| 111 Our beginnings on site: the first house arriving. Toitu Housing BUILDING The remaining 100 homes are scheduled to be completed by December, alongside a social supermarket, laundromat, and māra kai vegetable garden. Planning for a kōhanga reo is also currently in progress to complete this village community, giving whānau a place to live and learn te reo Māori, and grow up surrounded by their language and culture. The homes are being manufactured by BuiltSmart in partnership with a number of private local builders at a six-bay Gisborne facility established through its joint venture with Toitū Tairāwhiti. Construction crews are using materials supplied from within the region, bringing employment and economic activity into the community alongside the housing. The project was announced last year as a $75 million Government-iwi partnership, with the Government contributing about $49 million and Toitū Tairāwhiti providing the balance. Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing strategic advisor Kararaina Calcott-Cribb says that investment is important because the project demonstrates how housing delivery can generate wider benefits for Tairāwhiti, with local people and businesses involved in building the homes as well as the finished community. For families moving into the development, the benefits extend beyond the rental price. Secure, quality housing can provide greater stability for children, reduce the uncertainty associated with unsuitable or temporary accommodation, and allow whānau to remain connected to their wider support networks. The development also recognises that affordability is about more than the cost of a roof over someone’s head. Having access to support, local shops, laundry facilities, food-growing spaces, and early learning within the community can reduce the practical pressures on whānau and make everyday life easier when living in a thriving community. Kararaina says the completed community will bring together housing, employment, services, culture, and family connections in one place, creating an environment where whānau can live and grow together. That collective approach is at the heart of what makes the development special, with the first stage now providing a tangible example of what can be achieved through iwi-led housing development. “It’s just a really beautiful thing and we love it,” Kararaina says. WHITE ASSOCIATES QUANTITY SURVEYORS COLLABORATION | CONNECTION | COMMITMENT Proudly supporting Toitu Housing Estimating | Project Funding Services | Construction Cost Management | Ancillary Services Talk to us about how our expertise in cost consulting and quantity surveying can contribute to the success of your project. 09 362 0624 www.whiteassociates.co.nz info@whiteassociates.co.nz Tāmaki Makaurau, Tāhuna & Ōtautahi Dependable Service / Reliable Results Our helpful & knowledgeable staff have 150+ years of combined industry experience, meaning you can rest assured your next project is in safe hands. Proud to Support Toitu Housing 1b Buscomb Avenue, Henderson Auckland 0610 Phone 09 836 3888 www.teamtraffic.co.nz Resource Management Planning Solutions Providing expert guidance on resource consents and planning policy, managing everything from feasibility assessments and consultation through to comprehensive consent applications for subdivisions, residential and commercial developments. Tim Fergusson 021 748 525 tim@fergussonplanning.co.nz Director www.fergussonplanning.co.nz
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