Currently Under Construction

Designing healthier homes for whānau in Porirua.

At First Light Studio, we believe good design enables people to live healthier, happier lives. For Te Āhuru Mōwai in Porirua, that ethos has shaped a series of 29 new townhouses across three neighbourhood sites, two already under construction and a third set to begin later this year.

Guided by the Te Āhuru Mōwai Vision Framework and the robust standards of Homestar 6, these homes are designed first and foremost for whānau living. Generous layouts and flexible spaces support the rhythms of everyday life, while architecture that is simple, robust, and welcoming creates kāinga that feel truly connected to their community.

The design focuses on reconnecting people with the sea, streams, and natural landscapes, and on strengthening links between neighbourhoods. At its heart lies the creation of warm, healthy homes that provide a strong sense of belonging, and the foundation for strong futures.

Te Āhuru Mōwai

Te Āhuru Mōwai is the largest Māori-owned community housing provider in Aotearoa, dedicated to transforming communities and improving the lives and opportunities of whānau and tamariki through the provision of great homes for all in need.

Established in 2020 by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira (Ngāti Toa) in partnership with the New Zealand Government, Te Āhuru Mōwai manages and upgrades over 920 houses in Western Porirua.

The Vision Framework

Rather than a traditional masterplan, the Vision Framework provides a pathway for wellbeing, embodying meaningful and authentic change for whānau, whenua, and community. Developed in collaboration with Isthmus, it is grounded in Te Ao Māori and guided by Te Whare Tapa Whā.

With a place-based and kaupapa-driven approach, it identifies actions that are fruitful and faithful, addressing regeneration, liveable communities, technology and innovation, and productive economic integration. As a living document, it builds unity, wellbeing, and prosperity through shared purpose.

Vision principles:

Experience the moana
Connect with your maunga
Know your neighbour
Create a healthy home
Sow seeds, grow community

Homestar 6

Every home in the Te Āhuru Mōwai development achieves a Homestar 6 design rating—the New Zealand Green Building Council’s independent measure of health, comfort, and efficiency.

For First Light Studio, Homestar is not a compliance exercise but a framework to raise the standard of housing for communities. Through it, the project delivers:

Warmer, drier, and better-ventilated homes that improve health outcomes.
Energy-efficient design and construction that reduce ongoing costs for residents.
Long-term resilience and enduring value for generations to come.

A Model for Community Housing

The Te Āhuru Mōwai townhouses show what can be achieved when community housing providers, iwi, and architects work together. By combining our design expertise with a clear sustainability framework, we can create homes that aren’t just houses but anchors for whānau wellbeing.

At First Light, we see this as a replicable model: architecture that leverages sustainability standards to deliver lasting social value.

Te Āhuru Mōwai Townhouses