Cannons Creek, Eastern Porirua will soon welcome Pacific families into the first homes built through the Our Whare Our Fale housing initiative.
Eighteen warm, energy-efficient homes and a communal fale have been formally blessed, marking a proud moment for the community and the start of a new chapter for Pacific families moving in.
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti joined community leaders and families to celebrate this milestone, which reflects years of planning and partnership and shared vision.
Gerardine Clifford‑Lidstone, Secretary for Pacific Peoples, says the milestone is a cause for joy and pride. “This is a day of celebration for our Pacific community. These homes are more than buildings - they are places where children will grow, where parents can plan for the future, and where communities will thrive. Our Whare Our Fale is about providing safe, affordable homes built for multigenerational living that lay the foundation for stronger futures.”
Built to New Zealand Green Building Council’s Homestar 6 standard, these homes are the first step toward up to 300 affordable homes planned by 2034. The initiative is supported by a $114.6 million Government investment and led by Central Pacific Collective in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Alongside building homes, the project is focused on keeping them affordable. Families are supported with shared equity to help with deposits and ongoing costs. The land is provided under a long-term lease arrangement with Ngāti Toa, which removes the cost of buying land, and the homes are built at cost rather than market prices.
The project is already creating opportunities beyond housing. Around 36 people have been employed across trades, engineering and support services during the first stage, with more jobs to come as work begins on the next two sites. These will add another 32 homes by late 2026, strengthening both the local economy and community.
“Our Whare Our Fale shows what is possible when government, iwi and community organisations work together,” says Gerardine. “It is about building homes but also about building futures. Today we celebrate the first families who move in, and the many more who will follow.”
Families are expected to begin moving in by the end of the year, turning these houses into homes and creating a foundation for thriving Pacific communities in Porirua.