Social housing milestone: Thirty-one families moving from temporary accommodation to new homes

Gisborne’s newest 31-home social housing development was blessed and opened yesterday on a new, yet-to-be-named street in Tamarau. At the blessing (from left) are Reverend Haumoana Kopua-Irwin, Kāinga Ora East North Island regional director Naomi Whitewood, Mayor Rehette Stoltz, TW Group strategic relationship manager Leah MacDonell, George Brown of Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, kaikarakia Morehu Pewhairangi and Reverend Ruawhaitiri Mahue. Picture by Paul Rickard

Whānau are set to move into Gisborne’s new 31-home social housing development in Tamarau — the largest such development in the city in decades.

For most of the new tenants in the yet-to-be-officially-named street between Worsley Street and Matthews Road, it will be the first time they have had a long-term place to live for a lengthy period of time.

Of the 31 whānau moving in, 27 will be moving out of motels and other temporary accommodation into modern homes completed last week.

Among these whānau will be 24 tamariki.

“This is a significant milestone for Gisborne, and for whānau and their tamariki in need of housing,” East North Island regional director Naomi Whitewood said.

“It is Gisborne’s largest social housing development in decades and has been a boost for the local economy.

“We are  committed to delivering the extra houses in Tairāwhiti that have been budgeted for in the Public Housing Plan.

“These new homes will make a real difference in meeting some of the demand for more housing in Gisborne. They will also make a real difference for the whānau moving in.

“We know that having a stable home is important to all aspects of a person’s life — from education and employment to physical and mental health.”

MSD regional commissioner Karen Bartlett agrees.

“We know temporary and emergency accommodation is not an ideal way to raise a family and moving 24 tamariki into a secure and stable home is a reason to celebrate,” she said.

“MSD congratulates Kāinga Ora. We are so pleased to work alongside them to see new families moving into these homes right away.”

The whānau who get to call this new development home will be a mix of younger families, as well as older people and others with accessibility challenges,  Mrs Whitewood said.

“Twenty-seven of the 31 homes have been built to full universal design standards (FUD). Some come with ramps, wider doors and accessible bathrooms.

The single-storey duplex and standalone homes are a mix of one, two and three bedrooms.

Hawke’s Bay-based TW Property built the houses and managed the project from the beginning.

Now they are complete and ready to live in, Kāinga Ora has bought the homes for whānau in need.

“By purchasing from developers, we can increase the number of homes available to house people as quickly as possible,” Mrs Whitewood said.

“Kāinga Ora worked proactively with TW Property to ensure the homes were built to a high standard and will meet the needs of our customers and communities.”

Maximising the number of local tradespeople involved and ensuring the economic benefits of such a large development are enjoyed within the region was a priority,  said Leah MacDonell, the strategic relationship manager for TW Group of which TW Property is a part.

“The project has been positive for local employment. More than 70 job opportunities have been created for Gisborne tradespeople. We have signed up several apprentices who have been working on this development, equipping them with invaluable skills while bolstering the local workforce. “

One of the initial challenges TW Property had to manage was ensuring there was no extra pressure on Gisborne’s stormwater network that would contribute to future flooding.

“Thirty-one 2000-litre attenuation tanks have been installed on the site. These capture stormwater runoff and then slowly release it back into Gisborne’s stormwater system.”

Those living close to the new development were invited to an open home on Friday and got to have a look through the homes to see where their new neighbours will be living.

The homes in Tamarau were blessed with the help of local iwi yesterday and the new tenants have started moving in.

Ngāti Porou Oranga, Rongowhakaata Kahui Kaumatua and Tūranga Health are also supporting whānau who are moving in.