Our customer stories
Our tenants have extraordinary stories to tell and we’re proud to highlight those who are helping make their community a great place to live.
New town provides new life for father and son
Single dad Rob never imagined he and his son Tamawhero would end up living in Invercargill.
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The room to reflect
It’s close to 12-months since Tony and his beloved dog Keeber moved into their brand new Kāinga Ora home in Northland. As the milestone approaches, Tony reflects on how his life has changed, and the room he credits with creating a community.
People collector Anna brings her community together
Anna lives in a Kāinga Ora home in Palmerston North and loves her neighbourhood for its national heritage significance, accessibility and the large reserve nearby that offers many opportunities for the community to connect.
Life’s challenges no match for an independent spirit
Life has thrown Lydia its fair share of challenges, but that hasn’t stopped her living it the way she wants to.
Community comes together to celebrate momentous occasion
It was a time of celebration in Tauranga when our customer Sylvia recently celebrated her 100th birthday. A small party was held in her garden with a banquet of sweet and savoury treats and decorations displayed across the marquee.
Growing kai and communities
Mum of two Sazshia, is now busy raising veggies alongside her children thanks to a partnership between Manawatū Food Action Network, UCOL and Kāinga Ora.
Thrift and connection – Diana inspires her neighbours
Avid knitter Diana has discovered an innovative way to use discarded plastic - she knits it into eye-catching bags and phone cases, which she gifts and sells within her community.
Age is just a number for local Timaru legend
In his hometown of Timaru, John is better known by his alter ego, Scooterman.
Kāinga Ora home a place to make new memories
Blenheim mum Maria and her whānau gather around the dining table in the kitchen of their Kāinga Ora home every day, connecting with each other over kai.
YouTube, emojis and surfing the web – Neta is queen of them all
Senior customer Neta has become a confident queen of emojis since taking part in a digital literacy course at her Kāinga Ora complex in South Auckland.
New home a game-changer for wheelchair sports enthusiast
Wheelchair sports enthusiast and Dunedin local Dillon says his wellbeing has improved tenfold since he moved into his fully accessible Kāinga Ora home.
Kat’z is safe and cosy in her inner-city apartment
From her new Kāinga Ora home, Kat’z looks out across the tops of the huge London Plane trees that line Greys Avenue in Auckland’s CBD. It’s a location she knows well but from a very different perspective.
Home reno adds to Nelson couple’s festive cheer
Ivy and Glynn are loving having a morning cuppa on their deck in the summer sunshine since returning to their newly renovated Kāinga Ora home in Nelson.
Aaliyah’s stars are aligning for success
Young mother Aaliyah works extremely hard to give her children a good life. And now that they have a bigger home, there is enough room for family life as well as study.
Lester’s getting his independence back
This will be a special Christmas for Lester, as it's the first he's celebrating in his new, fully-accessible home.
Fresh vegetables from home on Kabonye’s Christmas menu
Fresh vegetables from home on Kabonye’s Christmas menu.
Creating a sense of whānau for the whole neighbourhood
Tāmaki Makaurau customer Jacqui is legendary in her West Auckland community. As well as caring for her six – soon to be seven children – she spends much of her time volunteering at the Glenavon Community Hub near her Kāinga Ora home.
New home just the cat’s whiskers
Peter and Tasha the cat are purrfectly happy living in their Blenheim home.
New homes create a community of more than just neighbours
A Kāinga Ora home can mean so much more than just a roof over someone’s head.
Tinna’s whimsical garden filling hearts – and tummies
Everyone needs a sanctuary – a place to retreat to when life gets tough. For Christchurch mum Tinna, her sanctuary is the garden she has lovingly created at her Kāinga Ora home, Bush Cottage.
A new start: Laura's journey to a brighter future
A home can provide so much more than simply a roof over someone’s head – in fact, the right home can be truly life-changing. Just ask Hamilton woman Laura, who has regained her independence since moving into her new, accessible Kāinga Ora home.
