Big plans for housing
More than 150 state houses in Kāinga Ora proposal
New plans from Kāinga Ora show the extent of the housing developments the Government wants to build in suburbs around Whanganui, including two large complexes with more than 30 properties.
Kāinga Ora also wants common spaces, both indoor and outdoor, for some of the developments it is proposing.
In December, Kā inga Ora put documents on its websites with blueprints of the developments.
The Government’s housing corporation went to the public in October for feedback on the idea of building more than 150 state houses in Whanganui East, Gonville and Tawhero.
The blueprints show what all of these housing developments could look like, with the sites between Jones St and Broughton St in Whanganui East and Churchill Cres and Smithfield Rd being the largest.
Whanganui District councillor Kate Joblin, who was behind the council’s housing strategy in 2019, had seen the latest plans and said it was “fantastic” Kā inga Ora had Whanganui firmly on its radar as a place to increase affordable housing.
“Central government’s lack of investment in affordable housing over the last 40 years has been a major contributor to the housing crisis we are in.”
She said she liked the use of subdivisions to take up whole sites like on Jones St, referred to as “infill” housing. “There are some really neat concepts and mixture of housing types for different-sized families.”
Jigsaw executive officer Tim Metcalfe commended Kāinga Ora for an extensive consultation process that included his agency.
“I believe strongly that having a strong and robust public housing system is essential towards every New Zealander having access to clean, warm, dry adequate housing.
“I’m really encouraged by the work
Kāinga Ora has done.”
Metcalfe said families came in all shapes and sizes now and were less of the standard nuclear family of yesteryear.
“I think they’ve really worked hard to try to create homes that will work for a wide range of people . . . I think they’ve done that.”
Metcalfe said it was essential these housing developments had good access to health, education and social support services, as well as good opportunities for residents to experience connection with others.
“The work of building neighbourhoods is just as important as the building of houses.”
Kāinga Ora says all of the houses it plans to build will be “modern, warm and dry homes” . . . “low maintenance, insulated and double glazed, with carpet and curtains”.
It is proposed the Jones St development — a hectare of bare land sold to the Government by Whanganui Girls’ College — will have 18 two-bedroom houses, 11 threebedroom houses and four fourbedroom houses. The blueprint shows they will be accessed by a right-of-way connecting Jones St and Broughton St.
“We are proposing indoor and outdoor community spaces where people can connect,” the proposal document from Kāinga Ora says.
On the corner of Churchill St
through to Smithfield St, Kā inga Ora wants to build 30 double-storey houses made up of 14 twobedrooms, six three-bedrooms, eight four-bedrooms and two fivebedroom homes. This site includes 47 car parks.
Elsewhere there are proposals for 47 new houses in Maire and Puriri Sts in Gonville. There, Kāinga Ora wants to build eight fourbedroom houses, among others, as well as common outdoor greenspaces.
Kāinga Ora was approached for further comment on this story.
Kāinga Ora is still asking for feedback — call 0800 801 601 or email communities@kaingaora.govt.nz.