$19.8 million Māori Housing boost for whānau in Rotorua in partnership with Ngāti Whakaue

Published 16 Nov 22

Last Friday, our Chief Executive, Andrew Crisp, Deputy Chief Executive, Te Kāhui Māori Housing Kararaina Calcott-Cribb, Manager, MAIHI Partnerships Programme, Jamie Forsman and Lead Commercial Advisor, Stacey Beer visited Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands.

The team was also present to open and officially handover eight Ngāti Whakaue affordable houses for Ngāti Whakaue whānau on the Wharenui Rise Development and to sign an agreement with Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands. This agreement is to provide funding through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga of $19.8 million to enable new affordable and public homes, for the neighboring Manawa Gardens Development.

The announcement was made by Associate Minister for Housing (Māori Housing) Peeni Henare, with the Manawa Gardens agreement signed by Andrew. The announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to increasing much needed housing supply in Rotorua.

Manawa Gardens Development

Manawa Gardens is an intergenerational housing project targeted at public and affordable housing, which will be built over three stages within the next six years (80-lots per stage). It’s located on 16 hectares of Māori titled land owned by Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands on Wharenui Road, close to the Wharenui Rise Development.

Andrew Crisp says, “For the whānau, the new homes are more than just a roof over their heads, they are a place where they can come together, where they belong—a place where they can create new memories on their ancestral whenua. We are proud to be working in partnership with Māori to build houses that provide a place of belonging to those who need it most.”

It features a live-in Manager Facility at the heart of the development, which will provide a range of Health, Social and Pastoral Care Services.

The design and layout promote open space and community-oriented living while also providing water quality re-use, incorporating wetland areas, and accommodating community gardens and ample green space. At the heart of the development will be kaumatua units, which have been designed for universal access. Earthworks for the project has begun – with house construction scheduled to begin in mid-2023.

Kararaina says, “We’re very proud to partner with Ngāti Whakaue and support their development of their whenua. Healthy, secure, and affordable housing is fundamental to living and working with dignity. Home ownership and equity in housing enables whānau to provide for their current and future aspirations.”

This is a key part of our MAIHI partnerships approach where we are committed to put Māori at the heart of Aotearoa's housing approach, creating a framework and strategy to change the housing system so it delivers better solutions for Māori.

The fund that has been allocated for the Manawa Gardens Project is to support the progression of stage 1 of the project, to enable infrastructure works to develop 80 separate lots (240 lots over three stages) on Te Ture Whenua land; and the construction of the first 20 affordable rentals and housing supply which covers 75% of the house build costs. Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga is progressing further opportunities with Ngāti Whakaue Lands Trust because of this Crown-Iwi partnership.

Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands and Wharenui Rise Development

The Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Trust was formed in 1960. The Trust has been in the farming industry and includes three sheep and cattle stations and owns 3,000 hectares of land surrounding the Rotorua township.

The Ngāti Whakaue Housing Strategy 2022 outlines a platform for supporting whānau into homes across the full housing spectrum. This covers rental, home ownership and kaumatua housing, and has wider benefits of providing training and employment opportunities.

The Wharenui Rise Development is a commercial housing development, located on general titled land owned by Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands in Owhata, Rotorua. The overall development will provide around 1,100 homes.

As part of the development, Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Trust have set aside eight affordable homes, to help ensure there is a pathway to homeownership for Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands shareholders and whānau. The homes will be priced at $500,000 (incl GST) and are single-level, duplex designed dwellings with three-bedrooms, one bathroom, and one car park. Each house is on a 300m2 lot, with a ground floor size of approximately 93m2.