Truly accessible housing opens more than doors for Leon

Palmerston North City Council built accessible housing units and Cerebral Palsy Society
member Leon Prenter is among the
residents reaping the benefits.

By Leon Prenter

As former Prime Minister Norman Kirk said, “Basically there are four things that matter to people: they have to have somewhere to live, they have to have food to eat, they have to have clothing to wear, and they have to have something to hope for.”

When you have a physical disability having somewhere to live can be a real challenge, particularly in a housing crisis.

This is especially true if you have accessibility needs which rule out most options in rental accommodation. 

I am fortunate to live in Palmerston North, a city with a council committed to social housing to the extent it recently built 85 new flats in Papaioea Place, including some which have been specifically designed for wheelchair users like myself. In November 2023 I moved into one of these flats.

While I have lived in an accessible flat for many years, my new flat is much more accessible, and I can tell accessibility has been considered in the design of these flats. All units are double glazed and well insulated, meaning they should be warm in winter.

Leon Prenter enjoys the benefits of living in an accessible home – wide hallways, lower benches in the kitchen and a well-designed wet area shower. Photo: Renata Kotua

The halls and doorways are wide, making getting around the flat easier in my wheelchair and the bathroom is well-designed with a wet area shower and a handrail by the toilet.

For some so-called “accessible” flats accessibility stops here. 

However, my new flat has a very well-designed kitchen with the bench at a good height for wheelchair users with plenty of clear space under the bench to get close.

Rather than a stove, part of the bench is a hot plate and because of the clear space under the bench I can help with the cooking. As this is something I haven’t been able to do previously, my occupational therapist is giving me cooking lessons.

So far I’ve made macaroni cheese, pizza, chocolate chip biscuits and waffles.

Just before Christmas my mother and a friend of hers came around and I cooked waffles for them.

It was the first time in my life that I had served my mother something I had cooked, and I was so proud. 

In terms of my Cerebral Palsy, I have had a more CP friendly smoke detector system installed as I do react to sudden loud noises. In addition, I have had a digital lock installed on my front door as I have been known to snap keys.

Outside the units, both in the front and at the back, there are areas where you can grow plants. At my old flat I grew tomatoes most summers and I will shortly be looking at what I can plant at my new flat.

CPS member Deanna Rogers also lives in one of Palmerston North City Council’s accessible housing units. Photo: Renata Kotua

The way the units have been built makes it easy to interact with neighbours and they are close together, meaning it would be really difficult for any burglar to get in without being seen. There is also a community lounge.

The flats are well located, having two shopping areas plus two supermarkets within a kilometer. It also has bus stops nearby for those who don’t have their own vehicle.

These flats are a brilliant example of how city and regional councils around the country can respond to help ease the housing crisis within their communities.

Palmerston North is one of the few councils building new social housing. Come on New Zealand, you can do better.

Accessible units

Palmerston North City Council says four of its 85 units at Papaioea Place are fully accessible.

The fully accessible units include wet area bathrooms, lowered vanities, extra wide hallways, lowered kitchen benches and cooking facilities, lowered light switches and level access.

Eighty-one units are partially accessible with wet area bathrooms, wider hallways and level access.

The tenant lounge, which opened in January, includes a kitchen, bathroom and lounge area for residents who want to engage with others and/or to celebrate birthdays etc.

Then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the stage 2 opening of the Papaioea Place development in July 2021.

Chief Customer Officer Kerry-Lee Probert says the new units offer a 4-star Lifemark certification, meaning the units are equipped to meet tenants’ lifetime mobility and agility needs.

“We are proud to offer units that help to enhance residents’ quality of living to support their physical, mental and social wellbeing.

“The units provide our tenants with warm, modern, long-term homes and allow those with accessibility needs to live comfortably, while also connecting with their neighbours and other tenants.”

This article was originally published in the January to April 2024 edition of The Review magazine.

For more information:
Melanie Louden
Communications Manager
melanie@cpsociety.org.nz
Mobile: 022 087 819