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Kawe Whakahaere - Rurungia ki te pā whakaruru: Providing the shelter and environment to protect and grow the capacity and capability to implement our iwi aspirations.
Iwi build tackles housing need
A major building programme is underway on three Te Kāhui o Taranaki sites in Ōkato and Ōpunakē.
The work includes design and planning for a flagship development of 24 new homes, a community hub and a new wetland in Ōkato.
Two further projects will provide another three homes on a separate site in Ōkato, and six new homes in Ōpunakē – a total of 32 new houses and one renovated home across the two townships.
Pou Kōkiri Mark Wipatene says the flagship development on the old Ōkato School site will provide 18 three-bedroom houses and six one- or twobedroom kaumātua homes. In addition, a community hub will be developed.
“One of the old school classrooms has a Heritage NZ covenant on it. It will stay on site as a satellite tari and a place for marae pā, hapū and whānau to utilise.”
The development will also include an initiative to re-expose a “buried” awa that flows through the back of the property.
“One of the key features will be the daylighting of this awa to open it back up. Connected with that work will be an engineered wetlands. Its main purpose is to treat stormwater from the new development, contributing to the health of the Mangaone awa.
“All stormwater will be channelled into the wetlands where stones, gravel and plants will act as natural filters, treating the water naturally before it is released into the awa. The wetlands will regulate the flow of stormwater into the awa, creating a catchment barrier against flooding so that high volumes after heavy rain aren’t hitting the awa and creating issues downstream.
“It will also provide a habitat for wildlife and have aesthetic and recreational value, with walkways around the area built into the design.”
Creating an engineered wetland to treat stormwater is “the hard way to do things” but will set a benchmark for future developments, Mark says.
“We’re very much aware of our environmental responsibility – we want to do things right and set an example for other developers.”
The development is in the pre-application phase for consenting, with works set to begin next year.
The second building project in Ōkato is at Old South Rd, on a property bought through the deferred selection property (DSP) mechanism under Treaty settlement. Two three-bedroom houses are under construction with a third home on a neighbouring DSP property being upgraded. The work should be completed by November.
Building is also underway on two large sites in Tennyson St, Ōpunakē, again purchased through the DSP process. Six new three-bedroom builds will be completed next year.
All three housing developments will be named in consultation with tangata whenua.
“We will also be working with whānau on ways to express our cultural narrative within all of those sites,” Mark says.
The homes will be available to rent or for Progressive Home Ownership under the joint iwi housing initiative Ka Uruora.
“And we will continue to look for housing opportunities in the rohe. There is huge demand for affordable homes. We’re working hard to address this need, and we’re not taking a commercial view.”
A helping hand toward home ownership
Taranaki Iwi who have never owned a home before are being supported into ownership through the joint iwi housing initiative Ka Uruora.
The programme helps uri build financial capability and shares the purchase cost and ownership of a house until whānau can afford full ownership.
Mother of six Te Ingo Ngaia achieved her goal of shared home ownership in 2022.
“I embarked on this home ownership programme because of the opportunities to be on our whenua. Hearing about the whare here in Ōkato, it was where I wanted to be.”
“We were tenants before we became shared owners in this whare. I didn’t want my money to be dead money anymore, that’s how I saw rent. I want all uri to have the stability that I’m feeling right now.”
“The financial literacy part of the programme definitely grew my understanding of what has an impact on my habits. The support – having someone there to explain, to push, to clarify what’s going on – was more than I expected.”
“As an iwi, as a hapū, as a marae, we’re there for each other. I needed that.”
Home ownership has always been a goal for Tod and Ani Sharland.
“Ani and I tried to buy a home previously in Rotorua. Regardless of how much money we brought to the table, and we could service the debt, it was always on the institutions’ shoulders to say yea or nay. We never heard a yea.”
“With an iwi-led solution, the point of view was different – awhi, aroha, manaakitanga. Having been knocked down previously in other areas, it was nice to come back home and be surrounded by whānau who are in your corner and backing you.”
“Owning a whare is security as we look toward our future, our retirement years, and being able to leave a financial legacy for our two children. Working with Ka Uruora – a wonderful experience. We’ll never be able to thank them enough.”
Vicki and Dean Wall were the first to buy through the shared equity (now Progressive Home Ownership) model, in 2021 becoming proud owners of the Ōpūnake whare they had been renting for 13 years.
“There has always been this feel about this place. We just love it,” Vicki says.
She says completing the financial literacy programme Sorted Kāinga Ora was “the best thing we ever did”. They reined in their spending and lived off one of their incomes. Saving the other for a deposit, they were able to buy 90 percent of the property, with Ka Uruora contributing the remaining 10 percent.
In just the short time since then, they continued to save hard until they were able to buy Ka Uruora out. They now own 100% of their whare.
“What Ka Uruora has done for us now allows us to live the life we wanted to. We can really lay down our roots,” Vicki says.
