Generate’s Impact Investment Wins Top Design Award

Back in 2022, Generate partnered with Community Finance to make a $14 million impact investment to finance 35 new homes for people in need, in partnership with Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust. It’s now proud to report that the Willard Street project, completed in 2023, has now been recognised with an award for its high-quality homes that lead the way in design, performance and community impact.

The Willard Street development won Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust a Gold Award (Residential) at the 2025 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards, presented by Master Builders. The awards celebrate projects that demonstrate innovation, quality and collaboration across New Zealand’s building sector.

Willard Street includes 35 warm, comfortable homes designed for modern public housing. The new Homestar 7-rated homes replace 26 ageing bedsits built in the 1940s.

This investment was one of Generate’s impact investments, which aim to make a positive difference to the lives of New Zealanders, whilst providing fair market returns for our Generate KiwiSaver Scheme members.

Generate Portfolio Manager, Ayrton Oliver, says this recognition further reinforces the value of the project.

“Working together with Community Finance and Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust shows the potential influence that investing can have on social outcomes for New Zealand, as well as the financial returns for Generate KiwiSaver Scheme members over the long-term,” he says.

“Responsible investing is one of our core values at Generate, so we often seek out investment opportunities that have the potential to drive both positive financial returns and positive social impact - we don’t believe these need to be mutually exclusive.”

In 2020 Generate was the first KiwiSaver scheme to invest in social housing via a $21 million investment managed by Community Finance into Salvation Army Community Bonds. That investment supported 118 warm, dry, affordable community houses across three locations.

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