Government, Penina Trust boost Pasifika homeownership in Auckland
A joint government-Penina Trust programme is helping Pasifika families in Auckland into homeownership by lowering entry costs and boosting bank lending confidence.
The initiative comes amid widespread affordability concerns, with a new Perceptive survey showing 72% of non-homeowners believe buying property in New Zealand is currently beyond their reach.
Pasifika homeownership rates lag behind
Census 2023 data showed just 16.8% of Pacific people in New Zealand owned their own home, compared to 42.1% of the general population. Penina Trust, the country’s first Pacific-led housing provider, has been working to close that gap.
In Auckland’s Māngere, the Meredith family were among the first to benefit from the joint scheme, moving into a new four-bedroom home designed for multigenerational living.
“It just means stability and security,” homeowner Maria Meredith told 1News. “It’s a place to start creating memories for our family.”
Affordable pathways into homeownership
The new homes, valued at close to $1 million, were sold for $775,000 with help from a government grant. That equity boost provided families with a stronger financial footing and gave banks more confidence to lend.
“We need to bridge the gap. We need affordable rentals, but we also can never forget that people don’t want to just be renting for the rest of their lives,” Penina Trust chief executive Tupuola Roine Lealaiauloto told 1News.
The trust currently operates 262 transitional and social homes, with 18 more units opening in Ōtara next week. Thirteen homes have been completed under its homeownership scheme so far.
Government support and uncertainty
Minister Shane Reti praised the contribution of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
“There’s a lot of benefits to this home ownership programme, and to meet that need – which Pasifika have disproportionately more than others – the Ministry for Pacific Peoples will swing in behind,” Reti said.
However, the trust expressed concern about government proposals to merge the ministry into a larger department.
“Penina are concerned about government intentions to get rid of the Ministry of Pacific Peoples,” Lealaiauloto said.
Reti acknowledged the concern. He said he “understands their anxiety” but added that future support for Pacific people could still continue under any new structure.
The debate comes at a time when the government is under pressure to cut costs while still addressing housing shortages, leaving uncertainty around the future of targeted Pasifika programmes.
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