As tenants look out from the balconies of their new Edmonton Avenue homes, they’ll also have a chance to cast an eye over ancestral Aotearoa.

Here, a network of māra (gardens) once filled the space between basalt rock ridges. Mana whenua had constructed seasonal campsites where whānau harvested kūmara and taro from at least 1500 to 1821.

And when the site was recently redeveloped to provide 29 new warm, dry and safe social homes through Oranga Development, this history was uncovered and preserved with the support of archaeologist Hans Dieter-Bader.

“Really cool to see the archaeology of the site respected and mana whenua integral to the process,” said one person who attended a community viewing day for the homes in November.

They were one of around 30 people who arrived despite rain to meet with Oranga Development and Kāinga Ora team members and look through the homes, while also learning about everything else on its way for the area. Te Papapa Primary PTA and Harae Mai Oranga Initiative were also there to support the event and meet with the community.

“It was a good initiative to welcome community and see everything before whānau move in,” the visitor said.

Along with two of the apartments, a new community room was open for viewing – serving as a space where attendees could learn about the archaeological and cultural taonga (treasures) unearthed through the redevelopment process.

As well as the māra, they learned of shell middens and the discovery of a small whare, complete with a compressed shell floor that extended beyond the porch to create a dry working station.

Here, tūpuna (ancestors) would have had a full view of the same whenua now enjoyed from the balconies of Kāinga Ora homes.