Eight newly completed housing units in Taitā were blessed by Bishop Justin on Sunday.

“Today we get to be present to see a God dream become reality,” said Bishop Justin.

He was describing a journey that began around eight years ago to see the land that the original St Matthew’s church once occupied re-purposed and turned into community housing.

At the same time the St Matthew’s church hall was renovated into a multi-purpose hall and chapel (creating a space that can be used throughout the week as well as for Sunday services). This replaced the original church building which was demolished, freeing up the land for development.

Development Manager for the Diocesan housing programme, Nick Young, and Taitā Housing Project Manager Wayne Kirkland were credited with having the vision as well as the know-how to pave the way for the eight units to be constructed.

Those gathered sang Te Aroha while walking from the St Matthew’s church driveway to the adjacent units, where Bishop Justin prayed a blessing, followed by each unit being blessed by Taitā Seed Community members.

The development comprises one four-bedroom house, three two-bedroom dwellings, and four one-bedroom units.

Seven of the eight units are already tenanted, including one that will be occupied by a former refugee from the Congo sponsored by Journey Christian Fellowship.

Some members of the Taitā Seed Community have also moved into the units to connect with other tenants and offer a community to belong to.

The Taitā units represent the first project completed of 20 development projects underway across the diocese. It also represents our continued commitment, made at Synod, to respond practically to our national housing crisis. 

The next projects planned for completion are in Castlecliff, Tokomaru and Gonville.