With hundreds cramped in temporary housing - the opening of dozens of new state homes in Porirua is being described as an important milestone.
The 29 new one- and two-bedroom units were blessed this morning, with more than 50 dwellings in the city north of Wellington due for completion early next year.
But the city's mayor says demand for state housing is overwhelming - as she took a swipe at the government over the speed and investment in the project.
RNZ reporter Hamish Cardwell and videographer Dom Thomas went to the blessing and filed this report.
