The first four of a planned 36 new Housing New Zealand homes to be built in Whakatāne have been blessed.
One of the four Kirk St homes will have new tenants from Wednesday.
Housing New Zealand programme director Nick Seymour said it was a great feeling to be celebrating the opening of the homes.
"It's a bit of a milestone for housing New Zealand in that this is the first time we have built new homes in Whakatāne for many, many years," Seymour said.