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‘Container homes’ from China for Kāinga Ora Rotorua modular housing development met with local resistance.
There’s community disquiet in the New Zealand suburbs of Malfroy and Ranolf in Rotorua, with the delivery of what some locals describe as ‘container-like’ homes by Kāinga Ora, New Zealand’s community housing provider. (main pic: Container homes from China for modular housing development in Rotorua. credit pic: Andrew Warner – NZ Herald.)
Eyewitness accounts express dismay, likening the scene to a “trailer park”, creating some apprehensions about the potential decline in the standard of living for future inhabitants.
Rotorua locals have also raised concerns over the construction quality, thermal and acoustic insulation, and the durability of steel used in the “container homes” amid the city’s geothermal activity.
In defence of residents’ concerns, Kāinga Ora insists these steel modular units adhere to stringent New Zealand building codes, and when complete, will provide quality accommodation that’s aesthetically pleasing. The project comprises three clusters of four single-bedroom dwellings, amounting to a dozen modular homes, and represents a broader initiative to invigorate social housing development in the area.
Kāinga Ora, Bay of Plenty regional director Darren Toy, said that the modular homes will deliver a high standard of living and also privacy.
According to Kāinga Ora, the modules were constructed in China and conform to the New Zealand Building Code and healthy home standards. Toy also suggested that any superficial resemblance to containers belies the advanced functionality and comfort these homes will deliver.
Toy further confirmed that all the modular units were closely assessed during their construction phase to their final installation in New Zealand.
This new modular housing development forms part of Kāinga Ora’s strategy, leverages offsite manufacturing to expedite the provision of social housing. With approximately 900 existing homes in Rotorua, Kāinga Ora has committed to building a further 500 homes in 2024 and 2025.
Source: NZ Herald
