Nine new state homes to be built in Whanganui this year

Housing New Zealand area manager Keith Hilson talks to residents about building new houses in Poynter Place. Photo / Bevan Conley

Whanganui is getting nine new two-bedroom Housing New Zealand houses, Housing New Zealand area manager Keith Hilson says.

The houses are to meet a steadily growing demand. There are currently 64 Whanganui households seeking housing help from Housing New Zealand (HNZ) and no houses ready for them to move into.

Mr Hilson is excited about the building project, and said it was only stage one.

"I can't wipe the smile off my face," he said.

Seven of the two-bedroom houses will be on a section recently purchased for them at 12 Poynter Pl, in Gonville. Neighbouring residents were invited to an information session about them on Thursday afternoon.

The land has been surveyed, and will be levelled before building begins in late March.

The new houses will be brick, on concrete foundations. They will be fully insulated, double-glazed and have curtains and carpets. The roofs will be long-run corrugated iron.

They will have landscaped gardens with shrubs, fences, driveways and enough space for off-street parking.

"They will be warm, dry and fit into the neighbourhood as well," Mr Hilson said.

The two in Grey St will be on back sections, behind existing HNZ houses.

The houses are all a standard design, being rolled out across New Zealand.

Jennian Homes has the contract to oversee the building, and Devon Homes will be the builder.

For Poynter Pl, building consent is expected later in February, with site works starting in early March and construction finished in June.