Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to build new Navy housing on the North Shore for NZDF

Construction will soon begin in Auckland’s Bayswater on 61 new townhouses for Royal New Zealand Navy personnel to rent.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will build the homes, lease them to NZDF, and manage them.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has worked closely with New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) on the design and layout to ensure the housing meets the needs of sailors by providing warm, safe, dry homes that are fit for modern family living with good car parking and storage.

The terraced-style homes will be spread over two separate NZDF-occupied sites all within easy reach of the Devonport Naval Base.

The homes, which are expected to be ready to occupy late next year, will provide a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations.

Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Karl Woodhead, says the unconditional lease agreement with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is very good news for the Navy.

“There are four important factors identified by our sailors when it comes to access to housing for them and their families; quality, modern homes, fit for family size, close to other Navy families and within 30 minutes of Devonport Naval Base.”

Navy leadership takes personnel housing very seriously and would continue to look for opportunities to improving housing for sailors and their whānau, Commodore Woodhead said.

The Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's commercial arm Grant Kemble is pleased to be partnering with the NZDF on this new development.

“Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s landholdings span across Tāmaki Makaurau, and with each development our focus is on building thriving communities, not just homes. NZDF are an integral part of the North Shore community, and we’re proud to partner with them to deliver high-quality housing that complements this highly desirable neighbourhood.”

Construction commenced mid 2025 with completion expected by end of 2026.