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Te Mataora - A place for generations
ORANGA O TE IWI
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What is Te Mataora?
Te Mataora is a proposed housing and community development initiative being led by Ngāti Hine Health Trust (NHHT) in Kawakawa. The project could deliver approximately 117 new homes over several years, helping to meet growing housing need while supporting the long-term wellbeing and growth of Kawakawa and our wider communities.
The vision is to create a quality, well-designed and connected community where whānau can live well, have access to the services, spaces and support that contribute to healthy and thriving communities.
Why is Te Mataora being proposed?
There is a significant and growing need for safe, warm, quality and affordable housing across Te Tai Tokerau. Too many whānau continue to experience overcrowding, housing insecurity, rising rental costs and homes that do not meet their needs.
As an existing housing provider, NHHT sees housing as an important foundation for whānau wellbeing. Te Mataora is a long-term response to that need, creating more housing choices while contributing to the future growth and wellbeing of Kawakawa and the wider community.
Who is leading Te Mataora?
Ngāti Hine Health Trust (NHHT) is leading Te Mataora and is responsible for coordinating the development planning and community engagement process. NHHT will work alongside relevant agencies, infrastructure providers, Council, mana whenua and the wider community as the development progresses.
Why is NHHT involved in housing?
Housing and wellbeing are closely connected. A safe, warm and secure home provides a foundation for better health, education, employment and whānau wellbeing.
For NHHT, housing is part of a much wider commitment to supporting whānau to live well and strengthening the communities we serve.
Does NHHT have experience delivering housing projects?
Yes. NHHT is already an established housing provider and has demonstrated its capability through developments such as Marohapa in Moerewa.
NHHT owns and leases a substantial property portfolio, including affordable rentals, emergency and transitional housing, rehabilitation facilities and community facilities. We also manage tenancies and provide wraparound support to whānau, meaning our role continues well beyond the construction of a home.
Why Kawakawa?
Kawakawa and the wider region need more quality and affordable homes. At the same time, Te Mataora creates an opportunity to support significant investment in the infrastructure Kawakawa will need for its future growth.
Rather than responding to housing and infrastructure pressures separately, Te Mataora provides an opportunity to plan for both in a coordinated and long-term way.
Why now?
Housing need continues to grow, population numbers are increasing, and there is a recognised shortage of affordable housing options throughout Northland. Te Mataora seeks to respond to those needs through a staged, long-term approach.
How big is the development?
Approximately 117 homes are currently proposed across several sites. These would be delivered progressively in stages over a number of years, rather than as one development built all at once.
Is 117 homes a large development for Kawakawa?
Yes. Te Mataora represents significant growth for Kawakawa, and we recognise the importance of getting that growth right.
That means ensuring development is supported by the right infrastructure, quality design and public spaces, good connections to the existing township, and ongoing engagement with the community.
Te Mataora should therefore be considered not simply as 117 new houses, but as part of a wider conversation about how Kawakawa grows and what we want that growth to look like.
Housing - and who the homes are for
Who are the homes intended for?
The housing mix is still being developed. Potential housing options include:
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Affordable home ownership
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Affordable rentals
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Whānau housing
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Workforce housing
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Kaumātua housing
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Social housing
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Market housing
Will all the homes be social housing?
No. Te Mataora is intended to be a mixed community. The final housing mix is still being developed and will be communicated as decisions are made.
Affordable home ownership opportunities for first home buyers are being explored as part of the housing mix.
What housing types are being considered?
Potential housing forms may include stand-alone homes, duplexes, smaller homes for kaumātua, family homes and other housing options suited to different household needs.
What will NHHT do to support a safe and connected community at Te Mataora?
NHHT already owns and manages housing and tenancies across our rohe, so this is not new territory for us. Our approach combines good tenancy management with wraparound support for whānau, quality housing and strong relationships with the communities we operate in.
At Te Mataora, we will bring that same approach. Clear tenancy expectations and responsive management will sit alongside support for whānau and a well-designed development that encourages connection, pride and a strong sense of community.
Location & design
Where will the development be located?
Te Mataora's largest site, at 39 Greenacres Drive beside Bay of Islands Hospital, is being developed and owned by NHHT, in three stages over time.
Why was this site chosen?
The site provides an opportunity to create much-needed housing within the existing Kawakawa community, close to health services, schools, shops, community facilities and transport connections. Its location also provides an opportunity to make better use of existing infrastructure and support the future growth of Kawakawa.
What will the development look like?
