Affordable home ownership opportunities opening up in Māngere

 The Housing Foundation Household Team, with Jocasta Asi (standing, top right).

For many families, owning a home can feel increasingly out of reach. But new developments in Māngere are aiming to change that, with the Housing Foundation supporting more whānau into homes they can one day call their own.

Tracey Cameron, who works alongside Jocasta Asi at Housing Foundation, plays a key role in helping families through the process.

“When you contact us or register on our website, we’re usually the ones you’ll speak to,” she says. “We manage the registration and placement of whānau into our homes and support them through each step.”

Tracey Cameron, from the Housing Foundation Household team

Housing Foundation has been operating since 2007 and has built more than 1,200 homes across Aotearoa. In 2025 alone, the organisation supported 63 families into Shared Ownership, 38 into its Rent to Own programme, helped 22 families become full homeowners after buying out its share, and supported 3 families to transition between programmes.

Now, that opportunity is coming to Māngere.

Two new developments are underway, with 19 homes being built on Welby Place and 26 on Molesworth Place. The homes range from two to four bedrooms, including townhouses and a small number of standalone homes. All properties are two-storey, with off-street parking, and some include garages.

The first families are already moving into stage one homes at Welby Place, with Molesworth Place set to welcome residents in late April. Stage two homes across both sites are expected to be completed between May and October this year.

Importantly, the homes have been designed with resilience in mind following the 2023 floods. Housing Foundation worked with civil engineers and the Auckland Council’s updated flood modelling to ensure finished floor levels meet or exceed recommended standards, helping reduce flood risk.

Cameron explains the details of the flooring standards.

“The finished floor level of 5.50m (AVD 1946) has been adopted across the site, providing a minimum of 500mm freeboard in accordance with Auckland Council Stormwater Code of Practice and above the remodelled flood level plus an additional 70mm tolerance.”

Housing Foundation’s model is designed to make home ownership more achievable. Through Shared Ownership, families purchase a majority share of the home while Housing Foundation owns the remainder, increasing their share over time. For those not yet ready, the Rent to Own programme allows families to rent the home they plan to purchase while building their financial position.

“We assess each family’s financial situation from the start,” Jocasta Asi explains.

“If they’re not quite ready, we work with them on what they need to do. When they are ready, we help them through bank pre-approval, the legal process, and what to expect.” 

That support continues even after families move in, with ongoing financial reviews to help them progress toward full ownership.

For both Cameron and Asi, the impact is deeply personal.

“The joy when whānau receive their keys is why we do this,” they agree. “For many, it’s something they never thought possible. Being part of that journey and seeing families eventually own their homes outright is incredibly rewarding.”

Head to https://housingfoundation.co.nz/ for more information.