The apartment conversions making central living doable again

Friday, 28 November 2025

In the heart of Wellington, another quiet commercial tower has found a second life, a building that once housed offices and boardrooms now opening its doors to residents instead of commuters.

Rather than leaving underused commercial buildings idle, Wellington City Council is working with private owners to turn them into high-quality, long-term rentals. It is part of Te Kāinga, an adaptive reuse programme designed to bring more affordable homes into the central city while giving commercial buildings a renewed purpose.

Since the first site opened in 2021, Te Kāinga has grown to 370 apartments across five buildings, with around 450 people calling them home. Tenants benefit from below-market rents, secure long-term leases, free wifi and whiteware, offering stability and predictability in a market known for short-term turnover and steep costs. Tenant satisfaction sits at 92%, showing strong demand from essential workers, young professionals, couples and small families.

Most apartments at Te Kāinga Te Puna are studios and one-bedroom homes, with a small number of two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts.

The broader impact is beginning to reshape the city’s rhythm. More people living in the central city means steadier foot traffic for small retailers and hospitality operators. Laneways and the waterfront are showing signs of new life, hinting at a future where the central city feels lived in, not just moved through. The Council plans to scale the programme to 1,500 apartments by 2033, anchoring more residents in the urban core.

Now the newest addition – Te Kāinga Te Puna – is set to open this summer at 49 Boulcott Street, adding 80 more apartments across 13 levels. Most are studios and one-bedroom homes, with a small number of two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts. One-bedroom apartments start from $455 per week, a meaningful shift in a city where affordability and long-term security often feel out of reach.

Tenants benefit from stability and predictability in a market known for short-term turnover and steep costs.

The design reflects what prospective tenants have asked for: compact, efficient living spaces supported by simple, reliable amenities. A total of 61 units are one-bedroom homes. One quarter carry a LifeMark 4 accessibility rating, and the building includes secure bike parking throughout. Seismic strengthening brings the structure up to modern standards, giving residents confidence in the building they are moving into.

For many, the appeal lies in the lifestyle as much as in the housing. Living in Te Kāinga means cafés within a few steps, short walks to work or study, evening gigs on Cuba Street and the ability to enjoy the city without long commutes or rushing to get anywhere. For solo renters moving beyond flatting, couples seeking a stable base or newcomers arriving for work, the draw is simple: central-city living that feels achievable.

Te Kāinga is a long-term, affordable rental option for Wellingtonians on middle to lower incomes, open to anyone who applies. The difference is stability, with no bidding wars and no short-term limits. Tenancies can continue as long as residents choose, allowing people to put down roots.

Te Kāinga Te Puna opens 11 December 2025, with viewings now available.

Find your home in the city. Check out current vacancies and book a viewing today at tekainga-apartments.nz/vacancies

For more information on Te Kāinga and all building locations, visit tekainga-apartments.nz