Detailed design work is still underway and will continue to evolve as planning and technical assessments progress. Initial maps, site plans, staging information and visual concepts are available in the gallery below and will be updated as the development progresses.
Will there be green spaces and recreation areas?
Yes. Creating a healthy, connected neighbourhood is an important part of the vision for Te Mataora. The development is intended to include quality green and public spaces, where whānau, tamariki and kaumātua can connect, play and spend time together.
Sustanability & Environment
Will sustainability be part of Te Mataora?
Yes. Sustainability, climate resilience and healthy living are key considerations for Te Mataora. Homes will meet Healthy Homes standards, with a focus on warmth, ventilation, energy efficiency and durable, low-maintenance materials designed to support healthier whānau and homes that last.
Infrastructure
Can Kawakawa's wastewater system cope with 117 additional homes?
Wastewater capacity is a key consideration for Te Mataora and is being addressed as part of the development planning.
Importantly, Te Mataora is a key enabler for Kawakawa to access $26 million in central government Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) investment towards upgrading the existing wastewater system. This is supported by a further $10 million commitment from Far North District Council, representing up to $36 million of investment in infrastructure that will benefit not only Te Mataora, but the wider Kawakawa community.
Engineering and infrastructure assessments will confirm existing capacity and the upgrades required to support the development. Separate assessments are also considering water supply, stormwater and flood mitigation, and transport impacts.
Character & Identity of Kawakawa
How will Te Mataora reflect what people value about Kawakawa?
Kawakawa has its own character, history and strong sense of community. We want Te Mataora to build on those strengths and contribute positively to the town as it grows.
We are asking the community what they value most about Kawakawa, what they want to retain, and what they would like to see strengthened. These whakaaro will help inform the planning and design of Te Mataora.
Community Engagement & Influence
What can the community help shape?
While the overall intention to develop Te Mataora has been established, there are still important parts of the development that community feedback can help inform.
This includes aspects of urban design, green and public spaces, community facilities, access and connections, local priorities and benefits, and how the development is staged over time.
We also want to understand what matters most to the community as Kawakawa grows, so those whakaaro can be considered as planning progresses.
How will NHHT engage with the community?
Our approach is to listen first and engage early, before detailed plans are finalised.
We are engaging directly with immediate neighbours, mana whenua, marae, kaumātua, businesses, schools, health providers, community organisations and residents, alongside opportunities for the wider community to have their say.
We have begun with smaller, targeted listening sessions before holding wider public hui. This has given us an opportunity to hear from those most directly affected, better understand the issues and questions that matter to the community and provide more useful information when we come together for wider public discussion.
Engagement will continue as Te Mataora progresses, and we will report back on what we have heard and how that feedback has informed the development.
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What is the Community Reference Group?
The Community Reference Group brings together around 8-10 people with strong connections to Kawakawa to provide ongoing community perspectives as Te Mataora progresses.
Its role is to test our thinking, raise issues and opportunities, and help us understand how the development may affect different parts of the community. The group deliberately includes a range of views, including people who are supportive, undecided and sceptical about aspects of the development.
The group is not there to promote Te Mataora or make decisions on behalf of the wider community. It provides another way for local perspectives to inform the project alongside wider community engagement.
Who will be on the Community Reference Group?
We are currently engaging with community members about participation in the Community Reference Group and will provide an update as the group is established.
Our intention is to bring together people with a range of connections to Kawakawa and different perspectives on Te Mataora. This may include mana whenua and kaumātua, immediate neighbours, local businesses, rangatahi and young whānau, and people connected to health, education and community organisations.
Importantly, the group is not intended to be made up only of people who support Te Mataora. We want a genuine mix of supportive, undecided and critical voices so that different perspectives can help test our thinking and inform the project as it progresses.
Does the Community Reference Group have real influence, or is it just for show?
It's not a decision-making body, and it doesn't exist to endorse the project. Its job is to challenge our thinking, test our communications before they go public, and raise issues early - with supportive, undecided and sceptical members by design. The Group elects its own Chair, not NHHT, specifically to keep that independence genuine.
What if I disagree with the project?
We do not expect everyone to agree with every aspect of Te Mataora.
Different perspectives are an important part of the process. What matters is that people have the opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions and receive clear and honest responses, including where there are things we may not be able to change.
How will I know my feedback has been heard?
We want the community to be able to see what happens with the feedback they provide.
Following each major round of engagement, we will report back on what we heard, what has changed or been influenced as a result, what we are still investigating, and what has not changed and why.
This provides a clear and transparent record of how community feedback is being considered as Te Mataora progresses.
