Kainga Ora

Office address: Level 5, 7 Waterloo Quay Wellington 6011
Website: www.kaingaora.govt.nz
Year established: 2019
Company type: Crown agency/social housing
Employees: 3,435+
Expertise: public housing, urban development, tenancy management, sustainable housing, Māori partnerships, social housing, affordable housing, community development, environmental sustainability, homeownership
Parent company: N/A (Kainga Ora is a New Zealand government entity)
Key people: Matt Crockett (CEO); Caroline Butterworth, Daniel Soughtton, Paul Commons, Te Ariki Pihama (deputy chief executives); Gareth Stiven, Nick Maling (general managers)
Financing status: N/A

Kainga Ora is a Crown entity headquartered in Wellington, with over 3,435 employees. It delivers rental housing to New Zealanders in need and manages a $48.7 billion asset base. Partnering with Māori, local governments, and developers, the agency is the largest public housing provider in New Zealand, with a significant urban development role.

History of Kainga Ora

Kainga Ora was established in 2019 through the integration of Housing New Zealand, its development branch HLC, and the Ministry of Housing's KiwiBuild Unit. Public housing in the country, however, has roots going back to 1894, when the State Advances Office was created to support home financing. The Prime Minister Richard Seddon in 1905 introduced the Workers Dwellings Act, making New Zealand the first Western nation to introduce public housing.

The first official state house was built in Wellington in 1937, marking the government’s long-term commitment to public housing. In 1974, the Housing Corporation of New Zealand was formed by merging the State Advances Corporation with the Ministry of Works’ Housing Division. By 2001, this evolved into Housing New Zealand, with Kainga Ora now continuing its legacy of public housing and affordable home development across New Zealand.

Products and Services of Kainga Ora

Kainga Ora offers several products and services focused on supporting New Zealanders in accessing homeownership and managing public housing. These include:

• First Home Decision Tool: helps potential buyers assess eligibility for Kainga Ora homeownership products
• homebuying guide: provides step-by-step information to navigate the homebuying process
• First Home Loan: offers low-deposit loans to qualifying first-home buyers
• Kāinga Whenua Loan: supports Māori to build on or buy their ancestral land
• Kiwisaver first-home withdrawal: allows eligible individuals to use their KiwiSaver savings for a home deposit
• First Home Partner: a shared ownership scheme where Kainga Ora co-invests in homes with buyers
• tenant home ownership: allows some tenants to buy their Kāinga Ora rental properties
• home ownership resources: various tools and resources to guide prospective homeowners

In addition to these homeownership supports, Kainga Ora also offers urban development initiatives and social housing programmes. Tenants can rent homes, pay rent in multiple ways, and receive support for property repairs and maintenance.

Culture at Kainga Ora

Kainga Ora upholds a diverse, supportive work environment where employees come from various backgrounds and bring a wide range of skills. Staff members value the opportunity to make a real difference while working in a caring and collaborative team. The company provides extensive tools and resources to ensure employees can meet their goals, emphasising professional development and wellbeing through benefits like:

• flexible working hours and activity-based working options
• paid leave including annual, parental, long service, and sick leave
• health benefits such as healthcare insurance, eye exams, and eyewear
• career development opportunities supporting employee growth
• wellbeing programs including the employee assistance program (EAP)

The agency is dedicated to transforming the country's housing sector by creating sustainable communities where people can thrive. Through its construction and urban development efforts, the agency aims to improve environmental wellbeing and positively impact the broader housing industry.

Kainga Ora is committed to ensuring a fair transition to sustainability for all its customers, implementing several initiatives:

• carbon neutral housing: reducing carbon emissions in housing, with a focus on meeting New Zealand’s 2050 targets
• renewable energy: installing solar panels on suitable Kainga Ora homes between 2021 and 2024
• waste minimisation: focusing on relocating or deconstructing older homes to reduce construction waste
• sustainable transport: promoting wellbeing through the Sustainable Transport Outcomes framework
• ngāhere (forest): launched planting guidelines in collaboration with local organisations to promote environmental stewardship

Kainga Ora promotes diversity through employee-led networks, ensuring a safe and supportive workplace where everyone feels valued. The organisation promotes equitable employment opportunities, creating a culture that reflects the diverse communities it serves. Several networks encourage discussion, learning, and connection among staff:

• Rainbow Network and Pride Pledge: support for LGBTQ+ staff and inclusion
• Ngā Mata - National Māori Network and Pasifika Networks: focus on cultural representation and support
• Neurodiversity Network: provides a safe space for neurodiverse employees
• Women’s Network and Pan Asian Network: promote gender and cultural inclusivity
• We Enable Us: supports disabled employees across government agencies

Kainga Ora is committed to providing accessible housing for all its customers, including those with specific accessibility needs. Since 2020, their Accessibility Policy has guided improvements in both new and existing public homes to ensure residents can live independently. The goal is to offer safe, barrier-free homes where people can comfortably host whānau and fully participate in their communities.

About Kainga Ora CEO Matt Crockett and Key People

Matt Crockett became Kainga Ora's CEO in September 2024, bringing extensive experience in leading strategic transformations across industries like telecommunications and construction. Prior to this role, he was an independent advisor at Hauturu Consulting and held leadership positions at companies including Vodafone, Vesper Marine, and Fletcher Building. Crockett holds an MPhil from the University of Oxford and an engineering degree from Curtin University.

Kainga Ora's leadership team includes several key people who play significant roles in guiding the agency's plans and operations:

• Caroline Butterworth as deputy chief executive for Auckland and Northland, oversees housing delivery and urban development in these regions, ensuring projects align with community and government goals
• Daniel Soughtton serves as deputy chief executive for Central, managing public housing operations and development initiatives across central New Zealand, focusing on regional housing challenges
• Paul Commons acts as deputy chief executive for South Island, leading housing and urban development for the South Island, ensuring effective service delivery and housing outcomes
• Te Ariki Pihama Ringa Raupā, as deputy chief executive for Māori, strengthens partnerships with iwi and Māori communities to support culturally aligned housing projects
• Gareth Stiven as GM of strategy, finance and policy, directs financial strategies, long-term planning, and key policy development for the agency
• Nick Maling serves as GM of national services, oversees national housing services, including tenancy management and maintenance, to ensure quality and consistency across all regions

The Future at Kainga Ora

Kainga Ora is trialling new programs to improve construction efficiency and reduce waste in its social housing projects. The agency aims to streamline material supply processes and cut building costs by 30%, helping builders focus on core construction tasks. Their productivity and waste reduction program is expected to transform housing development.

In Māngere, Kainga Ora has also introduced a community-focused initiative that fosters environmental awareness and connection through projects like tree planting and food distribution. The Māngere Community Enviro Hub highlights the agency’s commitment to creating sustainable, thriving communities. This aligns with their goal to promote holistic community development across New Zealand.