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Regional | Housing

Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei lead the way for Better Homes project

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's Kāinga Tuatahi development has been used as an example model to launch the Better Homes, Towns, and Cities National Science Challenge.

The Better Homes, Towns, and Cities National Science Challenge is moving forward.

Minister of Science and Innovation Steven Joyce says, “It's a big challenge, lots of people coming home, and others wanting to come and live here, so the challenge is making sure that we can build the best sort of living environments that will be great for people for the next 1800 years.”

The initiative kicked off at Ngāti Whātua's Papa Kāinga Tuatahi development today to showcase what Ngāti Whātua achieved to build affordable and eco-friendly homes.

Phil Davis, Chairman of the Ngāti Whātua o ŌrākeiTrust says, "It was a shock to me to hear the feedback from the minister and the group who administer and organise this challenge."

The challenge brings engineers, scientists, and social researchers together to work on practical solutions that bring long-term transformational benefits on how NZ homes, towns, and cities function.

Professor Richard Bedford, the Chairman for Building Better Homes, Towns, and Cities Challenge Governance Group says, “The difference about the challenge is that the research has to deliver good outcomes not immediately, but for people over time.”

The Best Homes, Towns, and City Challenge will receive funding of up to $47.9mil over a 10-year period.