Waikārapi
Marlborough's largest iwi-led housing project gets off the ground
Marlborough’s largest iwi-led housing project is taking shape with more than half its 94 sections already sold or placed on hold after pre-release last month.
The Blenheim development has been gifted the name of Waikārapi by Rangitāne and Ngāti Rārua and is being developed by Hāpai Housing, a collective of iwi and Māori investors.
The 6-hectare block of land used to be part of Wairau Hospital, but was deemed surplus in 2001, and was sold in 2020 to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for $4 million, for the purpose of developing housing in partnership with iwi.
Resource consent was fast-tracked in 2024. A main road connected to Hospital Rd had since been laid, 54 of the sections had already been sold or placed on hold, and several homes had been issued building consent.
Corey Hebberd, kaiwhakahaere matua for Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau, said Te Tauihu iwi worked closely with the developers to ensure Waikārapi represented the rich history of tangata whenua.
“Waikārapi forms part of a wider cultural landscape detailing our rich and sacred history,” he said.
“It describes the meeting point between freshwater systems and the intertidal flows of Te Koko o Kupe (Cloudy Bay).
“This area was once a hub for shelter, housing, and sustenance, supporting diverse iwi communities for generations, so with Waikārapi, we are carrying that legacy of housing, sustenance and innovation forward, creating 94 residential sections, incorporating communal gardens (mara kai), a playground (papa tākaro), and open spaces at its core ‒ a special place for us all to live, grow, and thrive ‒ to be together as community (whanaungatanga).”
Waikārapi was designed to best-practice urban design standards by the award-winning team from Reset Urban Design & Landscape Architecture.
In another first for Marlborough, Rangitāne, Ngāti Rārua, and other Te Tauihu iwi had been involved in all aspects of the residential development, such as section layout and use of indigenous plantings and materials.
The main road circled a 3000m² central park, with lawn, edible fruiting trees, shelter and a play space.
Highly landscaped with both native and exotic trees, the road would also provide on-street car parks, and eight pedestrian crossings.
Hāpai investment manager Brett Ellison said the business was committed to the region and was singularly focused on delivering quality housing outcomes and empowering enduring Māori success in the property sector.
“Our residential developments are unashamedly about delivering long-term intergenerational pride within communities,” he said.
“We know the richness in bringing young and old together for collective growth, which is why our neighbourhoods are meticulously designed with community connection at their heart.”
Lauren Palatchie, a real estate agent with Harcourts Marlborough, said there had been a “real market gap“ in Blenheim for smaller section sizes with more attainable pricing for those wanting to build.
“Getting that opportunity within a premium neighbourhood design is a rare blend, and buyers have responded with a strong early commitment,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic site ‒ the central community heart with the park, gardens, playground, dining areas and fruiting trees will become much loved.
“House build designs are already being received, and we’re excited to see this new neighbourhood take shape. Waikārapi is going to be something special.”
Johnny Quinn, development manager with New Ground Capital, said it was great to see the work of so many partners coming together on site.
“From infrastructure through to planting and home design, every detail has been carefully considered to create a high-quality, enduring neighbourhood for Marlborough,” he said.
“As the first homes take shape, the design vision will really come to life and we believe Waikārapi will set a new benchmark for connected, well-designed living in the region.”
Quinn said three house builds were already under way, and they planned to celebrate an official opening of Waikārapi later this month with uri (relatives), neighbours, and project partners.