Abbeyfield New Zealand has been granted $1 million by the Nelson City Council towards the development of a new Abbeyfield house in Nelson. The grant will go towards a house in the new Maitahi Village development, pictured left, which will comprise 350 homes, an Arvida retirement village, a commercial centre and other facilities. Maitahi Village is being developed by a consortium which includes local iwi Ngāti Koata. Abbeyfield New Zealand Executive Director, Ruth Seabright, said Abbeyfield was thrilled to receive the grant, and the next steps would be to form a steering group of local people to drive a fundraising campaign to raise the rest of the money needed to build the house. Discussions would also be held to identify and secure a suitable site, she said. Koata Ltd chief executive, Hemi Toia, said the Abbeyfield house would fit in well with Ngāti Koata’s plans to build a range of houses, including affordable rentals, at the village, “giving whānau a stable and dignified housing solution for whatever stage of life they are in.”
Here is an article about the grant and the Maitahi Village development which featured in The Press and here is another article which featured in Scoop.