Smart, modern homes for Ranui

The new homes on Luanda Drive were officially opened by MP for Te Atatu Phil Twyford on 31 July.

Members of Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Porou welcomed Minister Twyford onto the development. Other attendees included Waitakere Councillor Shane Henderson, Henderson-Massey Local Board members, several neighbours, and Kāinga Ora staff and board members, along with build partner Precision Construction and architects Young + Richards.

Minister Twyford says the development is a great example of the types of quality homes Kāinga Ora is building.

“As the representative at Parliament for the Te Atatu electorate, it is enormously significant to be celebrating perhaps what our community needs the most; warm, dry, safe, beautifully designed, accessible homes that generations of people will be proud to call home.”

The Luanda Drive development includes a mix of two-to-five-bedroom homes and the two larger homes contain accessible features. The ground floor of each has widened passages, a bedroom and a wet room shower. This enables older people, or others with limited mobility, to live with whānau. 

The new homes are 6 Homestar accredited, meaning they exceed Building Code standards for warmth, dryness and health. What’s more, the three existing homes were sent to He Korowai Trust in Northland where they will be refurbished and will become homes for families in the Far North.

The development also features a new private lane called Maru Way, meaning shelter or cover. This name was provided by mana whenua Te Kawerau a Maki.

Kāinga Ora Programme Director Martin Chandler said while there have been challenges along the way, it’s pleasing to see the homes built to schedule.

“We’re very proud of these homes. We had to close down the site for nearly five weeks under lockdown and then remobilise under Alert Level 3 with physical distancing and additional hygiene practices in place.

“Despite all this, the nine homes were built in about nine months. That’s testament, in part, to all the planning that our build partner Precision Construction does.”

It also helps that these homes were built under Construction Partnering Agreements, Martin said. “These multi-year contractual agreements mean we can fast track the procurement process. Many of the homes were also built to pre-approved standard plans which speeds up consenting.”

Councillor for Waitākere Shane Henderson acknowledged the contribution Kāinga Ora has made by tripling the number of homes on the land.

“I’m sure these beautiful modern homes will not only be physically warm, but also warm in spirit. It’s a beautiful thing that Kāinga Ora is building homes so that more people can call Ranui home.”

L-R: Board member Ngarimu Blair, Minister Twyford, Board member Penny Hulse, Programme Director Martin Chandler, Precision Construction GM Rob Moule and Senior Development Manager Richard Quilter.