Te Toi Mahana, Wellington’s largest residential landlord and leading provider of affordable homes, has taken over the management of Te Māra Apartments from Kāinga Ora.

Te Māra is a 104-unit apartment that was opened in 2017. It is owned by Wellington City Council and has been leased to Kāinga Ora since it was opened. Te Toi Mahana formally took over the management of Te Māra on 4 November 2025.

“This is another step forward for Te Toi Mahana as we continue to expand our reach and demonstrate our commitment to affordable housing in Pōneke” says Jonathan Manns, Chief Executive of Te Toi Mahana.

Over the last few of months Te Toi Mahana, Wellington City Council, Kāinga Ora, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have been working together to ensure a smooth transfer for tenants and the organisations involved.

A key focus has been to ensure tenants are supported and informed about the change. Tenants will continue to live in their current home and their existing rights and responsibilities will stay the same. Rent will not be affected.

“It’s fantastic to welcome new whānau into our community and a great privilege to be able to extend a very warm welcome all Te Māra tenants on behalf of Te Toi Mahana” says Jonathan Manns.

A community BBQ and other events are planned over the next few months to welcome the tenants to Te Toi Mahana.

“We’ve worked closely with Te Toi Mahana and Wellington City Council to ensure a smooth transition for tenants,’’ says Sarah Willson, Regional Director for the Greater Wellington Region at Kainga Ora. “Our tenants have been understanding and we’re confident Te Toi Mahana will continue to provide them with the support they need.”

With the inclusion of Te Māra Apartments, Te Toi Mahana now provides safe, warm and affordable homes to almost 3,000 tenants and manages some 2,000 properties throughout the capital. This makes Te Toi Mahana the largest residential landlord in Wellington, the city’s leading provider of affordable homes and one of the largest Community Housing Providers in the country.

Te Toi Mahana recently announced its first two housing developments as part of its goal to own and manage and additional 500 affordable homes in Wellington over the next ten years.

© Scoop Media