• Prime Minister marks completion of new houses in Hastings

Prime Minister marks completion of new houses in Hastings

The completion of 40 new houses in Kauri Place, Hastings, by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities was celebrated yesterday with a visit by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Housing Minister Megan Woods, local MPs, and representatives from other partners involved in the Hastings Place Based Housing plan.

Gathered at the newly named access-way to the Mahora subdivision, Ohika Crescent, the occasion marked 20 months since the beginning of building the development that was designed by Kāinga Ora in collaboration with Hastings District Council, as part of the Hastings place-based approach. 

All but one of the houses is tenanted in the modern, warm and dry homes surrounding green spaces and communal areas and thoroughfares.

Ardern, who enjoyed tea with some of the tenants, said she wanted other whānau in emergency housing and on housing waiting lists to know that the Government is building as fast as it can. 

"To hear the stories of some of those today, some out of hotels, others out of overcrowding, it is exactly what we need." 

She said 10 per cent of the country's public housing supply has been built by this Labour Government. 

"The pity is, had we been building at the rate we have been building now under the last government, we could have cleared that waiting list.

"We are playing catch up but at a significant rate."

The government recently reached the milestone of 10,000 public houses nationwide and currently had more than 4000 under construction. In Hawke's Bay alone, another 600 are underway. 

"We have had a major build programme in city centres like Auckland, but what we've needed is to ensure that we are building at pace across the country and that's what we see.

"We've taken a place-based approach and what that simply means is we are working with local communities to identify the nature of the housing need that exists and delivering on that need."

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was very heartening to see the new houses all finished and providing a place to call home for residents.

“When we turned the sod in October 2020 we had people from the Mahora community here and a shared vision for these new houses, and it’s so good to see that realised.

“This development, along with others that are underway across Hastings, means people have been able to move out of emergency accommodation into permanent, good quality, warm and dry homes they can call their own.

“They now have the security to get on with their lives knowing they don’t have to worry about having a roof over their heads, and that’s so important for everyone in our community.”


Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Housing Minister Megan Woods join Matua Fred Mitai
under his umbrella as he takes them to his new house in Kauri Place for a tour. Photo/Hastings District Council

These houses are part of a larger programme of work being undertaken by the Hastings Place Based partners including Council, Kāinga Ora, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Social Development, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay and other housing providers.

Since the plan’s launch in 2019, and with the assistance of Central Government funding, as of May this year 145 houses had been built across Hastings, 154 were under construction, there was infrastructure work underway to enable another 135 and 65 were in feasibility, design and planning.

“The impact of Covid-19 has been significant but even with these challenges real progress has been made and is still happening in many parts of the district – it’s been a concerted effort that shows what can be achieved taking a partnership approach,” Mrs Hazlehurst said. 

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