Ngati Whatua families move into affordable Auckland housing development

Monday, 29 February 2016

Families have started to move into Ngati Whatua's first major affordable housing development.

The first nine families moved into the medium density Auckland housing being developed by Whai Rawa, the commercial arm of Ngati Whatua Orakei, on February 26.

There are 30 houses planned in total for the development called Kainga Tuatahi at its Kupe St site.

The remaining properties are on course to be completed in late March.

Rosina Borrell and her husband Robert were among the first families to move in.

The couple were renting in Onehunga before they shifted into their 169 square metre, four-bedroom house.

'It is very exciting, we are now just down the road from our home which is the Orakei Marae.

'Our kids and grandkids now have a place to stay and learn everything about their culture,' she says.

Ngati Whatua Orakei Trust deputy chairman Ngarimu Blair says the houses are an example of medium density done right.

'It's the first major housing development we have done in 16 years.

'It has been a dream for many of our people to own their own home so to see it come into a reality is great to see.'

Blair says 80 per cent of the dwellings meet the Government's affordable housing definition of being $550,000 or less.

He says to be able to purchase a house in the $15 million project you must be a registered member of the tribe.

'It is a unique project in that we have funded it ourselves.

As well as developing the site, Whai Rawa is also providing the mortgages to the purchasers.

'Being Maori land means that banks will not lend to our families as they cannot get security over it,' Blair says.

He says Kainga Tuatahi is just the first stage of an ambitious housing development that the tribe believes will one day provide enough housing for 3000 people.