Government to Demolish Derelict MIT Buildings in Ōtara for Housing Redevelopment

Deteriorating and vacant buildings at two former Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) sites in Ōtara will be demolished, clearing the way for future redevelopment of more than eight hectares of Crown land, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

These buildings have been sitting largely unused for years. They are riddled with asbestos, have deteriorated significantly and have become targets for vandalism, break-ins and arson, Mr Bishop says.

Their condition has become a source of frustration and concern for the local community, and it is well past time we got on with removing them.

The former MIT land in Ōtara comprised four separate sites and was acquired by the Government in 2019 through the Land for Housing Programme, which was established to repurpose vacant and underutilised Crown and private land for housing.

Two of the smaller sites have subsequently been developed, but the Crown continues to hold the North and South campus sites, which together encompass approximately 8.4 hectares.

These are significant sites in the heart of Ōtara, close to the town centre, public transport and existing communities. But right now, much of that valuable Crown land is occupied by buildings that are well beyond the end of their useful life.

Demolition is the sensible next step. It will address the ongoing safety and security issues, reduce the cost of holding and maintaining deteriorating buildings, and clear the sites so they are ready for their next chapter.

The exact scope and form of future development is still being determined. Both sites are held for housing, and a zoning change from education-related uses to housing is being sought through Plan Change 120.

The Government will keep the community informed as the project progresses. The next steps include appointing project management, undertaking specialist investigations, securing the necessary consents and going to market for an experienced demolition contractor.

This preparatory and procurement work is expected to take around six months. Demolition and site remediation are expected to take around a further 15 months, reflecting the scale of the sites and the extensive asbestos contamination within the largest buildings.

New Zealand has valuable Crown land sitting in communities where housing is needed. We need to make better use of it.

Clearing these derelict buildings is a practical first step towards unlocking these sites and giving this part of Ōtara a fresh start.Notes to editors: MCERT intends to engage LINZ to undertake the demolition.

LINZ will prepare a market tender and issue a request for proposal for the demolition on the government procurement portal, GETS, to ensure it receives appropriately experienced contractors and competitive pricing for the work.