An early community housing investment by the Generate KiwiSaver Scheme is part of a social housing initiative now reporting measurable outcomes for hundreds of people across Waikato and Auckland.
Te Puna Hapori began in 2019, through a collaboration between Brightlight and Trust Waikato, a community trust focused on transformational change for the people and places most in need.
Generate KiwiSaver Scheme backs social housing investment
In 2022, Generate KiwiSaver Scheme backed that early vision as the platform's first institutional investor. It invested $11.8 million in the Te Puna Hapori–Verdi Social Housing Bond, structured by Brightlight. That investment helped fund homes for 39 families.
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Te Puna Hapori impact report results for 2025
Four years on, the report gives a much clearer picture of the wider impact this approach is having. Across six Te Puna Hapori sites in 2025:
• 437 people were housed
• 404 people received wraparound support
• 73% of residents identified as Māori
How sustainable investment can support communities and returns
“We were proud to be the first institutional investor into Te Puna Hapori in 2022, backing the Verdi Social Housing Bond that helped fund homes for 39 families,” said Ayrton Oliver, Generate Fixed Income Portfolio Manager.
“Three years on, seeing that early investment grow into a platform delivering measurable outcomes for communities across the Waikato and Auckland is a strong validation of place-based investing as an asset class.”
It’s a great example of how investment capital can do more than one job – supporting positive outcomes in New Zealand communities while still delivering strong returns for our members.
Read more about the Te Puna Hapori impact report.