Lower North Island

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Soho Group, in partnership with Home in Place, have replaced an old building with a new mixed use development. Creating eight new purpose built apartments all with private decks. This development has been specifically designed to help meet demand for accessible accommodation to enable aging in place and the two-bedroom units are suitable for families as well as older residents with live-in carers.

All first floor units are accessible by wheelchairs and mobility scooters via a ramp connecting to the car park. The ground floor will be commercial space, possibly a café with outdoor seating area.

As with all their developments, Soho Group committed to exceeding the Building Code in several areas and meeting the requirements of Healthy Homes and Homestar 6 sustainability rating. 

The units have been rented to those who have been prequalified by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to be on the Social Housing Register and who were previously living in inadequate housing in Whanganui.  The development was delivered in March 2024.

In December 2020, Home in Place provided the keys to new residents of the Whanganui development. 

The development features 26 brand new one-and-two-bedroom apartments. To meet local needs the development also included two, three-bedroom units for young families. The units all have garden spaces or balconies, some are have views to  Mount Ruapehu.

The development on Victoria Avenue was an adapted reuse of a former motel and bar by Soho Developments who specialise in delivering brand new social housing units.

Local kaumātua, led by John Mahi, blessed the units, which opened for business on 23rd December, providing a home and early Christmas for the new tenants.

All of the tenants had previously been living in emergency or transitional housing that did not meet their long term needs. 

Soho Group, in collaboration with Home in Place, has successfully delivered 15 brand-new apartments located just a short walk from the city centre, local shops, and community amenities in Palmerston North.

This transformative Community Housing initiative replaces a single-storey home with a modern three-storey walk-up apartment building, featuring six two-bedroom units and nine one-bedroom units.

The development is thoughtfully designed, incorporating two disabled car spaces, bike racks and landscaped surroundings. All ground-floor apartments are built to meet Lifemark 4-Star performance standards, ensuring accessibility and suitability for individuals with disabilities.

In keeping with their commitment to excellence, Soho Group has gone beyond Building Code requirements, adhering to Healthy Homes standards and achieving a Homestar 6 sustainability rating. This dedication to quality and sustainability ensures the apartments provide a healthier, more energy-efficient living environment for future residents.

Te Puna Wai papākainga, situated in Wainuiomata, was developed by Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika (Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust) in partnership with The Wellington Company to accommodate Taranaki Whānui uri (descendants). 

The papakāinga currently consists of 19 whare, all owned by uri, and 11 kaumātua units which the Trust, through Home in Place made available for eligible uri as social housing rentals.

Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust through its Commercial entity Taranaki Whānui Limited received a grant from Te Puni Kōkiri to assist with the funding for the construction of these whare, which are managed by Home in Place.

Rents for all the kaumātua units are subsidised by the Ministry of Social Development, where eligible tenants pay 25% of their benefit or ACC payments. 

 To qualify, all tenants need to be Taranaki Whānui members and need to be assessed by Ministry of Social Development to be eligible to be on the Social Housing Register. 

Located together on the papakāinga, surrounding a small māra kai, these warm, dry, energy efficient one-bedroom whare have ramp access with low operating costs.

This 46-unit social housing development in Palmerston North was completed in May 2021 and given the Maori name Harakeke Pa.

Developed by the Soho Group, Hareke Pa features one and two-bedroom units and two three-storey apartment-style buildings across five separate blocks.  It has accessible units and garden ground floor apartments and there is on site carparking for all the units.  It is situated a short walk from Palmerston North’s central square and is within easy walking distance to a variety of local amenities.

Home in Place has a 25-year contract with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to provide tenancy and property management. 

The title Harakeke Pa, symbolises the home and cycle of the Harakeke. As the shoots of the Harakeke grow with age, they become older, stronger. Like our Kaumatua tenants or elder tenants, the shoots become the guardians / protectors of the new Harakeke shoots that will grow and bring new life to the Harakeke.

Hutia te rito o te harakeke. Kei hea te Komako e ko? Ki kai ki ahau.He aha te mea nui? He aha te mea nui o tea o? Maku e ki atu. He Tangata! He Tangata! He Tangata!

If you pluck out the flax shoot, where will the bellbird sing? It will fly in land, it will fly seawards. If you ask me the most important thing in the world? I will reply, People! People! People!