Iwi Start Civil Works to Provide Homes for 340 People in Rotorua
ROTORUA, Tuesday, 5th December 2023: Ōwhata Kohanga Rākau is this week celebrating a major milestone with its housing plans, securing resource consent to start civil works for roading, water and utilities.
Whānau will celebrate on the site this Friday, as the project inches closer to the building of 93 homes that will house up to 340 people.
This ground-breaking initiative led by Ōwhata 2B and 7 Ahuwhenua Trust in collaboration with the Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD), Emerge Aotearoa Housing Trust with the support of Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi Hapu Trust; is set to revolutionise the housing landscape, providing affordable, multi-generational living spaces for the local community.
Ōwhata 2B & 7 Trust Chairman, Jason Rogers says the project has taken time to get to this place, however the Trustees are pleased that development works can now proceed.
"We've seen first-hand how residing in new, warm homes enables families and people to thrive. The stability these new homes offer will profoundly benefit residents and the broader community. Supported by Ōwhata Marae and collaborative services, there will be a focus on supporting the wellbeing of the families living here,” he says.
The project will deliver a diverse range of housing options, including 38 affordable rental homes, 28 social rental homes, and 27 homes available for purchase, ranging from one to four bedrooms. At its heart lies a cluster of 20 specially designed two-bedroom kaumātua whare, catering to those 60 years and above.
The initiative would not have been possible without the support from MHUD’s Affordable Housing Fund and the Māori Infrastructure Fund. There remains a shortage of affordable homes for rent and purchase in Rotorua. The Trust is utilising its land to address this and will take on funding to complete this project.
This iwi-led project heralds a new chapter for Ōwhata. It embodies the unity, innovation, and empowerment within the community and is a testament to the collaborative efforts of both the iwi and major stakeholders to build a brighter future for whānau.
A whakanuia or ceremonial gathering on Friday, December 8th, 2023, at 11 am, 21 Ōwhata Road and will signal the start of civils. For more information visit www.owhatahousing.co.nz.
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