Skip to main content

Story: Housing

Group housing scheme

Video file

The 1950s National government wanted to boost the private building sector. Its group housing scheme encouraged builders to construct new suburban homes, using plans approved by the state, and pledged to buy those houses the builders were unable to sell. The initiative facilitated the creation of large design-and-build companies such as Neil Homes, later the Neil Group. This film shows a group housing scheme on the outskirts of Napier in 1954. 

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 28. National Film Unit, 1954

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Ben Schrader, Housing – Construction and materials, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/38655/group-housing-scheme (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Ben Schrader, published 3 December 2012.