Papakāinga Development in Te Tai Tokerau
Supporting a Northland hapū through the full papakāinga development journey — from feasibility to resource consent to construction oversight.
The Vision
A hapū in Te Tai Tokerau had long held the aspiration of building papakāinga housing on their ancestral whenua. With whānau members living in overcrowded conditions across the region, the need for culturally appropriate, affordable housing was urgent.
Challenges
The project faced several regulatory challenges typical of papakāinga developments: infrastructure servicing requirements designed for urban density, building setbacks that conflicted with communal living arrangements, and lending criteria designed for individual freehold titles.
Our Approach
We worked alongside the hapū through every stage — beginning with a comprehensive feasibility assessment, then navigating the resource consent process with the local council, and finally providing oversight during construction to ensure the build honoured both tikanga and regulatory requirements.
Outcomes
18 new homes were delivered, housing 72 whānau members. The development includes shared community spaces, a māra kai (food garden), and a whare hui for gatherings. The governance framework ensures the papakāinga remains in hapū ownership in perpetuity.