Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated’s housing subsidiary, Kahungunu Kāinga, has begun construction on a new affordable housing development in Carterton, delivering six homes aimed at helping more whānau achieve secure and affordable housing.
The development is being delivered through the Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga affordable housing programme in partnership with Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD). The project is designed to increase access to safe, warm and affordable homes while supporting whānau to remain connected to their communities in the Wairarapa.
The Carterton development represents another step in Ngāti Kahungunu’s wider commitment to improving housing outcomes for its people and addressing the growing challenge of housing affordability across the rohe.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Board member and Wairarapa representative Melissa Ihaka said the project is the result of years of planning, advocacy and collaboration to ensure affordable housing becomes a reality for local whānau.
She said housing is about much more than providing a roof over people’s heads, describing it as a foundation for stability, wellbeing and opportunity. Access to healthy, affordable homes supports improved education, employment, health and stronger whānau outcomes.
The Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme was established to support Māori-led housing developments that create long-term social, cultural and economic benefits. It enables iwi and Māori organisations to lead housing solutions that reflect the aspirations and needs of their communities.
The Carterton project will help increase the supply of affordable homes in the Wairarapa while allowing more whānau to remain close to their whenua, whakapapa and support networks.
Ngāti Kahungunu says the development also demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnerships between iwi and government agencies working towards shared goals. The collaboration with Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga has enabled the project to move from planning into construction, with the homes expected to provide lasting benefits for future generations.
Kahungunu Kāinga has acknowledged the contribution of project partners, contractors and everyone involved in bringing the development to life.
As housing affordability continues to be a major issue across Aotearoa, particularly for Māori communities who face disproportionately lower rates of home ownership, iwi-led initiatives such as the Carterton development are increasingly being recognised as an important part of the solution.
The six new homes may be modest in number, but for the whānau who will eventually call them home, they represent security, stability and the opportunity to build stronger futures within their own community.
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