Turning the sod on an iwi-led development
The first sod of earth has been turned for a new iwi-led housing project in a north Auckland development hot spot.
Construction will start next week on the 49-home development in Whenuapai, an initiative led by the Whenuapai Housing Development Partnership.
A charitable trust, the partnership is administered by Te Tumu Paeroa and made up of Pare Hauraki Iwi and Te Tumu Kainga. Once built, the houses will be leased to New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) staff for housing.
The Whenuapai Housing Development Partnership own the 6400 square-metre greenfield near to the Whenuapai shops and are funding the construction of the new development.
Around 25 attended the sodturning ceremony on March 16, including Mayor Phil Goff, Whenuapai Housing Development Partnership chair and Tamaki and Hauraki iwi leader Paul Majurey, and Te Tumu Kainga general manager Declan Millin.
Upper Harbour Local Board members and Waitakere ward councillor Linda Cooper were also in attendance.
Majurey says the development is chiefly about providing homes for families and demonstrates the ‘‘growing role’’ of iwi in the local economy.
‘‘What’s important for us is, first and foremost, houses having families in houses. Also commercially, it’s a development that we get a return on, so it allows us to build capital and to further invest in other housing projects.’’
Goff says the development will help to address the ‘‘phenomenal’’ growth of 45,000 extra Aucklanders a year and the resulting pressures on transport and housing infrastructure.
‘‘In 18 months time, there will be 49 families here, and that’s a really positive development,’’ he says.
‘‘Positive that iwi are involved, both in providing affordable housing, but also providing housing for rental that provides revenue stream that will go back into providing more affordable housing.
‘‘I welcome the commitment of iwi, of their resources. I welcome this development, as will the NZDF.’’
The project is the first of a number the partnership hopes to undertake to help address the city’s housing shortage as Treaty of Waitangi Settlements are finalised.
‘‘I welcome the commitment of iwi, of their resources. ’’