Unitec and Kāinga Ora partner to deliver quality homes for families in need

A five-bedroom home left Auckland this week and was put onto a site in Lyell Road, Kaiti on Wednesday 6 April.

The home is the outcome of a partnership between Unitec and Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities - to build four relocatable homes for families in Aotearoa New Zealand. Another three two-bedroom homes are being are being built by Unitec students and will be transported to Ōpōtiki this year.

Kāinga Ora General Manager of Construction and Innovation Patrick Dougherty said the joint venture was a great opportunity to create a lasting legacy by delivering quality homes where there is an immense need.

"It’s important to remember that it’s about creating homes and communities, and not just houses.

The homes are warm, dry, healthy homes built to New Zealand Green Building Council 6 Homestar standards.

"It’s great to know that the quality that we need to have in our homes is being taught at Unitec School of Trades and Services – Carpentry."

Unitec students with the homes they are building.

Under the partnership, students are building homes onsite at the campus, supervised by Unitec lecturer and project manager Joseph Pitovao.

"Working in partnership with Kāinga Ora to build these homes has provided our students the opportunity to hone their skills and get real world experience, says Mr Pitovao. "It also provides a pathway into the industry while filling an urgent need for more social housing."

The Unitec Programme is part of a national Kāinga Ora training partnership programme which sees 12 high school trades academies, polytechnics and corrections facilities providing new, warm, dry public homes for Kāinga Ora, Mr Dougherty adds.

"Now the Gisborne home is onsite, local contractor Te Pae Hākari are completing the site works including landscaping, ready for whānau to move into the completed home in the second half of the year."

As the completion date and handover approaches Kāinga Ora will be matching the home to a whānau most in need of a five-bedroom home in that location. 

For more information

Kāinga Ora training and apprenticeships

Kāinga Ora and Unitec partnership