Category: Kainga Ora

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The 85-unit apartment development on Lake Road, Northcote replaces 9 older homes, and will also house the local Kāinga Ora area office. These apartments are part of the Northcote Development Large Scale Project (LSP).

As well as 40 one-bedroom homes (including 17 with Full Universal Design), 30 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom homes, the three-block Ngāhuripoke development also contains a playground and office spaces for the delivery of community services.

The name Ngāhuripoke was gifted by iwi Ngāti Pāoa, from the name of a prominent Northcote family. The three ingoa for the individual buildings, Keremeta, Wiripo and Wiki, are all brothers from the last generation of the whānau to live on the whenua in the 1950s.

Speaking at the opening, Kāinga Ora board chair noted that public housing creates housing security for whānau, allowing kids to attend the same school throughout their schooling and letting people put down roots.

“This building is just the physical infrastructure, but the impact that secure housing has on people’s lives is immense.”

More information about Ngāhuripoke

• Three 6-level buildings (Keremeta, Wiripo and Wiki) comprising 40 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom apartments
• All homes built to 6 Homestar standards
• 17 of the one-bedroom homes have Full Universal Design, making them easily adaptable to a variety of mobility needs
• 5,939 sqm site, replacing 9 homes with 85
• The Kāinga Ora area office will relocate from Takapuna to be onsite
• Other ground-floor office spaces will be able to be used for delivering community services

More information about Northcote Development(external link).

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The recent Government announcement of changes to the scheme, mean it will be a good option for more of our people to own their first home, says Theo, Kāinga Ora Stakeholder Relationship Manager. “The couple started looking to buy a home when they were expecting their second child. They were in KiwiSaver and were eligible for Kāinga Ora’s First Home Loan and First Home Grant.”

“After getting pre-approval for a small bank loan they started looking for something to buy. They looked at a couple of homes in Gisborne but the only things in their price bracket needed a lot of work. One home they looked at was tiny and cold with holes in the roof. They couldn’t really afford to buy the house, let alone get the holes fixed. This a situation many of our people find themselves in,” says Theo.

“They were living about 25 minutes out of Gisborne.  Down the road they saw a paddock being subdivided and homes transported onto the sections. One home was already taken, but after speaking with the developers they found out that the other one was available.  The house was modern, with 3 bedrooms, a big deck and room for a large vegetable garden. Better still it was close to both of the couple’s marae.”

“After struggling for so long to find some where suitable to bring up their family, they were determined to buy this house. Luckily in Tairāwhiti there are lots of professionals ready to help people navigate their first home purchase.  They looked into what other assistance would be available and found out about the First Home Partner scheme. That’s when I met them,” adds Theo.

“People who want to get into their first home need to start reaching out for information and support. Working with local Kāinga Ora staff, a mortgage broker, real estate agents and a lawyer all helped the couple make their dream a reality.”

First Home Partner is a shared home ownership scheme. It helps bridge the gap for first home buyers whose deposit and home loan aren’t quite enough to purchase a property.  Eligible whānau purchase a home together with Kāinga Ora, to help overcome the deposit barrier. The first home buyer is the majority homeowner and occupier, but Kāinga Ora will own a share in the home that the home buyer will need to buy out over time to achieve full ownership.

Kāinga Ora will contribute a maximum of 25% or $200,000 – whichever is lower – towards a home purchase. Up until recently homes needed to be newly built or purchased off the plan.

For the young Tairāwhiti couple this was the sticking point. The relocated home was placed onto new piles, says Theo. “It had new cladding, wiring, septic tank and plumbing, a new roof, insulation and flooring. It was unlikely to need any maintenance for many years. A great outcome for the young couple.”

As from 14 August 2023, eligible applicants can now purchase existing homes, in addition to new builds, through the scheme and the household income cap has increased from $130,000 to $150,000.

We know many people in Tairāwhiti aspire to own their own home, adds Theo. “I encourage everyone to see if they are eligible for financial assistance through Kāinga Ora home ownership products. Using the First Home Partner scheme made all the difference to this young couple and can for many others.”

Read more about our Home Ownership products.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

We have taken over ownership of the homes on the corner of Gladstone Road and Waverley Street in Richmond, near Nelson, after entering an agreement last year to purchase the homes upon completion.

The new development includes 12 two-bedroom homes and one three-bedroom home. Local iwi this morning blessed the homes before neighbours were invited on a walk-through of the development.

Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says the new homes are a welcome addition for families in need of a home.

