Smart public housing apartments for Auckland

Galway Street in Onehunga was officially opened by Minister of Housing Dr Megan Woods on Tuesday 9 June.

Members of Ngāti Whātua and Te Ākitai Waiohua welcomed Minister Woods, MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Peeni Henare, Labour list MP for Maungakiekie Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Green Party co-leader and housing spokesperson Marama Davidson onto the site.

The development replaced 34 terrace houses with 71 new warm and dry apartments. Tenants of the one-and-two-bedroom homes will likely include older people, those with mobility issues, small families and individuals.

Galway Street is within short walking distance of Onehunga town centre and public transport links. Kāinga Ora improved this connection by partnering with Auckland Transport to install a secure set of steps leading from the back of the site up to Waller St.

Minister Woods said it provides the kind of fit-for-purpose, multi-level public housing that’s needed, especially in our larger cities.

“These are more than just houses. They are part of the homes and communities that Kāinga Ora is building.”

Kāinga Ora Board Chair Vui Mark Gosche agrees. “With winter now upon us, you can really see the value of these warm, dry homes and what they will mean for the people who occupy them.”

The homes, contained within two four storey blocks, were designed by Ashton Mitchell and built by Bracewell Construction. Despite the four-week close down period, the complex was delivered ahead of schedule.

It contains a multi-purpose community space for tenants, which is becoming a common feature of our larger developments. There is also an onsite tenancy management office to ensure support is there when needed.

The development includes seven accessible homes for people with mobility needs, something Vui Mark Gosche is particularly proud of.

“Up to 30 percent of our tenants tell us they live with disability. Having accessible homes built into our new developments is better for tenants and more cost effective than retrofitting homes.

“We now have an Accessibility Policy which sets a target of 15 per cent accessible homes across our public housing programme, and that will be our minimum going forward.”

Megan Woods acknowledged how important it is to see construction gaining momentum following the lockdown.

“The Government’s public housing programme provides people with secure, healthy homes, stimulates the residential construction sector, and creates jobs. I look forward to seeing many more developments like this one built over the next few years.”

Read more about the Galway Street development.

From left: Programme Manager Mark Brennan, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, Board Chair Vui Mark Gosche, Minister of Housing Megan Woods, Labour list MP for Maungakiekie Priyanca Radhakrishnan, MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Peeni Henare and DCE Patrick Dougherty.