Eighteen Pasifika Families in Wellington Move From Overpriced Rentals to Home Ownership

The families have moved into newly built homes in Porirua through Our Whare Our Fale, a community-led housing initiative driven by the Central Pacific Collective (CPC). The development marks a major milestone not only for the families involved, but for wider efforts to lift Pasifika home ownership in one of New Zealand’s most expensive housing markets.

From Renting Stress to Stability

For years, many Pasifika families in Wellington have been locked into a cycle of overcrowded and overpriced rental housing, often spending a disproportionate share of their income on rent. According to CPC, many Pasifika households live below the poverty line, with housing costs directly impacting health, education outcomes, and job stability.

The 18 new homes represent a decisive break from that reality.

“These families are no longer paying inflated rents with nothing to show for it,” CPC chair Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira told Pacific Waves. “Home ownership has always been the ultimate goal for Pacific families — it’s about dignity, security, and future generations.”

A Community-Centred Approach

Unlike traditional housing developments, Our Whare Our Fale has been designed with Pasifika values at its core. The homes are arranged around a central malae-style community space, encouraging connection, shared responsibility, and multi-generational living.

This design recognises the cultural reality of many Pasifika families, where grandparents, parents, and children often live together and support one another.

“It’s not just about putting a roof over people’s heads,” Pereira said. “It’s about building strong, healthy communities where families can thrive.”

A Bigger Vision: Up to 300 Homes

The Porirua homes are just the beginning. CPC has set an ambitious target of delivering up to 300 homes through the initiative over time. Creating a scalable model for Pasifika-led housing solutions across the country.

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is responsible for managing the project’s funding appropriation. Reflecting a growing recognition from government that community-led solutions can succeed where traditional models have fallen short.

More Than Housing

CPC says the project is about far more than bricks and mortar. Stable housing has flow-on benefits across almost every aspect of life.  From improved health and educational outcomes to stronger employment prospects and reduced financial stress.

For the families now holding the keys to their own homes, the change is immediate and deeply personal.

After years of renting insecurity, frequent moves, and rising costs, they finally have something permanent.  A place to call their own.

And for Wellington’s Pasifika community, Our Whare Our Fale is being seen as proof that with the right support. Culturally grounded solutions can help close long-standing inequities in housing — one family at a time.