13 new Kāinga Ora homes in Richmond

A new development of 13 two-storey Kāinga Ora homes have been completed in Richmond.

Kāinga Ora Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast regional director Julia Campbell said it entered an agreement in 2022 to purchase the homes once they were completed, in a bid to meet increasing demand for housing in Richmond.

A mix of current Kāinga Ora customers and people from the Ministry of Social Development public housing register will live in the homes, with the first residents due to move in early next month.

Campbell said the 13 new homes had taken about 18 months to build, and replaced two existing houses.

"I think it will make a world of difference to their lives, having a warm, dry, new home to live in, a stable living address ... just the ability that a home gives people, I think they'll just be over the moon."

There are currently 141 applicants in the Tasman District on the public housing register, waiting for a home.

She said a specialist Kāinga Ora placements team was currently having conversations with the people who would move into these homes.

"Before placing a customer in a Kāinga Ora home, we talk to them about both their housing needs and connections to the community and other groups to help us make a suitable housing match," Campbell said.

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said the new homes were great for the Richmond community and meant 13 families had warm, dry, affordable and safe places to call home.

She said the government's investment in Nelson was delivering more new public homes in the Nelson Tasman region than had been seen in decades.

Kāinga Ora is planning 16 two-storey homes in Nile St, 29 apartments in Nelson South and 26 homes in Stoke.

It also has plans to build 37 homes in Tasman before June 2025.