Tauranga company aiming to tackle housing shortage

PHOTO: The partnership’s first development will be in Warkworth, North Auckland delivering more than 500 lots for a new community to be developed. Supplied image.

A new land development company established by Tauranga-based developer Classic Group and the $58 billion NZ Super Fund aims to use its scale and capital to increase housing supply in New Zealand.

Kaha Ake (Stronger Together) aims to develop and market a range of sites across New Zealand with a focus on meeting the demand for housing.

The partnership’s first development will be in Warkworth, North Auckland delivering more than 500 lots for a new community to be developed.

Over the coming years the partnership expects to achieve a development pipeline of upwards of 3000 sites for new homes.

Classic Group Director Peter Cooney says the company sees this as an opportunity to find solutions to some of the property sector’s complex and historic challenges.

“We’re delighted to partner with NZ Super Fund. With the long-term financial support this partnership offers, Kaha Ake will be in a strong position to support the development of homes for Kiwis at a pace and scale that will help meet the demand for quality affordable housing.

“In a complex and challenging industry, we want to work collaboratively alongside councils and Government to develop land and enable the building of homes and communities throughout the regions, at pace and scale.

“We see a major opportunity ahead to address the scale and infrastructure problems bedeviling New Zealand’s property sector. NZ Super Fund shares our commercial mindset and sense of social responsibility, and we look forward to working together.”

NZ Super Fund Manager, Direct Investments Hishaam Mirza says the investment is part of a broader strategy to increase the Fund’s exposure to real estate.

“It’s great to be able to partner with a highly experienced New Zealand developer in Classic Group. We believe our capital can help create a break-through moment for a sector weighed down with interconnected challenges of affordability, land supply, lack of scale, poor infrastructure and compliance.