.

Another way Kāinga Ora is boosting the supply of homes in the Waimakariri District is by acquiring new homes and we have recently purchased six new homes on Percival Street, Rangiora from a local developer.

Canterbury Regional Director, Liz Krause says these 18 new homes are a prime example of how Kāinga Ora is working to renew its housing stock across the region to provide more homes to those in need.

“Increasing the number of homes on some sites means we can make better use of our properties and more people can live in areas like Rangiora, that have good transport options and are close to schools, shops and other local amenities.

“These new homes are well-suited to the modern lifestyles of our customers and they’re also warmer and drier, helping keep power bills down.

“The homes also come with their own off-street parking and some meet full universal design standards, meaning they can be adapted to be accessible for people of all abilities, at any stage of life,” says Liz.

Further redevelopments are taking place at Kāinga Ora properties across Rangiora and Kaiapoi with demolition, site preparations and construction having begun for a further five sites.

“Our work to renew our housing portfolio will go some way to meeting the need for more homes in the community. As we progress these redevelopments, we’re keeping neighbours, the local community and key stakeholders informed with updates on progress.

“Now we’ve delivered these first three projects, we’re really looking forward to delivering a further 31 new homes in Kaiapoi and Rangiora by the end of this year,” Liz says.

You can view these upcoming developments in Kaiapoi and Rangiora(external link).