Randwick Road sparkles with community spirit and collaboration
We all know that many hands make light work – which is exactly what happened at the Kāinga Ora complex on Randwick Road in the Hutt Valley where a brilliant demonstration of community spirit and collaboration has given the property a new lease of life.
Neighbourly support during Cyclone Gabrielle
Looking out for each other. That was the natural reaction to the challenges faced during Cyclone Gabrielle from residents in a group of five Kāinga Ora homes in Green Meadows, Napier.
Love of Sāmoan language leads to lifetime of helping
When Tiresa was growing up, she wanted nothing more than to keep her first language, Sāmoan, alive.
Upgraded home a life-changer for Allison
I am happy now, and my anxiety is gone. That’s how much a newly renovated home has changed the life of Mahora resident Allison.
Mosgiel neighbours two peas in a pod
Ann and Marie are such good friends they finish each other’s sentences.
Peggy's top tips to getting to 100
Mt Roskill resident Peggy joined an exclusive club of Kāinga Ora residents when she celebrated turning 100 on 16 June 2023.
Mere's heart of gold transforms lives
For more than five decades Mere has been opening her heart - and her home - to children in need of a safe, welcoming place to stay.
Brittney’s path to independence
Living alone isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for 26-year-old Brittney moving into her very own accessible Kāinga Ora home has been positively life changing.
Kerry wants to give back to the community
About 20 years ago, Kāinga Ora customer Kerry started volunteering for the Salvation Army. The organisation had given her great support when she lost her job, so she wanted to give something back.
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Retirement filled with important mahi for busy Rose
Many people think about giving back to their community, but at age 80, Rose has made it her life’s mission to help those in need. Even in retirement, Rose volunteers almost every day of the week at charities across Auckland.
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Waste not want not approach at heart of Neil’s good deeds
When Neil was growing up on a farm in Golden Bay, his parents instilled in him a core value: re-use anything you can and try not to let anything go to waste.
Leana's mission to share her passion for growing kai with her community
Leana’s passion for growing kai was given to her by her late grandfather, who had the ‘green thumb’ within her whānau. He inspired her to share the love for growing kai not only with her young children, but also with her wider community.
Debbie takes community mindedness to the next level
As soon as you meet Debbie, her passion for helping others is clear. Over the years, Debbie has volunteered her time and skills to help others in her community – something she has always been inspired to do.
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Friendships forged in cosy community hall
Every Friday morning, come rain or shine, a group of friends gather in a cosy community hall at the heart of their Kāinga Ora housing complex to share a cuppa, delicious food and lively chats.
Hard work pays off for young family
Buying your first home is an accomplishment in itself, but it’s even more remarkable when you’re a young couple who came to New Zealand as refugees.
Kindness and kebabs: Bangash feeds those in need
Zuhaib Abbas Bangash arrived in New Zealand from Pakistan in 2013 with little more than a handful of clothes and a dream to create a safer life for his children.
Art passion helps overcome challenges
Faced with challenges throughout his life, Stuart turned to his passion for airbrushed art to help get him through. Now with a Kāinga Ora home as a stable base and his cat Little One by his side, he’s been able to hone his skills to produce some incredible artwork.
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A new leash on life for four-legged friends in Māngere
Pets can help to make a house a home. They are great companions and an important part of some whanau, which is why Kāinga Ora is a pet-friendly landlord.
Otago woman crafts a life of kindness and caring
From premature babies to people in their final days of life, hundreds of Otago people have benefited from Eleanor’s huge heart – and her passion for knitting and crochet. And that’s just the start of the incredible impact this Mosgiel woman has on those around her.
Turning a street into a neighbourhood
Kāinga Ora recently completed 16 new warm, dry homes on Exeter Crescent in Palmerston North – but providing much-needed housing is only the beginning.
It’s not just computers, it’s community
Kāinga Ora is focused on supporting customers to live well in their homes and one of the ways we do this is by connecting customers to local initiatives within their own communities.
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Josh’s journey to supporting others
When Josh was going through one of the most difficult moments of his life, rather than focusing solely on his own journey, his thoughts turned to how he could help others in the same situation.