Te Kūiti community celebrates 11 new homes

Mark Rawson, Kāinga Ora Regional Director for Waikato, acknowledges the leadership and commitment of Mayor John Robertson in the delivery of this project.  "The completion of these new homes and roads will lead to other homes being built in the area as it unlocks the neighbouring land blocks."

"The Ormsby and Tangihaere whānau have gifted meaningful names to the new roads: Te Ara o Ngapaki, the through road off Lawrence Street, and Atiria Lane, which runs through the development. Both names honour tūpuna (ancestors) who once lived on this whenua, now revitalised through the new housing."

"The community came together recently to bless the homes including students from the Centennial Park School which is only 100m from the new homes."

"The mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes will help meet the growing demand for social housing in the area."

“We know the positive impact these homes will have on the tenants matched to them. The central location means they’re close to everything our tenants need in their day-to-day lives—shops, schools, and recreational facilities.”

Whānau settling in

Whānau are moving into their new homes, supported by dedicated Housing Support Managers who know the local area and are there to help residents settle in and thrive in their new community.

A retired couple who recently moved in say the change has made a significant difference in their lives.

“Our new home is warm, comfortable, and much easier to get around now that we’re older,” they shared. “We had to leave our rental property, and if these new state homes hadn’t been completed, we would have had no choice but to move in with our daughters—whose homes are already crowded.”

They say the home’s thoughtful design has made everyday life more manageable.

“The wider doorways mean my husband can use his walker easily, and there are no stairs to worry about anymore. That was becoming a real challenge in our last place.”

“We’re really enjoying sitting out on the sunny deck, looking over the garden and fruit trees, and getting to know the neighbours who’ve moved into the other homes around us. It’s been a real blessing.”