Iwi prepares to ‘test the market’ with houses

Auckland iwi Nga¯ ti Wha¯ tua plans to put the first stage of its Devonport housing development on the market by the end of the year.

The at-times controversial development on former naval land has been named Oneoneroa – the original name for Shoal Bay.

Registrations are being taken for 13 freehold two, three- or fourbedroom townhouses in Rutherford St on what used to be called the Hillary block, now renamed Wai O Roka.

When complete, Oneoneroa is expected to contain about 350 homes developed by Whai Rawa, Ngati Whatua’s commercial arm

Whai Rawa board member Ngarimu Blair said the other houses would also be freehold, but their price and release on the market depended on a number of factors.

‘‘We’re testing the market,’’ he said. ‘‘Once we get through these 13, we’ll understand the market a bit better. It is a new product for the Devonport peninsula so this will enable us to get a better understanding.’’

It is the first time Nga¯ti Wha¯ tua has developed houses for sale under its own ‘‘brand’’, Blair said, although the iwi has previously built tribal housing around its O¯ ra¯ kei marae and in a joint venture with Fletcher Living in Massey.

Proceeds from the house sales will be used by Nga¯ ti Wha¯ tua on marae projects, including housing for the elderly.

The iwi owns 28.7 hectares on the Devonport peninsula, which it paid $120 million for in 2011.

It involves several blocks of land, including one of just over four hectares in Wakakura Cres, which has been leased to Ryman Healthcare for a retirement village.

A number of houses at another Nga¯ ti Wha¯ tua site on Roberts Ave have been prepared for removal.

Nga¯ ti Wha¯ tua is developing a 350-house development in Devonport, starting with 13 houses which will soon hit the market.