Te Whakaruru Hau - Kaingahoa Marae Papakāinga

In August 2024, Kaingahoa Marae Trustees began an exciting journey with Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau, the iwi housing prototype driving Māori-led housing solutions across Te Tai Tokerau. With a $55 million programme of works funded through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga, Te Pouahi was tasked with building 80–100 homes and delivering infrastructure for more than 100 whānau across the north.

Kaingahoa was among the first to step forward. A contract was signed between Te Pouahi and the Crown agencies Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in August 2024, setting the stage for a new papakāinga. In just seven months, with the skill of Advance Build and the generous support of Foundation North, five brand-new homes rose on the Kaingahoa block, five existing homes were improved, and brand new infrastructure was established.

On 26 May 2025, the papakāinga – named Te Whakaruru Hau – was officially opened. The homes are now filled with whānau who have returned to Te Rāwhiti, reconnecting with their marae and whenua. The development is more than just houses; it is about strengthening ties to place, people, and whakapapa.

For Patukeha hapū, housing is central to our goal of supporting whānau to live in the rohe. Te Whakaruru Hau demonstrates what can be achieved when marae, hapū, government, and community partners work together towards a shared outcome – quality homes that enable whānau to live on their whenua tūpuna.