Housing proposal will ‘give others a leg up’
Social housing, food gardens, and houses for female former inmates are part of a Ka¯ inga Ora plan for a Hamilton suburb, and many locals are happy to see it – in stark contrast to another Hamilton suburb which petitioned against a plan by the state home builder for their area.
While there were petitions and passionate opposition when social housing was proposed in Hamilton’s northeast, a plan for the southern suburb of Melville is seen as a way to give people a leg up, judging by the response of those at a community drop-in session to tell locals about the plan.
A 47-home Ka¯ inga Ora development is planned for the corner of Collins and O¯ haupo¯ Roads, to include 16 units for women coming out of prison, and a community hub.
The name Te Mauri Paihere ki Mangakootukutuku (weaving life principles) was gifted by Kiingi Tuheitia, and the development will feature a mix of single and two-storey homes, food gardens, and space for a future ko¯ hanga reo.
Construction could start in the next six to 12 months, and locals Stuff spoke to at the Thursday night session at Melville High School were positive about the new development.
‘‘It’s a great opportunity for people in the community, rather than criticise, to help give others a leg up,’’ said Trish Gilmore, who has lived in the area for about 30 years.
The idea of having female former inmates in the community didn’t concern her.
‘‘I think the concept is good, I think everyone deserves a second chance . . . the reality is people have got to go somewhere and there’s all the potential and possibilities to work.’’
The project is a partnership with Waikato-Tainui, Ka¯ inga Ora and Department of Corrections, as a vision of the Kiingi Tuheitia.
And it seems to be getting much better reception than a previous proposal in Flagstaff.
That prompted a 2700-signature petition in opposition, and locals at a June 2020 drop-in session criticised the density and the traffic it would create, and raised safety concerns.
The Endeavour Avenue proposal – a mix of public and privately-owned housing – was later scaled down.
New Ka¯ inga Ora regional director for Waikato Mark Rawson said the agency learned from the experience about how better to engage with the community.
A woman who has lived in the Melville area for the past 25 years thought Ka¯ inga Ora’s plans for the area were great.
‘‘It was a dead space that has been there for a long time,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s good to see they’re putting people back into the community with the right support. It’s good they’ll be teaching them gardening, so they can grow their own food.’’
Another woman, who didn’t want to be named, hoped the support and peoplepower would continue so the initiatives kept running.
‘‘I think these people need to live somewhere. It won’t be perfect but a step in the right direction,’’ she said.
She was pleased to see plenty of parking. Extra traffic was a concern for two people with links to Deanwell, with both pointing out there was already a lot.
‘‘But I think the community should open their hearts if they want to be a community,’’ added one.
It’s been heartening to see some positive feedback, especially on social media, Rawson said.
‘‘With something like this you always get varied views . . . In my observation you can see different parts of the community are standing up and actually having a voice for some of our most vulnerable.’’
He wanted genuine community engagement in the project, and admitted some may think the plans will have a negative impact on their lives or on people they know.
‘‘That is fair as well, but we certainly are not making any apologies for doing what we can to make sure we are providing good solid, warm, safe homes for our most vulnerable.’’
The plan includes 47 one- or two-storey homes on a 2.6 hectare site on Collins Road.
There will be nine one bedroom homes, 32 two-bedroom homes and six four-bedroom homes.
There would also be a community hub for the residents and wider community.
There would be 31 homes for individuals and families on the Housing Register, and most were expected to have iwi or wha¯ nau ties to the region.
Sixteen homes will be used for women who have recently left a Corrections facility, with support to transition back into the community.
There will also be a home for a kauma¯ tua.
Large open space areas will have shared food gardens, orchards, and native plantings.
There will be 53 on-site car parks and rubbish and recycling collection points, and an area set aside for a future ko¯ hanga reo.
‘‘It was a dead space that has been there for a long time . . .’’ Melville resident