A sense of community pride filled the air on Friday 11 July 2025 as Kāinga Ora and South Waikato District Council officially opened and blessed a new housing development in Clyde Street, Tokoroa. The development is the largest social housing development in Tokoroa in the last 25 years with 13 new, warm, dry and modern homes.
The celebratory event was attended by Kāinga Ora staff, Council representatives, Raukawa rangatiratanga, and members of the local community.
Mayor Gary Petley noted that this was a major step forward in addressing housing needs in the South Waikato and acknowledged the collaborative effort and shared commitment that brought the project to life. “These new homes represent stability, security and hope for whānau and individuals in our community who need it most. The need for housing has increased over the years. As of March this year, 108 people in South Waikato were on the Ministry of Social Development’s housing register. Today, some of that need is being met in a meaningful way,” he said.
Following Kāinga Ora purchasing the land on Clyde Street – which at the time had four vacant buildings on it – in 2022, South Waikato District Council has worked proactively alongside the agency and local iwi Raukawa to progress the project, which has grown Tokoroa’s social housing allocation by 50 percent.
The Mayor extended heartfelt thanks to Kāinga Ora for their leadership and continued investment in the region, particularly acknowledging key contributors to the project:
- Mark Rawson, Regional Director Waikato, Kāinga Ora
- Mana Otai, Project Manager, Kāinga Ora
- Build suppliers who played a vital role in construction
- And the many others who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the development a success.
While there is still more work to be done to meet the growing demand for housing in the District, the Clyde Street development represents a strong step in the right direction and a shining example of what can be achieved through partnership and shared vision.
