“Unpack your bags – we’re here to stay.”

They recently moved into one of 30 new homes along with their two boys, aged 8 and 10, and 6-year-old daughter. They’ve spent years moving from one temporary solution to another always searching for a place to call home. Their journey has been one of resilience.

After returning from Australia, they stayed with relatives before moving into emergency housing, a one-bedroom unit in a Hawke’s Bay motor camp.

Five people squeezed into a tiny space: bunk beds for the boys, and their daughter sharing a bed with her parents. “We were on top of each other the whole time, there wasn’t even room to swing a cat,” says Lance.

Four months later, they moved into transitional housing in Maraenui. “We were grateful our kids had a roof over their heads, but we always knew it was temporary,” says Anna. “The hardest part was not knowing how long we’d be there or where we’d go next. The kids never set up their rooms because they knew we’d have to move again.”

After years of instability including nights in their car and short stays in motels, the call from Kāinga Ora changed everything. “We never thought we’d get a social home,” says Anna. Lance adds, “We were trying for a private rental, but then I was made redundant.”

Today, the family lives in a three-bedroom home. The kids have their own rooms, space to play outside, and friends nearby. “They were stoked. I keep reminding them: you can unpack your bags, we don’t have to move again.” says Lance.

The difference is life-changing. Stress levels have dropped, and the family can finally focus on the future, finding work, getting a car, and enjoying the simple things. “The kids have already had friends for sleepovers,” Anna says. “They’ve never been able to do that before.”

Christmas was special this year. “Watching the kids walk down the stairs and see that Santa had been just like when I was a kid,” Anna says. “We enjoyed time together without the stress of wondering where we’d be living next week.”

This 30-home development built by Soho Group and purchased by Kāinga Ora, is a major milestone in Napier’s social housing story. The homes are a mix of stand-alone, duplex, terrace, and apartment-style living in an area where the need for state homes is well known.

Located next to Whitmore Park and close to Marewa Shopping Centre, these homes are well-placed for whānau to thrive. Six of the homes meet full universal design standards, ensuring they can be easily adapted for tenants with accessibility needs.

A shared green space is helping to foster a strong sense of community.

This development is a great example of our strategy in action – building the right homes, in the right places, for the people who need them most.

The newly built 30 home development in Napier