Local Partnership Tackles Housing Crisis

The name, gifted by Te Āti Awa, was announced by Hon Meka Whaitiri at a dawn ceremony today at the site of the new housing development in Taita Lower Hutt.

Kura Moeahu, Chair of Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, says the name Takai Here Tāngata speaks to the binding together of people to a place. "Takai Here Tāngata is significant and represents our hopes for the future where all our people will have a safe and healthy place to live and thrive. Very soon these homes will be completed and whānau will have a place to call home. That will be another proud day for Te Āti Awa and all involved in making this happen".

The partnership - He Herenga Kura, He Herenga Tangata, He Herenga Whenua - between Hutt City Council, Kahungunu Whānau Services, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, and Council-owned organisation, Urban Plus Limited is the first of its kind in the country and sets out a framework for building and delivering warm, safe and affordable homes for those in desperate need.

"With 19 homes being built over the next 10 months, Takai Here Tāngata is a great example of how collaboration can deliver positive community outcomes," says Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry. "People in our city are experiencing homelessness, overcrowding, and damp homes - and it’s projects like these that make a real difference to people’s lives. I’m excited by what our partnership will continue to do together to ensure we’re helping those who need it most."

Urban Plus Ltd Director Pamela Bell says UPL is proud to be partnering with Hutt City Council, Mana Whenua and one of the first Māori Community Housing Providers in the Wellington region - Kahungunu Whānau Services. "The Takai Here Tāngata community housing development reflects UPL’s new strategic direction to enable more housing outcomes for those most in need. In delivering these beautiful new homes, UPL is also committed to upholding our environmental obligations and building all homes to the Homestar-6 environmental standard."

Peggy Luke-Ngaheke, Chair of Kahungunu Whānau Services, says a key aim of the partnership is to provide pathways for whānau into permanent home-ownership over time. "We need to achieve positive solutions for our people and this housing initiative will do exactly that. Takai Here Tāngata will also sit alongside our Tāhuhu Oranga initiative, which is about wrapping the necessary supports around whānau with the intent of transitioning from homelessness through to housing permanency.

Background information

• Takai Here Tāngata will see 19 new dwellings built on a site at Molesworth Street, Taita, Lower Hutt.
• There are 10x two bedroom townhouses and 9x one bedroom houses.
• The houses are designed by Solari Architects and will be built by Mike Greer Commercial.
• Expected completion date March 2022
• All houses will be built to Homestar-6 standards. This means homes use less energy and water, are built with less waste during the construction process, heating costs are lowered through increased thermal performance and materials used to build the homes have lower environmental impacts. Other features include energy efficient lighting, slab insulation, improved wall and ceiling insulation and improved ventilation.