ISSUE 30 | DECEMBER 2023

This issue

1. OUR YEAR WRAPPED UP IN NUMBERS | 2. FAREWELL TO KATJA LIETZ

3. BUILDING PUBLIC HOMES IN TWO MONTHS | 4. SHIFTING TO LOW CARBON CONCRETE 

5. DENSITY DONE WELL | 6. MT ROSKILL HITS A MAJOR MILESTONE

Message from our land development, construction, commercial and urban planning leaders

Tēnā koutou,

We're so grateful for the support of all our partners this year, which has been instrumental in ensuring thousands live in warm, dry, and quality homes across the country. From severe weather damage to high construction costs, 2023 has presented its fair share of challenges.   

Despite this, our valued build and development partners, consultants and industry experts have successfully delivered a phenomenal amount of work alongside Kāinga Ora.  

To illustrate the impact of your involvement, we're sharing the best highlights of what you have helped us achieve in this newsletter.   

As we approach 2024, we're glad you're here with us and helping us deliver on our vision of building better, brighter homes, communities and lives.

We wish you and your whānau a Meri Kirihimete, and a safe, happy festive season.

Ngā mihi maioha,
Patrick, Caroline, Mark, Katja and Matt

Want to find out more about what we’ve achieved in 2022/23 with your help? Check out our Annual Report for the period.

Building public homes in 59 days

Our Housing Delivery System (HDS) has designed and delivered three new one-bedroom homes in just 59 business days, working with build partner Jennian Homes. The 59-day construction timeframe covered the entire build (including foundations, civil and houses) and reduced the standard construction time for a similar build by more than half.  

The three new homes are universally designed and accessibility friendly.   

Check out the video below to hear more on this project from our build partner, Jennian Homes, and members of our HDS team.   

Shifting to Low Carbon Concrete

From 1 January 2024, all new Kāinga Ora projects will be required to consider the use of low carbon concrete where practicable. This means using concrete products that have at least a 10% reduction in carbon (compared to baseline). This can be readily adopted through existing suppliers without cost, delivery, or performance implications.

The shift to low carbon concrete is part of our latest update to the Ngā Paerewa Hoahoa Whare: Design Requirements. The update includes product improvements, minor changes, and clarifications as well as alignment with Building Code changes.  

Density done well

Te Uru “walk-up” terraces at Hobsonville Point were given the ultimate recognition at this year’s National Resene Architectural Design Awards, taking home the prestigious Supreme Award.   

Commissioned by Fletcher Living and designed by Madushin Amarasekera of Construkt Architects, Te Uru’s unique design impressed the judges and was noted as an example of “density done well.”   

Major milestone for Mt Roskill development  

Kāinga Ora recently marked a major milestone for one of its large-scale projects (LSPs), with the completion of civil infrastructure works for Roskill South in Auckland.  

Over the past five years, LEAD Alliance, our civil construction partner, has worked with teams from Auckland Council, the Council-controlled organisations (CCOs), Vector and Chorus to deliver around 32,000 m2 of upgraded roads, 28 kilometres of new underground utility lines and install 150 new streetlights.   

In addition, more than five kilometres of new mains now connect homes with fresh water, and 4.5 kilometres of new wastewater pipes see to its safe removal. Read more about the other upgrades that are also benefitting current and future residents.