Rich-lister builds nearly 250 homes for Auckland’s poor

One of New Zealand’s richest men, whose family is estimated to control $570 million, is building 243 new social houses for Auckland’s poor.

In a rare interview, Ted Manson,

63, head of developers Mansons TCLM, showed off new projects in Glen Eden, the central city and Avondale, saying he was responding to areas of greatest need.

The Ted Manson Foundation is building $160m of social housing in a move that has won plaudits.

The foundation’s projects include:

● Twin-tower 10 and 11-level 165-unit blocks (90 social housing), Glen Eden;

● An 18-level CBD Liverpool St Tower, 92 apartments (73 social);

● Great North Rd, Avondale, a site for 140 units ( 80 social).

● Examining other opportunities elsewhere in Auckland.

Leonie Freeman, a former Housing New Zealand general manager and a current Goodman Property Trust director, said Manson’s contribution was “astonishing”. The fact that it came from the generosity of one man made it even more so.

Ministry of Social Development housing deputy chief executive Scott Gallacher said the state entity was “really happy” to be partnering with the foundation and strongly supported its commitment to largescale public housing.

Mansons TCLM has a $1 billion order book and its projects included Shortland St office tower the Lumley Centre, the Spark office campus on Victoria St West, BDO House where NZME is based and many other CBD office blocks.

Last year’s NBR Rich List had the Manson family at $570m, saying the big-time development and investment business had “another strong year”.

Manson told the Weekend Herald he had grown up in a state house, always thinking anyone could succeed like him and believing most people could buy their own house.

“I woke up one day and got a social conscience. That happens at some stage of your life for some, but not for all. Up until then, I was a capitalist,” Manson said.

“I’m not doing it for profit. I’m making no money. I’m giving money away,” he said of the projects.