| 41 REGIONAL Ngāti Haua Iwi Trust - Paretapu Development Talk To Your Trusted New Home Building Partner 027 522 7849 | platinumhomes.co.nz THINKING OF BUILDING IN THE WAIKATO? courtney.wheeler@platinumhomes.co.nz T T Sue Russell Paretapu Development on track Paretapu Development will provide a mix of whanau onto a site extending just over 2 hectares in the south-eastern edge of Waharoa. Growing a sense of purpose and capability around buildng housing for their iwi, the Ngāti Haua Iwi Trust have embarked on a significant development in Waharoa, near Matamata, in the eastern Waikato, which will one day provide 35 homes of various sizes on land the trust purchased in 2018. Paretapu Development, like its earlier sixhome cousin at Pukemorimori, will provide a mix of whanau onto a site extending just over 2 hectares in the south-eastern edge of Waharoa, a town the Trust’s Chief Executive Lisa Gardiner says is in desperate need of revitilisation. “While our focus was first and foremost on providing our people with good quality, affordable, warm and welcoming homes that would suit a variety of whanau types, we also could see that the township itself was calling out for fresh building and people living in it well and it’s those aspirations that have underpinned our commitment to this development,” says Lisa. Waharoa has a beautiful history, she says, which has been neglected, and the town now faces a range of social issues and challenges, having been neglected by local and central government. “We asked ourselves as a people ‘how can we contribute to make it the place it used to be’.” Lisa says the land selected for development form Council, holds the great advantage of backing on to an open recreation space, a factor that was important when considering the quality of life and engagement by those living in the housing community. Overall design of the precinct and what facilities would be included with the housing, was the result of extensive consultation within the local community. “Being open and talking to people about what they wanted to see in Paretapu, what was important to them and what their visions were was a critically important korero to have.” The result was clear indicators that an intergenerational community was sought, with a communal playground and a community centre. “We received back some really specific instructions and it may not be possible that all we want can be achieved but it was a very good process to draw the community into engagement about Paretapu and to discover what were those things that were seen as important.” Building is underway and the form of the community is taking shape. All earthworks have been completed and Lisa says it’s exciting to see these homes take form for what they mean to Ngati Haua iwi and for the town. Platinum Homes have been engaged as the main building contractor for the homes, following a rigorous tendering process. “We went with Platinum Homes because they are trusted, they are a husband and wife business and when we met we just connected with similar values. “They saw the bigger picture and you can just tell when people are genuine.” Work is scheduled to end in later 2027, but Lisa says there’s a feeling that the project will be delivered by July or August 2027. The homes will be rented to iwi as a social housing model in partnership with Kainga ora and MSD. Some of the homes are two storey, with a variety of footprints. As for other projects of this nature, Lisa says Paretapu has been a large commitment from the Trust. “That’s it for now as we have only got a small pool of resources so we’ll see this project to fruition then consider what our next developments might look like. Strategically, we’re striving on several fronts.” The Ngāti Hauā customary rohe (tribal area) spans the eastern Waikato region, extending from Mount Te Aroha in the northeast, south along the Kaimai Range, west to Maungatautari, and northwest toward Te Rapa, encompassing key towns like Hamilton, Cambridge, Matamata and Morrinsville. Lisa has worked for the trust since 2012 and says her work is engaging, challenging, and very worthwhile. “Sometimes I think I may have been here too long, but when I see projects like Paretapu taking form, there’s nothing I would rather be involved with.”
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