ENG – Dreams become a reality as first Pasefika families receive keys to culturally designed homes

In a milestone achievement for New Zealand’s Pasefika communities, Central Pacific Collective (CPC) today celebrates the completion of the first 18 homes of Our Whare Our Fale – delivered ahead of schedule and under budget in eastern Porirua.

The dream of homeownership is now a reality for 18 families who will move into homes that honour their culture, embrace their values and provide a foundation for intergenerational wealth.

CPC’s CEO Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira MNZM says this is proof that community-led housing development works.

“We said we would deliver quality homes that reflect who we are as Pasefika people, and we’ve done exactly that. Today, we’re proving that when Pasefika lead, when we design for our own needs, when we work in true partnership, we can change our future.”

Designed by Pasefika for Pasefika, Our Whare Our Fale reimagines the Pasefika village in Aotearoa, with a unique cultural-led design grounded in the Pasefika culture. The homes embrace the principle of ‘Anoafale’ – recognising that it’s not so much about the house, but about the people living in it, their sacred relationships and their connections to who they are.

The 18 new homes are built around a central malae (community green space) with a shared fale, the New Zealand Green Building Council’s Homestar 6 certified homes provide spaces for aiga (family) to gather, celebrate and support each other.

“The design supports the community, allowing for multi-generational living and for maintaining the cultural practices that make Pasefika communities strong,” says Pereira.

Our Whare Our Fale is primarily about lifting Pasefika home ownership, and improving Pasefika health, education, and employment, with many living below the poverty line.

For new homeowner Erin Millar and her family, the journey represents a profound shift.

“After meeting the CPC team and learning about Our Whare Our Fale, I started to think that homeownership could actually be possible for me,” she says. “The answer had always been ‘no’, but this is a life changing moment for me. In the last eight years we’ve had to move four times. Our new home will bring stability, and certainty to me and my whanau. We even have an accessible space for our Grandma when she needs to come and stay.”

Manu and Viena Paongo share that excitement about creating new family memories. “We are particularly excited to celebrate our first Christmas in the new home. We know that our new village community will support and uplift everyone, offering special moments reminiscent of the village life we enjoyed in the islands. I am eager to utilise my skills and knowledge alongside fellow nurses to support health literacy for all residents. By working together, we can improve the well-being of our village and secure a healthier future for our children.”

Mr Pereira says the completion of Stage 1 validates the partnership model that made Our Whare Our Fale possible.

“This is what true partnership looks like in action.

“Our achievement demonstrates the success of our approach: our life partner Ngāti Toa Rangatira’s generosity in offering perpetual leasehold land, local government’s support and the government’s investment in Budget 2022 managed by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, provides a significant long-term boost to the social and economic life of the Porirua and wider Wellington region.”

Helmut Modlik, Tumu Whakarae, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, says; “Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira is proud to support the Our Whare Our Fale project, which exemplifies what can be achieved when communities lead, design, and build for their own needs. By providing the land on a perpetual low-cost lease, Ngāti Toa is enabling homes that honour Pasefika culture, support multi-generational living, and foster strong community connections.”

“This initiative not only provides security and stability for whānau but also strengthens the social and economic fabric of our rohe. We celebrate this milestone with Central Pacific Collective and look forward to seeing the positive impact on generations to come”.

The project has been successfully delivered through local Pasefika builders, creating employment opportunities across the region, with high quality construction led by South Coast Construction.

With Stages 1.2 and 1.3 already underway for the next 32 houses, CPC is building momentum towards its goal of up to 300 homes that will transform the future for Pasefika families in eastern Porirua.

ATA: Supplied. CPC