A major community housing development designed to support independent living for older people in Te Hiku is nearing completion, with 28 new homes at Kaitāia’s Western Village now in the final stages of construction.
The development at the Claud Switzer Memorial Trust village on South Road has been delivered through a partnership between Far North Holdings, the Claud Switzer Memorial Trust and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.
Designed specifically for people aged over 50, the one-bedroom homes will provide much-needed community housing for up to 56 people, creating a supportive environment where residents can live independently while remaining connected to their community.
Western Village has achieved a Homestar 6 rating, recognising the development’s performance across areas including health, comfort, energy efficiency and sustainability.
Many of the homes incorporate accessible bathrooms, level entry and other features designed to support residents as their needs change. External paths and landscaping have also been designed with accessibility in mind, particularly for kaumātua and kuia.
The wider environment has been designed to encourage connection, health and wellbeing, with landscaping, fruit trees and a covered communal gathering area as well as recycling facilities and parking incorporated into the development.
The result is a development that sits comfortably within the existing Switzer environment while providing modern, purpose-designed homes for its future residents.
Far North Holdings CEO, Andy Nock said the development demonstrated the value of combining local knowledge and capability to address an important community need.
“Far North Holdings is all about helping to create prosperous, thriving communities and for this to exist we need to be developing homes that provide their residents with quality of life and healthy living conditions,” said Mr Nock.
“This can only be achieved by partnering with local organisations who understand the needs of individuals and families living in those communities.”
Switzer will manage the tenants and residents of Western Village, with the first people expected to move into their new homes during November 2026.
Claud Switzer Memorial Trust Chief Executive, Tina Mills said: “Western Village has always been about much more than building houses. It is about creating homes where people can feel safe and secure, maintain their independence, stay connected to whānau and community, and continue to live with dignity and purpose.
“At Switzer, we believe everyone deserves a life filled with connection, belonging and possibility, regardless of age or changing abilities. Western Village brings those values to life.
“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved through this partnership and grateful to our Trustees for their vision and commitment. Ultimately, the true success of the Western Village will be measured by the lives lived within these homes and the community that grows around them.”
With construction nearing completion, the official blessing planned for early November 2026 will mark a significant milestone for a project that has progressed from an identified community housing need to 28 new purpose-designed homes for Te Hiku.
