For the first time in more than two decades, Government public housing is set to return to Wairarapa and the Tararua regions, Housing Minister, Megan Woods has announced.
The Minister said re-establishing a public housing presence in the regions showed the Government’s commitment to building momentum for the provision of public housing across New Zealand
“Our prudent economic management is helping us maintain a strong pipeline of investment in our regions, and this acquisition of four sites in Wairarapa and the Tararua regions, signals a significant milestone – the return of Government public housing after over 20 years,” said Minister Woods.
Kāinga Ora, the Government’s public housing landlord and urban development agency, has purchased two sites in Greytown and Woodville, and has signed contracts with Jenninan Homes and with Westwood properties to acquire the housing in Masterton.
Kāinga Ora is also working with community housing provider Emerge Aotearoa to add a 22 further homes in Masterton.
“It’s great to see that these Emerge Aotearoa homes have already been matched to whanau, most of whom have come from emergency or transitional housing and will start to move in over the next few weeks,” said Minister Woods.
“I want to thank Horizons Regional Council and Wairarapa MP, Kieran McAnulty, for identifying this public housing opportunity in the Tararua regions. It’s a great example of organisations working together to deliver much needed public housing for our communities.
“In total that brings over 50 much needed public homes to the region, with many more in the pipeline,” she said.
Previously the land had been used as storage for the Woodville Service Centre and has now been earmarked for the development of around nine new public homes.
In 1999, the Government approved the sale of 541 public homes in Wairarapa.
