South Auckland’s new accessible homes celebrating Pacific culture and community

A new housing project in South Auckland, developed by Ramwall Group partnered with Penina Trust, focuses on creating formidable and accessible homes for the Pacific community.

The project called Toitoi Living Papakura Development features 16 one-bedroom homes designed for accessibility and long-term livability.

One-third of New Zealand’s Pacific community resides in South Auckland, where the demand for affordable and accessible housing is high.

Housing remains one of the biggest challenges facing Pasifika families in Aotearoa, with many new developments being out of reach due to their high costs, poor design, or lack of consideration for their needs.

But the new project aims to change that. On Friday, the 16 homes were handed over to Penina Trust, a Pasifika-designated community housing provider. Penina Trust is expected to find tenants for the new homes.

The project is part of the Toitoi Living brand, created by Auckland-based developer Ramwall Group, led by CEO Arjun Sami. Since its inception in 2006, the group has delivered more than 550 homes and developed 262 residential lots.

Photo/Ramwall Group

For Sami, it's more than just a company; it's a legacy. The name ‘Ramwall’ is derived from his parents’ names. He migrated to New Zealand in the 1980s, attended Ōtāhuhu College and MIT, and began his business journey by running Food World in Ōtara and Māngere.

That ethos carries through to Ramwall’s housing projects. Sami describes property development as a sacred calling, saying it’s bricks and mortar, and creates homes that are the beating heart of family life.

“We were always supplying for the ethnic market. Giving back to the community is a big thing for us,” Sami says. “We saw there was a gap in the market. What we’ve built here are single-level homes that are fully accessible.”

Watch Tiumalu Peter Fa’afiu's interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings below.

The Papakura homes have achieved Lifemark® 5-Star Accessible+ Certification, New Zealand’s highest standard in universal design.

Tiumalu Peter Fa’afiu, a community leader with 15 years’ experience in the housing sector, says the property is about accessibility and safety for the people who go in there because they have safe usability.”

Step-free entries, easy-to-navigate layouts, and wet-area entryways are just some of the features of the Papakura homes. Building to this standard was not without challenges.

“After doing Papatoetoe and now Papakura, we have identified some gaps. We will be astute about making sure it is done properly for our next one,” Sami says.

Fa’afiu, who helped establish Penina Trust in 2013, describes Toitoi Living as a tapestry of unity and shared vision. “Whoever you are collaborating with, the builder, subcontractors, architects, engineers, they must share a vision for the type of property they are going to build,” he says.

Penina Trust’s involvement ensures the sustainability of these projects. The Trust manages tenancies, delivers wrap-around support services, and provides homes that continue to serve Pacific families in need.

Photo/Ramwall Group

Its partnership with Toitoi Living reflects the strength of Ramwall Group’s approach: working alongside Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to deliver long-term, sustainable housing outcomes.

“The outcome of this partnership is Toitoi Living,” Fa’afiu says. “With the right partners and a culturally appropriate lens, you can deliver housing that genuinely gives back to the community.”

Ramwall Company follows a 10-year strategic plan that focuses on building more housing while strengthening property maintenance and tenancy management. A key part of that plan is establishing long-term partnerships with CHPs and iwi authorities who share the group’s vision for purpose-built housing.

Looking ahead, Sami says the company’s future includes new projects in Pukekohe, Drury, and Hamilton, as well as further community housing and private market developments.

“Demand for one-bedroom, single-level housing is huge, especially for people in well-being programmes or seniors,” he says.

While New Zealand’s housing market faces economic turbulence, Toitoi Living represents a different approach: housing development isn’t just an asset but a sacred responsibility.