Our Whare Our Fale: a new model for Pasefika housing and community in New Zealand
The commencement of Central Pacific Collectives affordable housing initiative 'Our Whare Our Fale', was celebrated with a ground-breaking ceremony at the end of October. Construction for the first 18 homes got underway on 1 November, and we have been deeply humbled to help our friends as they bring their long standing vision to life.
"Ole tele o sulu e maua ai figota" – through shared effort, even the greatest challenges can be overcome.
Central Pacific Collective (CPC) is a community-led organisation enabling wellbeing outcomes for Pasefika people in Wellington. The design concept is led by CPC’s in-house urban and architectural designer, Elyjana Roach, with cultural wisdom and oversight provided by CPC’s CEO, Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira. CPC has partnered with First Light to help realise the vision and support the implementation of their dream
A new housing model for Aotearoa, for Pasefika
CPC has committed to building up to 300 affordable homes for Pasefika families in eastern Porirua.
The first 18 homes are the pilot project to drive forward a new model of housing. With traditional New Zealand houses rarely meeting the needs to Pasefika families, the homes are designed with community, affordability, health and amenity in mind. The initiative focuses on embracing and supporting the unique Pasefika culture and breaks the mould of traditional housing.
Our Whare Our Fale reflects the multi-generational needs of Pasefika and embraces Pasefika-led design in its master planning and architecture. The result is a design language inspired by the vernacular architecture of the Pacific, where the 18 new warm, dry and healthy homes will surround a communal Fale and Malae (shared house and greenspace), allowing for and encouraging community interaction and shared intergenerational living.
A unique and defining aspect of this project is the perpetual land lease gifted by Ngāti Toa Rangatira. By removing land costs and offering a shared equity scheme through CPC, the initiative makes home ownership more attainable for whānau. First Lights role as CPC’s design collaborator has been to embrace the challenge of balancing affordability with thoughtful, high-quality, and sustainable design.
We’re incredibly proud to play a part of such an important project and look forward to the future possibilities it holds for providing more families with beautiful, healthy homes that meet the needs of diverse cultures.
Visualisations by Render Studio
Images: Saint Andrew Matautia of the Breaking Ground Ceremony
