Construction completed on eight new public homes in Waipukurau

Construction is complete on eight new homes built for Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities - to address the increasing need for public housing in Central Hawke’s Bay.

Mana whenua blessed the homes on Monday 15 November and some whanau have now moved in.

"There is an urgent need for more public housing across the Hawke’s Bay, says Naomi Whitewood (Ngāti Porou, Ngapuhi), Regional Director East North Island, Kāinga Ora

“The completion of these homes is welcome progress in getting more people out of unstable living conditions and into a warm, dry and healthy place to call home. However, due to the location, the homes are not suitable for whānau with very young children.”

The developer worked at pace to deliver the homes significantly earlier than originally planned.

“This is good news for the new occupants who will be able to get into their new home before Christmas rather than next year.”

The eight homes are all two-bedroom. Four are duplex style (two homes joined) and four are stand-alone.

The homes are built to Homestar 6 Standards. They are low maintenance, warm and dry. All come fully insulated with a heat pump, double-glazing, carpets and curtains. Each home has a parking space, concrete patio, washing line and very little garden to maintain.

Mana whenua blessed the homes

The homes were matched with the whānau on the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register who had the highest priority for a home of that size and in that location. “We work hard to ensure we place people in homes that best meet their needs, to live well in their home and to thrive in their community.”

Kāinga Ora is also looking at other ways to make more homes available in Waipukurau and the wider Hawke’s Bay.

“Partnering with mana whenua and our communities to achieve their housing goals and aspirations is fundamental to how we work. I am committed to engaging early with hapu and iwi in Hawke’s Bay around potential opportunities for future housing development.”

“Working together and alongside businesses and community groups, we will develop longer-term sustainable housing solutions for whānau and tamariki in Hawke’s Bay.”

In Waipukurau, we are working together on a site in Porangahau Road. Plans are still at an early stage of development. We will share these with the wider community once plans have progressed further. Following community engagement we're aiming to start work in mid-2022."

Mayor Alex Walker is thrilled that after many years Kāinga Ora has increased its investment in Central Hawke’s Bay. “We have far too many families living in overcrowded conditions or emergency housing and we all need to work at pace to slow down this escalating crisis. Together with Te Taiwhenua o Tamatea we have established a local housing taskforce and look forward to working together with Kāinga Ora and other housing providers to increase access to both public and affordable housing. For our eight whānau who will be living in these new homes this is exciting and I look forward to more Central Hawke’s Bay lives being changed.”

New homes being blessed