Mahora Te Aroha: Dwell’s Flagship Community Village
Nestled behind the bustling centre of Kilbirnie is a village of 29-homes, housing residents with low to no income, in safe, warm, healthy spaces they can call their own.
Dwell’s flagship community housing project Mahora Te Aroha has been an eight-year-long journey in which we transformed this brown-field site into quality, affordable homes for our community.
The design of the complex and individual homes incorporated feedback from existing Dwell tenants and the significant learnings of this 40-year-old organisation. The outcome is a triumph of efficient design which balances spacious, quiet, individual-homes with spaces that enable residents to gather and build community.
Find out more about all aspects of the project using the links below.
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The Story of Mahora Te Aroha
Dwell’s community village in Kilbirnie was gifted the name “Mahora Te Aroha” by Matua Jackson (Te Atiawa, Taranaki Iwi) at the completion of part one of the build in 2023.
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The Buildings in the Village
Mahora Te Aroha provides a total of 29 homes with 50 bedrooms. We know that a mix of home sizes is the key to getting a diverse and respectful micro-community.
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The Community Garden
The shared communal garden, Rākau Taumatua (Tree’s where birds gather, a place where people flock), is centred around a tī kouka (cabbage tree) with a representation of a Ruru (native owl) resting above.
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Mahora Te Aroha Mural
Created by Cecily - Artist and Dwell tenant - the mural at the entrance to the village on Onepu Road, depicts the growth that we can experience when we feel safety and belonging.
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Our Supporter's
This project was made possible by the support of many organisation’s and funder’s, some of which do not wish to be named.
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Architects Design Statement and Building Plans
Our talented architects designed a vibrant community village that fosters a sense of safety and encourages residents to connect and build relationships.
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Part One of the Build - Monthly Blog
Read our monthly updates and see images of the build between September 2021 and June 2023.
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Part Two of the Build - Monthly Blog
Read our monthly updates and see images of the build between November 2022 and October 2024.