Kainga Ora says social housing opposition is rare

A massive effort is going on behind the scenes in opposition to the proposal to build 37 Kainga Ora social housing homes in Millwater.

Kainga Ora north and west Auckland regional director, Taina Jones, says this response is unusual.

“Communities where Kāinga Ora is building new homes are largely supportive of our developments which deliver warm and dry homes for people who need them,” Jones says. “We rarely receive opposition.”

Asked whether this might be because the communities may be unaware of the developments until they are already consented, Jones says: “Our general process is to engage early and meaningfully with the communities and key stakeholders in areas where we plan to build homes. This involves getting in touch with interested parties early on. In our experience, the more engagement we do, the better community response we have.”

However, Millwater residents told Hibiscus Matters in April that there was no prior consultation regarding the development in Bonair Crescent and they first heard about it as a rumour on social media.

Jones says Kāinga Ora has nearly 600 active construction sites across New Zealand, and 13,500 homes in the pipeline (as of 28 February 2022).

“We have had a number of homes in suburbs that border Millwater  – Ōrewa, Silverdale and Whangaparāoa – for many years.”

Whangaparāoa Mark Mitchell is backing a group of Millwater residents who are opposed to social housing going into their community.

“I told the Minister (Megan Woods) that it needs to be stopped,” Mitchell says. “She does not agree”.

Jones says Kainga Ora is talking with Mitchell, Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Gary Brown and a number of representative residents of the Millwater community about plans for the site.

Issues of concern include the number of homes to be built, how Kainga Ora engaged and informed the community to date, and the end use of the homes.

Residents are expecting a response from Kainga Ora soon regarding the concerns raised and until then do not wish to comment.

w Backstories localmattersne.wpengine.com April 18, 2022