PO Box 8024 Invercargill +64 3 217 2740

The Invercargill affiliate of Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1995, when our first house began construction. Our third house was a renovated villa that was dedicated and occupied in 2000, and our fourth was a more extensive renovation that was dedicated in 2004.

Meanwhile, Habitat Invercargill has completed six more homes and has housed ten families altogether. Of those ten, three families have already fully paid off their Habitat Loans.

The affiliate in Invercargill is unique because it was the first in New Zealand to set up the ReStore business known locally as the Bargain Barn. It generates income from the sale of donated goods to assist the funding for building and renovating homes. The Bargain Barn income has maintained steady growth since opening its doors in 1996, so that by 2001, the land and building were freehold. Not only had the no-interest loan of $140,000 from American Victor Roepke been repaid, but the affiliate had also assisted three families into homes, thanks to the huge effort contributed by paid staff members, volunteers and many members of the public who had caught the vision and donated the goods..

By 2006 a further five families had moved into new homes, and two other families had been given a ‘hand up’ through other means, including debt reduction process assistance.

In May 2002 Invercargill hosted its first Global Village team. This was very successful with many churches and other organisations participating in the project. Since then seven further teams have visited Invercargill. 

As at June 2008 house no 11 is almost completed, house no 12 has the foundations prepared, while house no 13 is at the planning stage. Families for all three of those homes are working well on their Sweat Equity hours. At this stage the affiliate has land for three more homes.