“Owning our own home is a gift”

For Kataraina Davis and CJ Gilbert, getting into their own home was an opportunity to create a secure future for their children.

“It’s a gift that’s passed down from generation to generation,” Kataraina says.

Kataraina’s iwi, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, recently completed the Hawaiki Street housing development in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The 24 terraced homes were available for whānau to purchase, with the iwi offering to help fund the deposit through a shared equity scheme and Westpac one of two banks who provided the home loans.

The shared equity scheme meant Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei was able to contribute to home-owners deposits in exchange for an ownership share, with the home-owner able to buy the iwi out over time. 

Kataraina and CJ were approved for a whare and together with their children, were able to move into their new home just before Christmas 2024.

Joanie Rankin, Westpac Home Loan Expert, helped Kataraina and CJ on their journey.

“When I first met CJ and Kataraina, they were a bit uneasy discussing their finances, but I worked with them to help them understand that home ownership could be a reality and I’m so thrilled for them,” Joanie says.

CJ says he spent much of his childhood living in social housing and didn’t think home ownership would be possible for him.

“This hits different because not only is it amazing, but it’s ours,” he says.

Lisa Davis, CEO of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, says Hawaiki is all about supporting whānau to live on their ancestral land and creating a community where people look after each other.

“Owning your own home’s not just about having a healthy, safe home, it’s what you’re enabling for generations to come,” Ms Davis says.

Learn more about CJ and Kataraina’s story in this episode of My First Whare, created by Re: News in partnership with Westpac. 

And check out TVNZ+ to watch all the other episodes in the My First Whare series.