Warren Place Wins National Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing

In August 2024, Habitat for Humanity Northern proudly opened Warren Place, a 22-home development in Maunu, Whangārei, created to provide safe, affordable housing and nurture a thriving, connected community. Less than a year later, this landmark project was honoured with the Community and Affordable Housing Property Award at the 2025 Property Council NZ Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards, recognising its thoughtful design and transformative impact.

Sponsored by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, the award celebrates Warren Place as a national exemplar of how affordable housing can empower families and strengthen neighbourhoods. Built on a newly named road in honour of Warren Jack, former director of Habitat Northern, the development spans 2,777 square metres and features 22 homes arranged around a vibrant community hub.

This shared space includes a children’s nature play area, outdoor seating, bike racks, parking, and a communal garden - a place where residents grow food together and take collective responsibility for the land. The design fosters connection, sustainability, and pride in place, turning neighbours into a community.

Leonie Freeman, Chief Executive of Property Council NZ, praised the project:

“Housing is far more than bricks and mortar; it’s the foundation for stability, dignity and opportunity. Warren Place demonstrates how affordable homes can act as catalysts for social wellbeing.”

Warren Place is also Whangārei’s first housing development to incorporate solar panels, helping reduce power bills by up to 50% and lowering the community’s environmental footprint, a meaningful step toward long-term affordability and environmental stewardship.

As Habitat Northern’s largest development to date, Warren Place sets a new benchmark for what’s possible when homes are built with purpose. It reflects Habitat’s commitment to creating homes that are not only warm, dry, and secure, but also deeply rooted in community and opportunity.

This project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of G J Gardner Whangārei and Ministry of Architecture + Interiors, whose design and construction expertise helped bring Habitat’s vision to life.

Warren Place is more than a development; it’s a living example of Habitat’s mission in action.