Kāinga Ora homes on Manuka Street ‘a place to call home’

Participants at a blessing of Kāinga Ora homes on Manuka Street earlier this week. Standing (from left) are Morehu Pewhairangi (who did the blessing), Vicky Ngata (of Kāinga Ora), Theo Akroyd (Kāinga Ora), Erolia Ribbon, Skylah-Jean Ribbon-Pomare, Roy Pomare, James Starnes (ICONIQ) and Tonga Stevens (ICONIQ). Front: Fairlane Ribbon-Pomare and Mayor Rehette Stoltz. Erolia and her children Skylah-Jean and Fairlane are among those shifting into the houses. Picture by Paul Rickard

The first family has moved into new Kāinga ora housing on Manuka Street after the site was blessed on Monday morning.

The blessing marked the completion of the first seven of a 14-home development.

“It’s great to see the first seven homes at our Manuka Street redevelopment now completed by our build partner ICONIQ Construction, with another seven homes well on their way to being finished,” Kāinga Ora acting regional director East North Island Roxanne Cribb said.

“By removing four old homes and making better use of the large sections they were on, we have been able to provide more new, warm and dry homes for whānau most in need of a place to call home.”

The remaining homes are due for completion by the middle of the year.