Pride Project seeks longer lease for Auckland base

The Pride Project is asking for a four-year lease on its Kāinga Ora-owned property in Auckland, as the current one-year extension creates too much uncertainty.

At the Manurewa Local Board meeting on Thursday, the community-led support initiative made its case for support from members.

The Manurewa Local Board is considering advocating to Kāinga Ora for The Pride Project, which is based at Clendon Community House in Manurewa.

Luella Linaker, chief executive of The Pride Project, said the organisation had evolved from Clendon Pride into the Pride Project and now supported residents across Manurewa through food assistance, youth development, advocacy, school attendance programmes and other community initiatives.

"We're Manurewa locals with lived experience supporting Manurewa locals," she told the board.

The organisation said it directly supported 2,246 people in 2025, while almost 2,900 people visited its community house during the year.

The Pride Project chief executive Luella Linaker says a longer lease would provide greater certainty for the organisation to continue delivering services from its Clendon community house. Photo/The Pride Project Aotearoa HQ Facebook

Linaker said a longer lease would provide greater certainty for the organisation's future planning and its ability to continue delivering services from the site.

"It would be really lovely if we could stay in the community house longer than the one year you've given us," she said.

"My ask of you is, is there an opportunity to extend that to the four years that was originally talked about?"

Young people taking part in The Pride Project's barbering programme provide free haircuts for the community while gaining practical barbering skills. Photo/The Pride Project Aotearoa HQ Facebook

Board members acknowledged they could not decide the Pride Project's lease because the property is owned by Kāinga Ora, but said they could advocate on the organisation's behalf.

Members also praised the Pride Project's work, with one saying the board supported the organisation and another thanking it for "filling so many gaps".

Chair of the board, Heather Andrew, said the board could advocate for a longer lease, but Kāinga Ora made the final decision.

Donated clothing at The Pride Project's Whare Tautoko, a free second-hand shop where items are distributed to the Manurewa community. Photo/The Pride Project Aotearoa HQ Facebook

"There would have to be more discussions with Kāinga Ora in that space," she said.

One board member then asked whether the Manurewa Local Board could formally advocate for the lease to be extended from one year to four years.

Andrew replied that the board could discuss taking that position, but could not make the leasing decision itself.

The Pride Project's Whare Taurima lawnmower hire service provides affordable lawnmower and weed eater hire to help Manurewa residents maintain their properties. Photo/The Pride Project Aotearoa HQ Facebook

The Pride Project said its work includes advocacy with agencies such as Kāinga Ora, Inland Revenue and Work and Income, alongside food and clothing support, youth development, school attendance initiatives, and employment and training programmes.

Kāinga Ora has been approached for comment on the proposed lease arrangements, including whether a one-year extension has been offered and why, and whether a longer lease is being considered.

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