Housing styles
As Kāinga Ora focuses on improving and replacing our older homes, we’re aiming to deliver new builds quickly and cost-effectively.
We have a new suite of pre-designed house plans, known as standardised plans, which enables us to save on design time and construction while providing quality housing. They are repeatable and therefore faster. They include:
- simplified, practical layouts inside the homes that meet our tenants’ needs.
- fewer cladding types on exterior walls.
- standard sizing for walls, floor and windows that match available material dimensions.
- all homes meet building code requirements, are fully insulated and have double glazing.
We've developed the designs in conjunction with our build partners and design consultants.
Types of homes we’re building now
- Single-level and double-storey standalone homes in a range of sizes.
Example of a single-level and double-storey home
New standardised designs for these types of homes are currently under development:
- three-level terraces.
- three-level apartment buildings
- five-level-plus apartment buildings.
Read our FAQs on standardised design plans [PDF, 206 KB]
Page updated: 31 March 2026