She says a mixture of current Kāinga Ora customers and people from the Ministry of Social Development public housing register will live in the homes, with the first residents due to begin moving in early next month. As of June 2023, there were 141 applicants in the Tasman district on the public housing register.

“There’s a growing demand for more housing in Richmond so one of the ways we’re looking to increase the number of homes available for people in need is by purchasing them new from developers,” Ms Campbell says.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming people and families into these homes in the coming weeks as we know that having a warm, dry place to call home can make such a huge difference to people’s lives. We’re also pleased to be able to provide modern homes for people in an ideal location that’s very close to town, shops, schools and other services.”

Ms Campbell says a specialist Kāinga Ora placements team is currently having conversations with the people who will move into these 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.

A total of 37 public homes are in the pipeline for the Tasman district until June 2025.

See what’s happening in the Tasman region.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Supporting collaboration between the public and private sectors and mana whenua, the SDP process is a tool that can be used to plan and deliver complex and transformational urban development projects, helping address Aotearoa New Zealand’s housing shortage.

Kāinga Ora General Manager Urban Planning and Design, Katja Lietz, says feedback is being invited as part of the assessment phase of the SDP process.

“In response to the significant housing need in Tauranga and a request by Tauranga City Council, Kāinga Ora selected the Tauranga Western Corridor for assessment as a potential Specified Development Project (SDP) in September 2022.

“Establishing an SDP is a comprehensive and multi-stage process – of which the assessment is the first -which offers a number of opportunities for public input, meaning projects can be shaped by local needs and aspirations.

“Since selecting the Western Corridor for assessment, we’ve worked closely with our SmartGrowth partners, mana whenua, key stakeholders, landowners, and developers, gathering insights to shape the proposed key features.

“Now we are asking for public feedback on the proposed key features – the proposed project area, project objectives and governance body – and this can be done either online or in person.”

SmartGrowth, a partnership including the three partner councils (Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council),central government and tāngata whenua, estimates an additional 43,000 homes are needed in the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region by 2048, and has identified the Western Corridor as a regionally significant location for accommodating some of this growth.

Tauranga City Council requested Kāinga Ora explore the use of the SDP process to help deliver large-scale housing and urban development (including necessary infrastructure improvements) in the proposed project area.

The proposed project area for the SDP includes the Tauriko West and Keenan Road urban growth areas, an extension to Tauriko Business Estate and other potential longer-term growth areas in the Western Corridor.

The proposed key features Kāinga Ora is considering for the potential SDP include the:

• proposed project area, defined by clear geographical boundaries.
• proposed project objectives describing what the project aims to deliver.
• proposed project governance body, being the entity that will oversee the project.

The public is invited to provide feedback, either online or in person, from 31 August to 29 September 2023.

The feedback collected will be considered by Kāinga Ora, including if any changes to the proposed key features are required. A summary of the feedback received will also be provided alongside the final assessment report and recommendation Kāinga Ora must prepare for the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Finance, who will jointly decide if the area should be established as an SDP.

“We appreciate that people may have misconceptions that Kāinga Ora is involved in this process in its role as a developer of public housing but that is not the case. As the government’s urban development authority, we have a mandate to enable homes of all types (public, market and affordable) to be built,” says Ms Lietz.

“SDPs can help to create sustainable, inclusive and thriving communities as they generally seek to incorporate all the facilities needed to make an area liveable, including a range of housing options, public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure, recreational facilities, employment, and education.

“We’re early in the SDP process and no decisions have yet been made on whether or not to establish the project as an SDP.

“If an SDP is established, we’ll work with our partners, stakeholders, landowners, and the community to create a development plan, with further opportunities for the public to provide feedback on how housing and urban development should be shaped and delivered in the area.”

Find out more about the proposed key features and provide feedback at https://specified-development-projects-kaingaora.hub.arcgis.com/(external link)

Drop-in session

Where: Tauriko Settlers Hall
When: Saturday 16 September, 12-2pm

Read more about Specified Development Projects   

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Kāinga Ora has signed an agreement with a local developer to purchase 18 brand new two-bedroom homes at 27 Napier Street, Mornington once they are completed. This development also includes a community room for the whānau who will live there.

Regional Director Otago, Southland and South Canterbury, Kerrie Young says the new homes will be used to meet the urgent need for public housing in Dunedin and provide more people with a warm and dry place to call home.

“Dunedin continues to be a priority area for us based on current demand. We are particularly focussed on delivering more new homes in areas of the city that are well connected to amenities, open green spaces and services.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with a local developer on this high quality development. The homes are well suited to modern lifestyles and all come with their own off-street parking.

