Tuesday November 14th 2023
Housing Boost For Wairoa
AN AUCKLANDER believes the Te Rauā housing project will bring new energy to the Wairoa township.
Fred van der Sande is the director for PCS Projects overseeing the housing project led by Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa.
Mr van der Sande is based in Auckland and has been speaking with Tātau Tātau since last year.
“I’ve started to travel down and stay for four days a week this year as the project gathers momentum.”
He says this project will be a big boost for Wairoa.
“People look and walk into the two new properties on Apatu Street and go wow these new homes are great but that is the standard of new properties. To have a whole section, 56 units of new properties is going to bring some excitement for the community.”
With one previous iwi project in Auckland, Mr van der Sande says Te Rauā has slightly more cultural aspects to consider.
“There are regular discussions with Tātau Tātau on how they envision the project with a real identity to give whānau and future generations the best homes possible.”
Deputy mayor Denise Eaglesome-Karekare is the local housing director for Tātau Tātau and since Fred’s appointment, the project has been growing in strength.
“Before his appointment as project manager, there was not as much work being done as what we were wanting. You need a project manager on the ground and Fred has been working with Enabled Wairoa so has knowledge of the Wairoa area.”
With his commitment to be based in Wairoa, Mrs Eaglesome-Karekare is pleased to have Mr van der Sande’s involvement.
“We’re not bothered about the background or who they are – at the end of the day, what is important is delivering warm, safe, healthy homes that meet the needs of our whānau.”
She said that this project is very significant for the town.
“It’s known that we have a housing shortage, but this will boost Wairoa. Even during the development stages, Fred has brought in locals to work on the project.”
“Any gaps in skills, we’ve asked Fred that he brings in the best guys possible but that they let our rangatahi shadow those workers.”
The properties will be rented for now with the iwi trust working with kahui to decide what the fairest way is for who will be in the properties.
“At the Tātau Tātau AGM last year we allowed applicants to apply for a space in the project with 20 whānau putting their names down. They will be top priority.”
In their annual report for 2023, Tātau Tātau says the project is built around whanaungatanga.
“This ensures that kaumātua would remain in the centre of their community, surrounded by whānau instead of moving out to rest homes.”
Built on three hectares of land, there will be 30 whānau homes, 13 living units and 13 kaumātua whare.
“By spring next year, we look forward to seeing 13 of the one and two bedroom units in place, with whānau moving into their brand-new homes by the end of the year,” said Mrs Eaglesome-Karekare.
QRS project manager Mike Wilson says approximately 40 staff members are working on the project.
“This includes labourers, operators, truck drivers, concrete batchers and delivery drivers and supervisors.”
The crew have excavated 6375m3 of material from the site.
“We’ve imported, placed and compacted 1000m3 of clay fill from off-site; installed 400 metres of new waterpipe; 450 metres of new sewer line and 380 metres of new stormwater pipes.”
