Response from Kainga Ora Homes and Communities.pdf

27 February 2024

Steve
[FYI request #25314 email]

Dear Steve

Thank you for your email of 30 December 2023, via the FYI website to Kāinga Ora – Homes
and Communities, with the following request made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act):

I would like any and all information regarding a Kainga Ora Development at
212-214 Rosebank Road and 1 Orchard Street. The land was bought by
classic developments, but when I spoke to the project manager for the site
from classic developments, he said the development was an acquisition
build for Kainga Ora of 34 terraced houses. There has however been no
public record or information about this large development, and I would like
to know more about it. I would also like to understand why there was no
public consultation or awareness for such a large development, especially if
the land wasn’t a Kainga Ora land holding to begin with.

An electronic search of our file records for information in scope of your request captured
over 170,000 potential results. Due to the significant time that would be required to assess
this information to determine what would be in scope of your request, I am refusing your
request under section 18(f) of the Act, as ‘…the information requested cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research.’

Kāinga Ora is tasked with delivering more social and affordable housing to meet the growing
demand from people in need of homes across New Zealand. We strive to deliver on this in
partnership with local iwi, territorial authorities, other government agencies and the private
sector. We do this in many ways, such as:

•  Demolishing old Kāinga Ora housing stock and redeveloping the sites we own
•  Buying land and working with the private sector to deliver market, affordable and
social housing.
•  Buying completed homes from private developers to add to our public housing
assets.

While the first option of building on land we already own is our preference, where housing
demand is pressing, we consider the acquisition of homes. For example, in the Whau Local
Board area there are currently 477 individuals and families on the Ministry of Social
Development’s (MSD) Housing Register.

Regarding the development, Kāinga Ora is contracted to purchase the development at 212-
214 Rosebank Road and 1 Orchard Street, Auckland from Classic Developments. The
development will deliver 23 x three-bedroom terrace houses and 9 x two-bedroom terrace
houses, with each home having one on-site car park.

Kāinga Ora was first approached around June 2022 with the opportunity to acquire the
development for social housing. The time between Kāinga Ora first being approached and
the notification letter being sent to nearby residents was due to negotiations, due-diligence,
and a revision to the resource consent, which was only approved by Auckland Council on 13
October 2023.

The development is due to be completed mid-2025. For your information, I have included a
copy of the letter to neighbouring residents on 25 October 2023 as an attachment with this
response, which includes a site plan and visuals of the development. One phone number
has been withheld for privacy under section under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to ‘…protect the
privacy of natural persons...’

I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the Act and I consider
that the withholding of the information from this response is not outweighed by the public
interest in making that information available.

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this response. Contact details for the Ombudsman can be found at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

Please note that Kāinga Ora proactively releases our responses to official information
requests where possible. Our response to your request may be published at
https://kaingaora.govt.nz/publications/official-information-requests with your personal
information removed.

Yours sincerely

pp
Rachel Kelly
Manager, Government Relations

25 October 2023
NAME
ADDRESS
Dear Neighbour
New public homes for 212-214 Rosebank Road, Avondale
I’m getting in touch to let you know that Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities has an agreement
with Classic Developments Rosebank Ltd that confirms our intention to buy a new development at
212-214 Rosebank Road for public housing once it is completed.
Public housing has been part of the Avondale community for a long time, and is now more important
than ever, with around 477 individuals or whanau on the housing list awaiting one of our homes in
the Whau Local Board area. A warm, dry house within a supportive community, provides our tenants
1982
with stability and a place to call home.
The terrace housing development features 32 x two and three bedroom homes. Site clearance is now
ACT
underway on the homes and construction will follow. We expect these homes to be ready for people
and families who need public homes in this area to move into in mid 2025.
A site plan and some visuals are attached for your information.
We are working closely with the developer to ensure that the development will best meet the needs
of the people and families who will live there and fit into the wider community well.
Kāinga Ora will take over ownership of the homes once they are finished. The homes will then be
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matched to individuals and families on the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register, or
existing Kāinga Ora customers who need to move to a new home. Homes are matched according to
the greatest need and with consideration to proximity to customers’ family, work and schools.
If you have any questions, or concerns, please contact me on 0800 801 601.
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Kind regards,
pp
Jen Havilitama
Stakeholder Relationship Manager
Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities
Email: [email address]
s 9(2)(a)

Site Plan: 212-214 Rosebank Road, Avondale
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Elevations – 212-214 Rosebank Road
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