Transformation in Avondale – The Highbury Triangle to Community Lane Story

As part of the Aotearoa Festival of Architecture 2025, Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland branch is hosting an evening talk at Objectspace.

Earlier this year, Kāinga Ora completed the country's largest social housing development in Avondale.

Jama Kake (Kāinga Ora), Nick Howcroft (Kāinga Ora) and Severin Soder (Architectus) will trace the project's story from inception to occupation.

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Jama Kake is a senior leader with over a decade of experience at Kāinga Ora, where she currently oversees tenancy, maintenance, asset, and placement groups across North and West Auckland. Her leadership ensures the consistent application of national frameworks, operational best practices, and compliance with legislative standards. Jama brings deep institutional knowledge, a strong commitment to public service, and a passion for delivering better housing outcomes for communities.

Nick Howcroft is a Director in the Urban Development & Delivery Group at Kāinga Ora. With over 20 years’ experience in housing and urban development in New Zealand and overseas, he has played a key role in scaling and transforming the country’s largest public housing programme. Nick was directly responsible for delivering Highbury Triangle / Community Lane, Kāinga Ora’s largest housing development in recent decades, and continues to enable regeneration through infrastructure and urban development.

Severin Soder is a Principal at Architectus, an architecture and urbanism practice, where he leads the Living and Urban Futures Sectors. Severin has worked closely with Kāinga Ora on the Highbury Triangle / Community Lane development since it’s conception in 2019.

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