Western Village community housing development nears completion in Kaitaia

A major community housing development designed to support independent living for older people in Te Hiku is nearing completion, with 28 new homes at Kaitāia’s Western Village now in the final stages of construction.

The development at the Claud Switzer Memorial Trust village on South Road has been delivered through a partnership between Far North Holdings, the Claud Switzer Memorial Trust and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.

Designed specifically for people aged over 50, the one-bedroom homes will provide much-needed community housing for up to 56 people, creating a supportive environment where residents can live independently while remaining connected to their community.

Construction is progressing through its final stages, with an official blessing of the completed development planned for early November 2026. The first residents are expected to begin moving into their new homes later that month.

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A development designed around its residents

Accessibility and quality of life have been central to the development.

Western Village has achieved a Homestar 6 rating, recognising the development’s performance across areas including health, comfort, energy efficiency and sustainability.

Many of the homes incorporate accessible bathrooms, level entry and other features designed to support residents as their needs change. External paths and landscaping have also been designed with accessibility in mind, particularly for kaumātua and kuia.

The wider environment has been designed to encourage connection, health and wellbeing, with landscaping, fruit trees and a covered communal gathering area as well as recycling facilities and parking incorporated into the development.

The result is a development that sits comfortably within the existing Switzer environment while providing modern, purpose-designed homes for its future residents.

Delivering the build

Construction has progressed smoothly, with a high standard of workmanship achieved throughout the build.

Two of the major milestones have been achieving platform stability and completing the building envelopes.

One of the most significant challenges came from the site’s ground conditions, which required the creation of a substantial pre-loading platform.

Principal contractor Far North Roading worked with the project team to procure and place the large quantities of pre-load material required to achieve the necessary ground stability before construction could progress. The construction team has subsequently delivered the main build works on programme and budget.

Far North Holdings has project managed the development, working alongside the Claud Switzer Memorial Trust and the wider project team to take the Western Village from planning through to its final stages.

Key organisations involved in the project include Far North Roading as principal contractor and builder, Panel Lock, Arcline Architecture as lead designers, Wilton Joubert, Haigh Workman and Eco Insite.

Far North Holdings CEO Andy Nock said the development demonstrated the value of combining local knowledge and capability to address an important community need.

“Far North Holdings is all about helping to create prosperous, thriving communities and for this to exist we need to be developing homes that provide their residents with quality of life and healthy living conditions. “This can only be achieved by partnering with local organisations who understand the needs of individuals and families living in those communities.”

Building on Switzer’s role in the community

Claud Switzer Memorial Trust has a long history of supporting older people in Te Hiku and became a registered Community Housing Provider as part of its work to expand the housing options available within the community.

Switzer will manage the tenants and residents of Western Village, with the first people expected to move into their new homes during November 2026. Claud Switzer Memorial Trust Chief Executive Tina Mills said

“Western Village has always been about much more than building houses. It is about creating homes where people can feel safe and secure, maintain their independence, stay connected to whānau and community, and continue to live with dignity and purpose.

"At Switzer, we believe everyone deserves a life filled with connection, belonging and possibility, regardless of age or changing abilities. Western Village brings those values to life.

“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved through this partnership and grateful to our Trustees for their vision and commitment. Ultimately, the true success of the Western Village will be measured by the lives lived within these homes and the community that grows around them.”

With construction nearing completion, the official blessing planned for early November 2026 will mark a significant milestone for a project that has progressed from an identified community housing need to 28 new purpose-designed homes for Te Hiku.

Far North Holdings continues to pursue additional development opportunities that are consistent with central Government policy settings, with a focus on helping meet demand for affordable housing across the region.