Kura Moeahu and Holden Hohaia of Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika (Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust) provided a blessing of the site and karakia. Gumboots were then donned – with Mayor Ray Wallace, Te Tumu Kāinga General Manager Declan Millin and Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust Chair Wayne Mulligan turning the first sod of dirt, ahead of site construction officially starting in late April. The Wellington Company’s Ian Cassels was unable to attend due to a family bereavement.
For Ian Cassels of The Wellington Company, the fact that Paetutu has been met with outstanding sales popularity shows the market is ready for medium density suburban living. Cassels comments: “Paetutu was designed for neighbourhood living thriving on interaction, supported by intelligent design within a master-planned environment”. Cassels also notes the importance of strong and trusted relationships in delivering such projects: “Paetutu shows what can be achieved when private sector and community providers work together for a bigger purpose. Together with Te Tumu Kāinga, in Paetutu we’ve created a medium density model for affordable homes with excellent thermal performance and resultant health benefits.
Declan Millin of Te Tumu Kāinga comments: “We support housing projects that benefit Māori and Paetutu will do just that. This has been an opportunity to enable iwi to do it for themselves – creating quality, affordable homes for whānau. And it’s great to see that a large number of these homes will be owned by iwi members.
“This collaboration is also showcasing how a well-designed commercial and charitable partnership can deliver truly great social outcomes”.
Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust members were offered an option to purchase before Paetutu went on the general market, which proved very popular. Only a handful of the 56 homes remain available for purchase.
The sense of neighbourhood living was evident in the celebrations: the tune of Mr Whippy had excited neighbourhood kids clamouring for their turn in the queue for a school holiday treat, whilst neighbours enjoyed morning tea and a chat with those involved in Paetutu’s creation.
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