“Another great feature of this development is a community room which residents and other community services will be able to make use of,” says Ms Young.

Kāinga Ora has also purchased the former Hilltop Funeral Home on Middleton Road, Corstorphine.

The site borders an existing Kāinga Ora home that will be demolished at the same time as the existing buildings on the newly acquired site, so it can be included in the redevelopment.

“We acknowledge the history and the significance this site will have for number of whānau within the community. With this in mind, the site will be blessed prior to any site clearance and preparations getting underway.

“Layout designs are currently being developed with a view to lodge applications for resource and building consents, at which point we’ll be able to provide an update on our plans for the site.

“We are looking forward to delivering new homes on the Napier Street site and plans being confirmed for our Middleton Road development,” Ms Young says.

See what’s happening in the Otago region.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The respite house – Whare Ahuru – is a time-out space for men who are struggling to maintain a violence-free lifestyle. It is a pilot, with Kāinga Ora providing a house adapted to meet the service provider’s needs.

Gisborne’s Tauawhi Men’s Centre and Tairāwhiti Men Against Violence have long had a vision of opening of a respite house for men.

Tim Marshall, Tauawhi Men’s Centre coordinator said in the Gisborne Herald, “The pilot takes a different approach to addressing family harm. If it’s the man who is being unsafe towards his family, it makes more sense for him to come away so that his partner and children can stay where they are. The traditional model is for Women’s Refuge to provide a space for women and children, but this often means leaving their home for something they are not responsible for.”

Te Puni Kokiri and local iwi Te Runanganui o Tūranganui a Kiwa are funding the lease and the service. Tauawhi Men’s Centre manages the lease and delivers the support service. “Tauawhi Whare Ahuru is a space that men can come to for a few days until it’s safe to return home. Ideally it will develop into a space that men can access in a preventative sense, before violence and/or police intervention occurs,” Tim added.

Tauawhi Charitable Trust were able to open their Whare Ahuru with the support of Kāinga Ora community group housing, in particular supported housing regional lead Bonnie. “This really was a team effort with Tauawhi putting in the hard mahi to achieve this excellent outcome, says Bonnie. “I am stoked for our tāne, whānau and hapori to have this service available in Tairāwhiti.”

Pictured above outside Tauawhi Whare Ahuru are (from left) Tauawhi Men’s Centre coordinator Tim Marshall, Kāinga Ora general manager national services Nick Mailing, manager supported housing delivery Naomi Price, director supported housing Karla Fisher and supported housing regional lead Bonnie Moana, Tauawhi trustee and patron Ralph Walker, Tauawhi Whare Ahuru kaitiaki Moetahi Kennedy, Coby Te Pairi of Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou, David Johnstone of Tauawhi Men’s Centre and Tauawhi Whare Ahuru kaitiaki, Curtis Bristowe of Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou and Tauawhi Whare Ahuru project manager Kim Torrez. Thanks Gisborne Herald for the photo.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Held annually, the New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards are the only Rainbow-focused awards programme in Aotearoa New Zealand, and acknowledge workplace leadership, innovation, best practice and collaboration in relation to LGBTTQIA+ communities.

As an organisation, we strive to ensure that we provide a working environment where all our people feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work and we are proud to have been nominated as finalists in two categories:

• ​​​​The Rainbow Tick Training and Development Award: Recognising organisations who provide training and development initiatives internally to improve Rainbow inclusion.
• The Rainbow Tick Non-Commercial Sector Award: Recognising and celebrating organisations within the non-commercial sector who demonstrate leadership and innovation in the area of Rainbow diversity and inclusion within and/or across their sector.

These nominations reflect our commitment to embracing diversity and inclusion for both staff and customers, including our employee-led Rainbow Network which is championing awareness of the Rainbow communities.

An initiative of the Rainbow Network has been for Kāinga Ora to take the Pride Pledge, and we are currently in our second year of Pride Pledge Gold level membership. This values-based commitment means demonstrating our dedication to the safety, visibility and inclusion of all the Rainbow members of our community and workforce.

We are also proud to provide our people with the opportunity to build on their diversity and inclusion capability within the organisation; earlier this year launching our Rainbow Awareness Learning Module to help improve understanding of our Rainbow workforce, customers and communities. The module is intended as an introduction to how we can all support in the creation of a safe and supportive workplace for our Rainbow communities at Kāinga Ora, and be more inclusive of our Rainbow customers.

Congratulations to our all our people across the organisation who have supported, and continue to support, Rainbow inclusion kaupapa at Kāinga Ora. We are making great progress in promoting a more diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work, and are proud to see this recognised with two Rainbow Excellence Awards nominations.  

