Frances says she’s looking forward to exploring Oranga and its surroundings. She was particularly pleased to buy so close to Maungakiekie One Tree Hill. “I plan to use the park regularly for walks, picnics and catching up with friends.” She has also discovered a hidden gem only two kms from home – ‘Everybody Eats’ in Onehunga, which offers a three-course meal on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis. “It’s a really cool concept cafe which I’m excited about going to more often.”
Frances found the buying process straightforward once she got her head around the documentation required. “Judy at Fletcher Living was amazing, making sure I had all the right information. I can’t speak more highly of Fletchers.”
“It feels really big for a two-bedroom. It’s super light and airy with higher than normal ceilings. It’s going to be really warm in the winter and energy efficient. I looked at a lot of houses that needed work done and didn’t have double glazing or heat pumps. To be able to walk into a place that has all of those things already – it’s huge. Plus, it has a Master Build guarantee. As a first home buyer I find it really reassuring that all that’s sorted.”
The dream is to “stay in the area, enjoy living in the home and making it mine. And hopefully one day I’ll have a family to share it with!”
“I definitely wouldn’t have been able to afford this house, or the area, without the Kāinga Ora support,” she says. “I would’ve had to compromise, so it’s amazing there is that support out there. I feel really lucky. I really hope other people get to experience the joy I have.”
Just a few minutes’ walk from anywhere in this compact little ‘burb, you’ll find the green oasis of Fergusson Domain, fringed by gorgeous trees and heritage stone walkways. It’s home to a kindy, a sports club and gym, a playground, and brand new basketball courts and a children’s pump track.
Arguably Auckland’s most cherished green space, Cornwall Park isn’t exactly a secret. But you might not know that it’s not just One Tree Hill and Epsom residents who get to enjoy having this national treasure on their doorstep. Oranga also borders Cornwall Park, and locals definitely make the most of it.
Visit the Oranga Community Centre on any given day, and you’ll find a hive of activity. This much -loved community treasure runs a jam packed calendar of kids, sports, arts and cultural events, year round. It’s the perfect place to catch up with local friends or make new ones.
There are 1,200 new homes on their way to Oranga, so if you want to make this awesome little neighbourhood home, there’s plenty to choose from. Architecturally-designed and built by New Zealand’s most respected builders, all new homes here must meet a 6 (or above) Homestar rating, meaning they’re better quality and cheaper to run than a standard home built to the New Zealand building code.
