Whānau get warm, dry, secure homes with Whangārei charity development

The 22-home Habitat for Humanity development was officially opened on Friday by Whangarei mayor Vince Cocurullo and 150 guests.
More Northland families in need will be able to put down their roots and thrive, thanks to a new public housing development built in Whangārei by a charity.
The 22-home project in Maunu is Habitat for Humanity’s largest housing development in the country.
It was officially opened on Friday, on a new street off Te Mai Rd named Warren Place.
Habitat housing manager Carina Dickson said the homes will be filled with whānau from emergency and transitional housing.
“I think people would be shocked to see the true reality of how a lot of people are living in Tai Tokerau – a lot of children, a lot of young people – it’s heart breaking.
“I talk to families who have moved multiple times over the last few years: It’s impossible to put down roots and create any stability – create friends, be part of a community – and that’s what people really crave and want,” she said.
The new homes will provide security of tenure, as well as much-needed warmth and safety, Dickson said.
“The question I’m asked over and over again, and it breaks my heart, is ‘how long can we stay?’ Because people are so used to not being able to stay and accommodation not being permanent.
“When I’m able to say, ‘you can stay for as long as you need’, it lifts such a weight off people’s shoulders.”
Habitat worked alongside G.J. Gardner Whangārei, local contractors and the community to ensure the 22 new homes were built to last, would foster community and were cost-efficient to run.
The homes have been built above building code standards, with increased insulation, glazing and robust materials to improve liveability and reduce maintenance.
The project is the first public housing development in Whangārei to have solar panels, thanks to a government grant announced last year, reducing power bills by around 50%.
Alongside the homes, the development includes a community hub with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for visitors to stay, and floor space to host events. Outside, there is a community barbecue and children’s play area, giving space for the community to come together.
At the opening event on Friday attended by more than 150 people, Habitat for Humanity Northern CEO Conrad LaPointe thanked all those involved over the last two-and-a-half years.
“The power of what you have all helped achieve here, the hope that you have given so many people who need the stability and security so that they can thrive, and we thank you for sharing our aim for the highest possible outcome,” he said.
Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity had a huge response to its call for whānau looking to get on the property ladder.
After a Northern Advocate article highlighted the charity’s 24 rent-to-own homes being built in Tikipunga and Kensington, it had 700 expressions of interest to buy the homes, Dickson said.
it is now working through the applications, to find those most suitable for the rent-to-own scheme, she said.
Selection takes about 10 months, by which time the new houses are expected to be finished.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.