42 new much needed whare for Rotorua whānau

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