Dunedin's homes have a bad reputation thanks to portrayals such as
Scarfies, but the tenants of Kāinga Ora's refurbished Maitland Street apartments have plenty to look forward to when they move in next month.
The old apartments still to be renovated on the left, while the newly refurbished block is on the right.
Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
Built in the 1960s, the 'star block' apartments in Maitland Street are a part of New Zealand's social housing history.
It was a common style of apartment across the country at the time as New Zealand moved towards medium-density housing.
As the Maitland Street's apartments are Kāinga Ora's only star blocks remaining in Dunedin, the decision was made to retain the heart of the building through a process used elsewhere in New Zealand but never before in the South Island - complex remediation.