Thirty completed apartments that have been sitting vacant in central Napier are set to become occupied homes, after local development company TW Property went unconditional on the purchase of the development at 124 Wellesley Road.
TW Property is purchasing the apartments from the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), with the 30 homes to be leased on a long-term basis to community housing provider Home in Place New Zealand for social housing.
TW Property General Manager Stevie-Lee Goodgame says finding a pathway to bring the Wellesley Road apartments into use is a particularly positive outcome.
“These are 30 quality homes that are ready to be lived in, so we are really pleased to have found a pathway that will see them put to good use and provide much-needed social housing in Napier.
“There is significant demand for quality housing across New Zealand, and we see a real opportunity for the private and community housing sectors to work together to help meet that need.”
Goodgame says the Wellesley Road acquisition builds on TW Property’s existing relationship with Home in Place New Zealand, with the two organisations also working together to deliver 36 new homes in Rotorua.
Home in Place New Zealand CEO, Larissa Bridge, says the organisation is pleased to be extending its partnership with TW Property and delivering social housing in Napier for the first time.
“We are incredibly excited to see this new community take shape. Of the 30 homes available, 20 have already been allocated to people on the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register, with most residents aged between their mid-50s and mid-70s. Many have experienced housing insecurity for a number of years, so providing a safe, secure and affordable place to call home is life-changing.
“More than just housing, we are creating a vibrant community where people can build connections, regain stability and have the foundation to pursue their personal goals and look to the future with confidence.”
TW Property is also working with local provider Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga (TTOH) to deliver 78 new homes across three Hastings developments, with all homes expected to be completed by June 2027.
Together, the Rotorua and Hastings developments will deliver 114 new homes, while the Wellesley Road acquisition will bring a further 30 existing apartments into use.
Goodgame says the scale of the work demonstrates what can be achieved through strong partnerships between developers, community housing providers and other organisations.
“No one organisation can solve New Zealand’s housing challenges alone. These projects show what can be achieved when different organisations bring their respective expertise together.
“The important thing is that these partnerships are delivering a tangible outcome: more homes for communities across the North Island.”
The projects form part of TW Property’s wider community housing portfolio, which has seen the company deliver more than 400 social and community homes across the North Island to date.
For more information contact:
Stevie Lee Goodgame
General Manager – TW Property
E: stevielee.goodgame@twproperty.co.nz
P: 021 126 4002