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Residents will begin moving into the single-level, full universal design homes on the corner of Richmond and Charles Streets in Blenheim later this month. Local iwi blessed the homes at the public housing complex earlier this week.

Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says the homes will help to address some of the urgent need for housing in Marlborough. A total of 216 applicants are on the Ministry of Social Development public housing register in the region, 117 (54%) of whom are waiting for a one-bedroom home.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming people into these new warm and dry homes which will provide a stable place for them to live well,” she says.

The homes, which are part of the Government’s housing programme, include features that make them more accessible, such as wider doors and level entry access. They have also been built to a 6-Homestar rating, which means they will be warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. All of the homes have their own carparks.

Ms Campbell says four homes were previously on the Charles Street site before it was redeveloped.

“As part of our redevelopment programme, we’re looking to increase the number of homes in Blenheim by replacing some of our older homes on large sections that are past their best with additional warm and dry homes.

“These homes are in a great central location, with shops and other services all within easy reach,” she says.

Ms Campbell says a mixture of current customers and people from the public housing register will live in the homes.

“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.

The new homes were built by Blenheim construction company CMT Group Limited and took a year to complete. This latest development follows the completion of a 14 two-bedroom Kāinga Ora complex at Brewer Street in Blenheim in October last year.

There are 142 new public homes in the town in the pipeline until June 2025. This number is subject to consenting processes and construction timelines. 

See what’s happening in the Marlborough region.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Kāinga Ora has purchased 11 new 1-bedroom homes in Dey Street, Mosgiel.

Kerrie Young, Regional Director Otago, Southland and South Canterbury says the purchase of the new homes provides a great opportunity for Kāinga Ora to house more people at an ideally-located site.

“Mosgiel is a priority area for new public housing in Otago based on demand, with 408 people on the housing register in the wider Dunedin area as at March this year, so it’s important we continue to boost the supply of public housing.

“We’re delighted to have secured these homes in an area that is well connected to local services and amenities. The homes are well suited to modern lifestyles and all come with their own allocated off-street parking,” says Ms Young.

Kāinga Ora has also confirmed an agreement to purchase a site on Stafford Street, Central Dunedin.

The 2,361sqm site currently consists of a building and carparks.

“The site will be leased as we start to plan for new homes to be built on the site. Once this planning process is completed, we will be sharing our plans with the community.

“We are looking forward to whānau moving into the new Mosgiel homes and starting to plan for new homes to be built on the Central Dunedin site.

“Both of these acquisitions will go some way to helping meet the urgent need for more homes in the Otago region,” Ms Young says.

See what’s happening in the Otago region.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

I am the youngest of the residents here says a spritely Darienne. “After the cyclone hit, I needed to be sure everyone was okay. Most of us have lived here for at least 10 years so we all know each other.”

“We had no electricity for six days and no phone or internet contact for four days. That was frightening for some of us. Not being able to contact friends and family for support meant we had to rely on each other.”

“My sister and her husband had to be evacuated and stayed three nights with me. My son and his young family were also evacuated and stayed a night with me. Together we tried to support my neighbours.”

“It was just little things – making cups of tea on the gas BBQ, having a chat or charging someone’s phone while I was driving. After six days all the food in our fridges and freezers had gone off. They all needed to be cleaned out and the food disposed of. With the welfare hub set up at St Joseph’s Māori Girls College just across the road I could get food for neighbours who weren’t getting their meals on wheels delivered at that time.“

Darienne’s neighbour Helen was grateful to have neighbours calling in “The floods isolated my daughter and she couldn’t get to me. I felt quite fed up with no power and no phone. I just listened to the radio. My leg was injured before the cyclone. Darienne asked the nurses based at the welfare hub to come over and check on it.  That was timely as my leg wasn’t doing too well and needed some attention from the doctor.”

Lack of contact with elderly family members was a worry for many after the cyclone. The Kāinga Ora contact centre received a call from a son concerned about his mother. He couldn’t contact her and was very worried. He thought she may have gone to stay with a close friend who lived in one of the five homes.

We tried to check on as many of our vulnerable customers as possible in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, says Housing Support Team Leader Rochelle. “When I received the call about the missing mother, I did a welfare check on all our customers in these five homes.  Mum was found safe and sound. That’s when I saw how all the residents had come together as a community to support each other. It was really heart-warming to see them making the best of what was a very challenging time.”

Housing support manager Casey continued to keep an eye on the tight five, helping some apply for Civil Defence payments to cover their losses and making sure wellbeing support was available for those that needed it.