Hon Phil Twyford
Minister for Housing and Urban Development
Hon Jenny Salesa
Associate Minister for Housing and Urban Development
21 September 2018
MEDIA STATEMENT
More public houses open for Auckland families
Three new community housing developments officially opened in West and South Auckland today, which will provide
desperately needed homes for up to 30 households.
The new developments are in Otahuhu, Mangere and West Auckland, and provide a mix of newly built one, two and three
bedroom homes.
“Demand for public housing continues to rise, particularly in Auckland, where about 42% of people on the social housing
register reside,” Housing And Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford said.
“In the midst of a housing crisis, one of the best ways we can tackle homelessness is to build more public housing.”
“Our priority is making sure everyone in need of somewhere to live has a place to stay, and this Government is doing
everything we can to ensure that happens,” Associate Minister of Housing and Urban Development Jenny Salesa said.
“Every home that is built means one less family that has to wonder where they are going to sleep tonight.”
The development in Otahuhu, built by Community of Refuge Trust (CORT Community Housing), is a brownfields development
where two old houses on adjoining sections have been demolished, and made way for three buildings with four one-bedroom
units in each.
The Mangere development is a project of Lotofale’ia Tongan Methodist Church of Mangere, supported by Airedale Property
Trust. The eight relocatable two-bedroom homes have been designed and built especially for older Pasifika persons.
In West Auckland, the development on Moire Road will eventually have around 200 homes, a percentage of which will be
used for public housing. The first 10 of these public housing homes opened today. They have been delivered through a
joint venture partnership between Fletcher Living and Ngati Whatua Orakei, and purchased by VisionWest Community Trust
and Accessible Properties Ltd.
“This Government is committed to building 6,400 public housing places over the next four years,” said Phil Twyford.
“However, we can’t do it alone. To increase quality, innovative public housing for our most vulnerable people, we are
committed to working with Community Housing Providers, such as the ones who opened these homes today.”
More information on the Government’s plan for public housing is available on the Ministry of Social Development website: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/housing/public-housing-plan/index.html