Funding will enable hundreds of new houses in Kawakawa and Kaikohe

Kawakawa and Kaikohe are among 11 centres to be allocated government funding for infrastructure that will enable new housing developments to be built. Critical infrastructure projects including roading and three waters infrastructure (drinking, waste and storm water) will enable over 16,000 new homes to be built across the country over the next 10 to 15 years, part of the third tranche of the government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) announced by Housing Minister Megan Woods this week.

Hundreds of homes in Kawakawa and Kaikohe are planned as a result of the infrastructure funding. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania acknowledged housing is desperately needed in the Far North. “This is fantastic news for our communities. This investment in core infrastructure will also enable affordable and general market housing development in our communities.”

Kawakawa will receive $25.6 million from the IAF for a road extension and significant water infrastructure upgrades. This will enable around 300 houses to be built, 180 of these homes will be part of the proposed Te Mataora development delivered by Ngā Kāingamaha o Ngāti Hine Charitable Trust. The trust’s plans for the development include aged-care apartments and more affordable homes, to create an intergenerational community.

Mayor Tepania said this funding from government will be combined with the council’s Long Term Plan allocations to enable much needed water and wastewater projects to be carried out earlier than originally planned.

Heamana (Chair) of Ngā Kāingamaha o Ngāti Hine, Peter Hemi White, said Te Mataora’s close proximity to the Bay of Islands Hospital will be of great benefit. “Especially to our old people, who we treasure so very much. Bay of Islands Hospital has recently seen much needed and significant investment. We look forward to working with our people to realise Te Mataora and setting the conditions for those that aspire to return home. He ahi kā roa.”

Kaikohe will receive $23 million in IAF funding to provide flood management and significant wastewater and stormwater upgrades to improve the current network and provide for future growth. This infrastructure will enable the building of around 365 new homes on three different sites in Kaikohe. Both public and papakāinga homes are among the planned housing developments.

Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi CEO Tia Ashby said the infrastructure funding will allow them to continue to deliver their housing strategy for Ngāpuhi whānau. “We are excited that we can work with our partners such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Far North District Council to deliver housing through appropriate and modern infrastructure for the benefit of our community.”

The IAF will invest $539.8 million on ground work like pipes, roads and flood protection to enable thousands of new homes in the 11 chosen centres. The other centres earmarked for funding in this round are Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Westport, Upper Hutt, Waipukurau, Hokitika and Pahiatua.

The IAF is a contestable fund of approximately $1 billion, designed to allocate funding for infrastructure to enable housing development – such as transport, three waters or flood management. The first tranche of IAF funding was announced in July 2022, followed by the second tranche of funding in October 2022. For more information on the IAF, please go to www.kaingaora.govt.nz.