New resident Kylie Wright and her almost 2-year-old son will be moving into one of the homes in the next couple of days. Photo / Warren Buckland
New resident Kylie Wright and her almost 2-year-old son will be moving into one of the homes in the next couple of days. Photo / Warren Buckland
Kylie Wright admits she's "one of the lucky ones".
After living in a motel with her 2-year-old son for about six months, the Hastings mum on Wednesday got to have a look inside her brand new home in Raureka.
She and her son are among 11 whānau who have beenwelcomed into new one and two bedroom homes on Campbell St, Raureka, in a partnership between Kāinga Ora and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga (TToH) that it hopes will ease the city's housing crisis.
As of September 2020 there were 637 people on the housing register waiting list in the Hastings District, and as many again in Napier, up nearly 900 per cent in five years.
TToH chief executive George Reedy said the homes are built by Kāinga Ora and TToH was given the opportunity to put whānau in the homes.
"I don't know how we have been so lucky to be eligible for these [houses], I am really grateful," she said.
Reedy welcomed the whānau, guests and Kāinga Ora representatives and building project managers involved saying it was a "day of celebration".
"It's important for Hawke's Bay that we create more homes for whānau."
Reedy said the homes were new high quality, warm and dry and the area has been designed "with a bit of a papakāinga feel to it" where residents can be part of a community.
"They're not just little homes stuck on a little section they'll actually feel like they are connected to each other."
The families were welcomed to the homes with karakia and TToH Pou Arahi Lum Tahuri blessed each home.
Hastings District Council launches housing strategy
The new homes come at a time that Hastings District Council is set to introduce its Hastings Place-Based Housing Plan – Medium and Long Term Strategy.
The strategy will be received at a council meeting today.
It builds on the 2019 Hastings Place-Based Housing Plan.
It aims to reduce housing issues in the district and has six work streams of social and affordable housing, market affordable housing, Māori housing, senior housing, RSE accommodation and skills training and employment creation.
It has a number of outcomes including closing the gap between Māori and non-Māori housing ownership levels, ensuring Greenfields land is available for development while productive land is protected, and reducing the need for emergency housing.
