First agreement for infrastructure fund enables additional iwi housing in Porirua

The agreement, announced Tuesday by Housing Minister Dr. Megan Woods, sees $6.1m of the $1 billion contestable fund committed to a transport upgrade to the Titahi Bay Road / Kenepuru Interchange and three waters upgrade. This funding will enable 437 additional dwellings to be built within the Ngāti Toa Rangatira development at Kenepuru Landing.

Helmut Modlik, CEO, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, says the agreement is significant for the iwi.

“This funding is a key part of delivering on our aspirations around accelerating housing outcomes for our whānau. Through the IAF we were able to look at how many homes we were delivering and significantly increase the density, taking the homes we are creating from 443 to 880,” he says.

“Alongside an increase in housing, we see the IAF as a catalyst and pathway to future employment opportunities for iwi businesses, whānau members and our wider community in the civils and associated construction sector.

“The downstream effects of the IAF are directly attributable to wider well-being outcomes and local procurement for local people. Ngāti Toa is proud to work proactively alongside its central Government partners in providing these quality outcomes for our whānau as well as providing an uplift in warm, safe, dry homes.”

The infrastructure upgrades are flagged to begin in 2022, with the first IAF-enabled houses at Kenepuru Landing expected to be delivered by 2025, and development completed by 2030.

Porirua City Mayor Anita Baker says the strong relationship between Kāinga Ora, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council is driving positive housing outcomes for the people of Porirua.

“There is a huge demand for housing in Porirua, with the waitlist for public housing continuing to increase,” she says. “Porirua is now on par with Wellington City as one of the most expensive places in the country to buy or rent property.

“The Council has been working to remedy this alongside Kāinga Ora and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, increasing housing supply and upgrading existing homes throughout the city. This funding from the IAF will go a long way to contributing to much needed housing at Kenepuru Landing, ensuring crucial infrastructure will continue to support these houses long into the future.”

Kāinga Ora GM Commercial Group, Caroline McDowall, says it is the commitment to positive housing outcomes and the proposal’s strong attributes that saw it selected as a fast-track IAF proposal.

“The initial proposal from Ngāti Toa Rangatira rated very highly against IAF evaluation criteria at the Expressions of Interest stage of the IAF process,” she says.

“Teams from Kāinga Ora, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Porirua City Council have put in the hard mahi over the last few months to achieve the first funding and housing outcomes agreements for the IAF, and a brilliant outcome for Porirua. The development at Kenepuru Landing, along with the wider Porirua Development work in eastern Porirua, will bring many more housing options to the city.”

The Infrastructure Acceleration Fund process continues, with over 80 responses to Request for Proposals due in from Territorial Authorities, iwi and developers around Aotearoa on 17 December. Evaluation on these proposals will be undertaken early 2022, with decisions on which proposals will progress to negotiation from April.

Read more about the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund administered by Kāinga Ora.

Photo above: Minister of Housing, Mayor of Porirua, Chief Executive of Ngati Toa Rangatira, Chair of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira board alongside the teams from Kāinga Ora, Porirua City Council, Ngāti Toa Rangatira who worked on the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund agreement.