Kia ora koutou
It’s an exciting time for Haumaru Housing as we prepare to welcome new tenants to our latest 42-unit development in Godley Road, Green Bay. We recently held a viewing day for prospective tenants, and it was wonderful to see such strong interest. This development marks an important milestone for Haumaru, as it’s the first new village we’ve commissioned and developed independently (our previous new-builds were delivered in partnership with Auckland Council and Kāinga Ora). We look forward to welcoming our new tenants when the village opens at the end of November and we anticipate having full occupancy. At a time when the cost of living continues to put pressure on household budgets, being able to offer older people safe, affordable, long-term homes is something we’re very proud of.
Our Christmas Card competition has now closed, and we’ve received a fantastic 37 entries from across our villages. Thank you to everyone who took part – your creativity and artistic talent have been inspiring. Our team of judges is now reviewing the entries and preparing a shortlist for final consideration, then our Haumaru Board Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper will make the final decision. We look forward to announcing the winner in next month’s newsletter.
Voting’s now open for the 2026 General Election, with Election Day on Saturday, 7 November. You should have received your EasyVote card by post or email – take it with you when you vote, as it helps staff at the voting place find your name on the electoral roll more quickly. If your card was emailed to you, you can show it on your phone – take a screenshot if you won’t have mobile data, or print it out. Don’t worry if you don’t have your card, though – if you’re enrolled, you can still vote without it. For more information about voting and to find a voting place, visit vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56.
By the time you receive this edition of the newsletter, we’ll have held our Annual General Meeting with the Haumaru Board and our partners, The Selwyn Foundation and Auckland Council. Our 2025/26 Annual Report will be available on our website at: https://haumaruhousing.co.nz/annual-reports. I’d like to thank all our tenants and staff who contributed to this year’s report through their stories and photographs and helped to bring our work and communities to life. A special thank you goes to our Greenslade Court tenants for their assistance with much of the photography.
Over the coming months, there will be much to celebrate and much to look forward to. Thank you to all for being part of our warm, welcoming and inclusive Haumaru community.
Ngā manaakitanga
Olivia Poulsen
Chief Executive
Opening doors to new homes in Green Bay
Excitement was in the air on Sunday, 18 October, as prospective tenants and their whānau visited our new Godley Road village for a first look at the 42 one-bedroom homes that will soon be available. Blessed with beautiful weather, the day saw groups of six applicants arriving each hour, greeted by Community Managers and members of the Placements team who were on hand to guide visitors around the development.
Having explored the new homes, the visitors were then welcomed into the Community Room to learn how the shared space will support connection among tenants. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with people praising the quality and thoughtful layout of the two-storey, two-block complex. Some applicants had travelled from as far as Kaikohe to be closer to family support, and many were excited by the opportunity to register their interest in a home.
Set down a long driveway away from the road, Godley Road is an important first step towards Haumaru Housing’s goal of delivering another 500 homes for people aged 65 and over across Auckland in the next 10 years.
The Haumaru team greeting prospective tenants at the open day.
The team ready to offer a warm welcome: (from left) Lei, Michelle, Louise, Linda and Vicky.
Welcoming new team members
On 14 October, we held a Mihi Whakatau to formally welcome our new Head of Portfolio Growth Jason Wong and Head of Community Kate Bukowski.
Jason has joined us from Waipareira Trust and has extensive experience in the community housing and Iwi/urban Māori sectors, having led major community housing provider developments, including the 92-apartment kaumātua housing project in Hospital Road, Middlemore. Kate was previously Programme Manager Social Innovation at Auckland Council and has leadership experience across health, social services and the not-for-profit sector, with particular expertise in strategic planning and service transformation.
The special occasion held at Tātai Hono Marae close to the Haumaru offices in Grafton was also an opportunity to acknowledge other new members of the team who have joined us recently, along with staff members who have taken on new roles through internal promotions. Our new starters are Financial Controller Vishaka Fernando, Placements Coordinator Vicky Tyler, and Client Services Coordinator Vickx Paese.
A hub of connection
At Bridge Court in Māngere Bridge, the community house is fast becoming the true heartbeat of the village. Recent additions such as a dartboard, a TV, a new men’s social club and regular fortnightly Tai Chi sessions funded by Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board, as well as the monthly mobile library visits, mean that it’s always buzzing with life and activity. It’s more than just the communal activities, though, as tenants also use the venue to host birthday gatherings and bring family together. For the 67-unit village, the community house has become an extension of tenants’ homes and a place to connect, share experiences and build the strong sense of belonging that makes village life so special.
Tenants Chris (left) and Mike enjoying a friendly game of darts.
Out and about
Tenants from the west’s Godley Court, Kaurilands and Wilson villages got up-close and personal with some of the residents on their minivan trip to Sheepworld on 13 October.
A full-day trip to Piha on 26 October for tenants of Greenslade and Piringa Courts took in Titirangi, Scenic Drive and Arataki Visitor Centre as well as a picnic lunch and a refreshing walk to the water’s edge.