Construction begins at Te Awa Lakes

It’s all systems go at Te Awa Lakes, with a building team from GJ Gardner breaking ground this month on the first homes in the first stage of the long-awaited 100 ha development. 

Upon completion, the development will encompass 2,500 homes and form a key part of Hamilton’s Northwest Priority Development Area, which is approved to accommodate up to 15,000 new homes.  

The properties at Te Awa Lakes are being exclusively marketed by Megan Smith & Co at Lodge Real Estate.  Megan and her team have been inundated with enquiries since early February when sales officially kicked off and have been averaging 200-300 enquiries each week. 

GJ Gardner Homes is constructing 79 dwellings as part of Stage 1, starting with 12 terraced houses.  The first of these will be completed and ready by January 2026.  

Franchise owner of GJ Gardner Homes Waikato, Jeff de Leeuw says, “We’re honoured to be the first cab off the rank.  We’ve been working closely with Te Awa Lakes for years and understand the hard work it’s taken to get to this point.   

“Bias aside, the homes we’re building here in Stage 1 are quite special, designed to maximise connection with the lakes, nearby amenities and foster a real sense of community.  We’ve seen interest from young professionals right through to whole families, retirees and investors.”   

Stage 1 also includes the development of the village centre by Foster Develop, with this work scheduled to commence in the latter have of 2026 and plans to be unveiled shortly.  

It’s been a busy few months for the wider Te Awa Lakes team, and the Waikato River’s starring role in the development has become increasingly more visible, with the recent felling of 400 scrub pine trees revealing enviable river views.   

Groundworks have also surged ahead, with roading and streetlights now installed, and landscaping works well underway.  

Managing Partner of Te Awa Lakes, Richard Coventry says, “Visually, the development is surging ahead now, which is really rewarding to see.  It’s almost surreal to think, after many years of foundational work, that there will be people living here is less than a year. 

“We’re part of the North-West node of Hamilton, which is really coming into its own as a growth hot spot in Hamilton, with burgeoning employment opportunities on our doorstep driven by new industrial developments in the area.”  

“We’re working closely with both central and local government and are on the cusp of a huge leap forward, especially when it comes to some of the larger-scale infrastructure.” 

“The next six months are going to be massive but we’re looking forward to inviting the public onsite later in the year, so they can see for themselves just what’s taking shape here.” 

Buyers can express interest in purchasing a property here