Future of community house uncertain as lease ends, agencies clash over control

The future of Rawiri Community House in Manurewa remains uncertain with local leaders scrambling to keep services running as the site prepares to close in June.

The long-standing community facility is set to close on June 30, 2026, after Kāinga Ora confirmed it will not extend its lease with Auckland Council, which subleases the property to community providers.

Manurewa Local Board chair Heather Andrew said the priority now is to protect the services many in the community rely on, even if they are forced to move elsewhere.

“It is far more than a physical space, it has been a lifeline for many local residents, creating meaningful and, in some cases, life-changing outcomes,” she said.

The site has been used as a community hub for more than a decade, offering a range of support services in an area facing ongoing housing and social pressures.

Andrew said council staff are working with the board to find ways to continue those services beyond the closure.

Manurewa Local Board chair Heather Andrew says the council does not have a formal role in determining the future of the Rawiri Community House site. Photo/Auckland Council.

“Staff continue to support the local board to explore options that will allow the providers to continue offering their community services.

“The local board recognises that the services provided from Rawiri Community House are valuable and needed in the local community.

"The board is looking to continue providing support for a premises so that these services remain available for their community into the future.”

Despite those efforts, uncertainty remains over what will happen next and where services will be relocated.

At the same time, questions continue over how the decision to end the lease was made and whether the community was properly consulted.

Andrew said Auckland Council had funded the lease for many years and had met with Kāinga Ora to discuss extending it, including short-term options.

But she said the housing agency made it clear the site was needed for social housing and would not be extended.

“This decision has been made solely by Kāinga Ora to provide additional social housing,” she said.

“A number of your questions would best be directed to Auckland Council,” a spokesperson said. At the same time, Andrew said the decision to end the lease sat with Kāinga Ora.

Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman says the decision to reclaim the Rawiri Community House site was made without community engagement. Photo/File.

Kāinga Ora, however, has pointed back to Auckland Council when asked about consultation and engagement.

The back-and-forth between the two agencies has added to frustration among local leaders, with no clear answer on who was responsible for informing or consulting the community.

Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman said Kāinga Ora was not required to consult and had not engaged the community before making its decision.

Kāinga Ora says the move is driven by growing demand, with more than 2400 applicants currently on the Ministry of Social Development housing register in the area.

The agency said it advised Auckland Council in 2023 that there would be no further lease extensions and began working with council in early February 2025 to prepare for the return of the property.

Auckland Council said it formally notified service providers in December 2025.

The property has been leased to Auckland Council since at least 2013 and used as Rawiri Community House, which provides a range of services to local residents.

For many in Manurewa, the issue reflects a wider tension seen across parts of Aotearoa and the Pacific - balancing urgent housing needs with the loss of community spaces that provide everyday support.

Community facilities like Rawiri House often act as key hubs for families, offering access to social services, advice, and support in areas where demand is high.

The planned closure has already sparked public reaction with a community march held on Tuesday calling for the site to be saved.

With the deadline now just months away, the focus is shifting to whether an alternative space can be secured in time. And whether the services that many rely on can continue without disruption.

For now, the future of Rawiri Community House remains uncertain, with the community caught between urgent housing demand and the loss of a vital local service hub.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.