Stage 1 of Ngāi Tahu housing development Te Pā Tāhuna ready

The first stage of Ngāi Tahu housing development Te Pā Tāhuna is complete and ready to be lived in, and there are hopes it will help meet the affordable housing shortage in Queenstown.

Apartments at the former Wakatipu High School site in Gorge Rd were officially opened and blessed yesterday morning. There are 27 apartments, 10 of which were sold as part of the KiwiBuild programme.

Sunrise at the Takiwai apartments yesterday morning. PHOTOS: RHYVA VAN ONSELEN

This first development has been named ‘‘Takiwai’’ by mana whenua, the name of a translucent and softer type of pounamu found at Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) and Te Wai Pounamu region.

Ngāi Tahu Property said that the construction of road and infrastructure for Te Pā Tāhuna as a whole was also nearing completion, and the next stages of the development were starting later this year.

General manager Blair Forgie said it was a privilege to deliver a development to help increase the housing supply in Queenstown.

He said all 20 residential apartments were sold and out of the seven live-work units, there were just four left to be sold.

The opening was the first opportunity for most to see the new Te Pā Tāhuna apartments furnished and ready to go.

Labour list MP Rachel Brooking appeared on behalf of Housing Minister Megan Woods, saying Te Pā Tāhuna was a ‘‘great example of a partnership that develops the right homes in the right place at the right price’’.

The master plan was split up into 11 stages, the second of which was to include around 66 residential spots completed by 2025, Mr Forgie said at the opening yesterday.

There would be a total of 300 units by the time Te Pā Tāhuna had been completed, and each stage would develop according to market demand, so there was not yet a final finish date.

melissa.ready@odt.co.nz