New development building a thriving community in the East

A new 10-unit development in East Christchurch features affordable social housing and aims to address the pressing need for quality rentals in the area.

Ahikā is a partnership between He Waka Hou Trust, He Waka Tapu, Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Rātā Foundation, Westpac NZ, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). The development consists of eight two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units. Rent is set at 80 percent of current market rents in the Christchurch East area.

Currently, there are around 2,000 people needing affordable housing in Ōtautahi.

He Waka Tapu Chief Executive Jackie Burrows says that rental stress makes it harder for people to settle in a community and access the right support services. “This development will address that need while fostering a vibrant, sustainable community through inclusive practices and innovative solutions.

“Ahikā is about having warm housing, and we've developed that from a community perspective. The project has taken over five or six years to develop. Really, it is about people who want to save for their own homes, so it's affordable rentals that involve internet and power savers due to our solar energy. But the aim is that they have some wraparound services for people to have chances for the mana enhancing of being able to own their own property.”

As a Kaupapa Māori organisation, He Waka Tapu priority is Māori and Pasifika, but it does not exclude other communities from accessing the right support when they need it. “East side, it's even more poignant for us, because it's part of our whānau. But, everywhere in New Zealand is struggling with rentals. There are ten units. Eight of them are two bedrooms, and the ability to be three bedrooms or an accessible bathroom in two of the units. They do look like townhouse units, so we've really tried hard not to be the social housing plain coloured. We've got colour in them.”

Jackie says that He Waka Hou Trust and He Waka Tapu, as Kaupapa Māori organisations, focus on providing housing solutions beyond mere shelter for Māori whānau in Ōtautahi. “Our vision is to provide a sustainable environment for whānau – a warm, safe whare, education, and life skills, including financial advice, access to health, and wrap-a-round support services.”

Jackie says the land Ahikā has been built on is not big, so it was important that the design was able to bring the development community together in a small space. Every detail has been considered to enhance the experience of living at Ahikā and empower their residents to thrive and learn new skills.

“We have them joining in our waiata. We provide budgeting support. We have a cleaning support, providing the services to how you clean your house right. They have an integrated coordinator who looks at everybody's individual needs and splits them across services as required. We've employed a Property Project Leader, Rana Holt, and her job is to develop all those systems and processes.”

New resident Rhonda Rameka says life had been tough before she and her boys moved into Ahikā. “It's a true blessing to my family and me because we were once homeless, and my boys were bed hopping all over the place, and we met the beautiful He Waka Tapu. You don't really get that much support these days, and when you've walked into the right people, and they've got open arms to you, that's just great in itself.”

Rhonda says it’s not just the house itself; it’s all the support she has received – from enrolling with the doctor and learning new life skills, to starting her te reo journey.  

Jackie says she is grateful for the partnership and funding support from Rātā Foundation that goes beyond just the bricks-and-mortar. Rātā Foundation Chief Executive Leighton Evans says everyone deserves a safe, secure, and affordable home and that housing is a key determinant of well-being. “Ahikā aligns with that belief in a way that doesn’t just provide 10 new affordable housing rentals for Christchurch East, it also aims to empower its community and bring people together.”

Funding for Ahikā was delivered under the Rātā Foundation Strategic Housing Pou. Through its partnership with Te Tūapapa Kura Kainga (HUD) and Rātā, He Waka Tapu is providing affordable housing that ensures it is part of the solution for whaiora (people seeking health) and their whānau.  

Jackie says that choosing the right builder is a crucial part of any grand design and He Waka Tapu was proud to partner with Cook Brothers Construction. Brent McMillian and his team provided expert guidance throughout the journey. While every project comes with its challenges, this one had far more wins than setbacks. With open communication and a shared commitment to excellence, the team brought the vision to life. He Waka Tapu couldn’t have asked for a better building team to work alongside.

Cook Brothers’ core value of being ‘One Team’ has shaped their vision, culture, and approach from day one. Beyond construction, the team also led a meaningful community initiative – Pukapuka Pātaka – creating free book libraries for the East Side community. This innovative project across Ōtautahi repurposes leftover materials from construction sites, embodying the principles of kaitiakitanga and Kotahitanga – fostering unity, sustainability, and access to knowledge.

Pukapuka Pātaka boxes are built by Cook Brothers’ apprentice builders and beautifully decorated by local East Side schools and community organisations.