Whare for whanau
The dream for whānau of Tairāwhiti to own their own homes has moved a step closer with the official opening of the Toitū Tairāwhiti BuiltSmart facility.
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Associate Minister for Housing Peeni Henare, along with East Coast MP Kiri Allan and Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri, attended the opening ceremony of the complex on Aerodrome Road in Gisborne yesterday.
The facility has six “smart shelters”, with the capacity to accommodate building 24 affordable homes at one time. Four homes can be built in each of the six smart shelters.
The facility will deliver over 50 homes by June 2023. It will create 18 full-time jobs and also provide a site for Toitū Tairāwhiti Māori cadets to gain building qualifications.
Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Ltd comprises Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tāmanuhiri in partnership with Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Te Whakatōhea iwi.
Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing Ltd managing director Annette Wehi said it was an awesome day with the sun shining to welcome the opening of the facility.
The initiative was the result of addressing the need for houses in Tairāwhiti, she said.
“We know we have a housing crisis here. During Covid-19 we were having houses built in Huntly and delivered here, then during the last long lockdown in Auckland we decided to plan to have a facility here in Tairāwhiti to build.
“Under each smart cover there will be a Tairāwhiti company building four houses at a time, which should take eight weeks to complete.”
Ms Wehi says this was a result of the partnership between iwi, local council, central government and all the tradies who have helped along the way.
“We don't have enough houses. We don't have enough public houses, and we have tamariki and mokopuna living in hotels for over two years. They will grow up thinking that is normal. We want to get houses out to whānau,” Wehi said.
“Today's site opening shows how by working together we can overcome challenges to deliver for whānau in our communities,” Minister Peeni Henare said.
Toitū Tairāwhiti secured up to $4 million in funding from the Kānoa Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit (RDU)Regional Strategic Partnership Fund to assist with construction. Toitū Tairāwhiti also co-funded the remaining $4 million to bring the project to life.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, Toitū Tairāwhiti recognised ongoing supply chain issues could hinder their housing delivery targets. Toitū Tairāwhiti decided to enter a joint venture with BuiltSmart to establish a Toitū Tairāwhiti BuiltSmart facility in Tūranga,” Minister Henare said.
Filmed and Edited by
Ben Cowper
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