| 5 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei T T Sue Russell Home ownership offered for iwi The terraced houses are centred around a shared green space, fostering a sense of community and belonging. “Without opportunities like this, many whānau are priced out of their papa kāinga.” WHITE ASSOCIATES QUANTITY SURVEYORS COLLABORATION | CONNECTION | COMMITMENT 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. Proudly supporting Ngati Whatua Orakei 09 362 0624 www.whiteassociates.co.nz info@whiteassociates.co.nz Auckland & Queenstown Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei first settled in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) in the 17th century, migrating from the north, and have kept their ahi kā (home fires) burning through continuous occupation in the central isthmus ever since. Today, the iwi comprises nearly 8000 people from new-born to kaumātua all with geneological links to their eponymous rangatira, Tuperiri. Grounded to their land through their marae at Ōrākei, the iwi owns more than 150ha of land in Tāmaki Makaurau. Its commercial arm, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa, is charged with developing and growing these assets, including the creation of more opportunities for its whānau to live in good-quality housing on iwi land. A recent example where this vision has been realised in bricks and mortar is the $20 million housing development at Hawaiki Street, their newest papa kāinga development enabling whānau to purchase a home in Ōrākei. Located near the corner of Hawaiki and Kupe streets and sitting atop the Kupe ridge, which connects Takaparawhau and Pourewa, two significant whenua for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Hawaiki is a collection of 24 one-, two-, and four-bedroom townhouses. Designed by leading architecture studio Jasmax and built by Vivian Construction, the homes reflect kōrero shared through workshops with whānau as part of the Ōrākei Masterplan. The terraced houses are centred around a shared green space, fostering a sense of community and belonging. “Hawaiki provides a more affordable pathway to homeownership for whānau in Ōrākei, where the average house price is around $2 million,” says Whai Rawa chief executive Grant Kemble. “Without opportunities like this, many whānau are priced out of their papa kāinga.” Projects of this nature, providing more homes to whānau, are considered as tremendously critical by the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Board, who govern the affairs of the hapū. Put simply, the priority to build more homes gives whānau not only a warm and healthy home to live in, but also helps the hapū maintain its ahi kā, its long history and connection to the whenua (land). Grant says it’s extremely gratifying to lead a commercial entity that is growing the hapū’s assets and seeing that realised into real outcomes for whānau. To make homeownership more accessible, homes are sold under a 150-year leasehold arrangement. Leasehold payments have been removed, significantly reducing the purchase price. A shared equity scheme is also available to further support whānau on their path to homeownership. “Sustainability was also front of mind. The homes feature sustainable materials, energy-efficient appliances, solar water heating, and systems to collect and reuse rainwater – all designed to reduce costs and align with the iwi’s commitment to kaitiakitanga,” says Grant. Homes can only be on-sold to registered Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei members, ensuring that the development continues to serve the whānau and hapū for generations to come. Hawaiki has been named a finalist in the 2025 Property Council New Zealand Awards in the Community and Affordable Housing category – a recognition of the project’s innovation, impact, and deep connection to place.
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