Māori home ownership prioritised through Housing Foundation partnership in Mangere

An exciting new partnership between Kāinga Ora and Housing Foundation was finalised late last year which will see the delivery of around 70 affordable homes as part of the Mangere Development in Mangere West.

Mangere’s multi-phase development will mean more quality affordable homes built over the next 10-15 years with upgrades to local infrastructure and amenities.

Housing Foundation has committed to delivering at least 70% (a minimum of 50 homes) under their affordable housing model. They aim to ensure at least 30% of the affordable homes (a minimum 15 homes) will be sold to Māori whānau.

Housing Foundation always takes a locals first approach to building a community and providing homes and will be applying this approach for whānau living in Mangere.

Helping Māori whānau into homeownership isn’t new for the Housing Foundation, it is something they are well known for explains Housing Foundation General Manager of Strategy and Operations, Russell Ness.

"We’ve always prioritised Māori and Pasifika families because that’s where we have seen significant demand for affordable housing, especially in South Auckland," says Ness.

"Our Household Support Managers work to understand housing need and demand very early before any development begins. We work with local iwi, marae, businesses, churches and community groups to get an understanding of the area, the type of families who live there and find eligible whānau who may be interested in homeownership."

"Our commitment to Te Tiriti O Waitangi guides this process. especially applying the principles of partnership, participation and promotion."

The cost to purchase a home in Auckland prices many people out of the market, a gap the Housing Foundation can service by offering two unique housing programmes to make it easier for whānau to purchase a home.

"Under Housing Foundation’s Shared Ownership model, buyers are able to purchase a majority share of the property (at least 60%) with the remaining owned by Housing Foundation. Over time, and with the support of Housing Foundation, whānau can buy back the remaining shares, eventually owning 100% of the property," he says.

"A shared equity model like this means home ownership becomes a real possibility for whānau who may not have the 20% deposit required to purchase a home on the open market."

For those who have manageable debt or a low deposit, a rent-to-own scheme is an alternative avenue to home ownership offered by Housing Foundation.

The collaboration with Housing Foundation is a new and exciting step says Kāinga Ora Precinct Director, James D’Anvers.

"By working in partnership with Housing Foundation, we take a small but significant step towards addressing the need for affordable housing for Māori in Mangere," says D’Anvers.

"Housing Foundation Shared Ownership programme will address a segment of the market that needs affordable housing suited to bigger whānau."

A mix of duplex and terraced housing with two to four-bedroom options will be available for purchase in future to cater to the needs of whānau big or small.

"We are excited to build homes that will suit families in Mangere. We know the holistic benefits to homeownership are great in building stronger, safer and connected communities," says Ness.

"The partnership between Kāinga Ora and the New Zealand Housing Foundation has strengthened our way forward in promoting shared equity as an excellent pathway to affordable home ownership for Māori and non-Māori not only in the Mangere Development, but throughout New Zealand."