New Navy housing to be built on North Shore

Central Tāmaki Makaurau iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will build the homes, lease them to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), and manage ongoing maintenance.

The NZDF has worked closely with the property development arm of the iwi on the design and layout to ensure the housing meets the needs of sailors by providing warm, safe, dry homes that are fit for modern family living with good car parking and storage.

 The homes will be spread over two separate sites in Bayswater, near Devonport Naval Base.

The homes, which are expected to be ready to occupy late next year, will provide a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. 

Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Karl Woodhead, says the lease agreement with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is good news for sailors. 

“There are four factors important for our personnel when it comes to accessing housing for them and their families - quality, modern homes, fit-for-family size, close to other Navy families and within 30 minutes of Devonport Naval Base. This arrangement addresses all of these.” 

Navy leadership took the question of housing for its personnel very seriously and would continue to look for opportunities to improve housing for sailors and their whānau, Commodore Woodhead said.