Both the Minister and the Mayor lauded the project as a prime example of “high-density done well”.

Toi and Whetū are the first two buildings in Marutūāhu-Ockham’s Maungārongo project, which will be an entirely new community set on 11 hectares of land in the northern part of the former Unitec campus.

Bishop told the crowd that had gathered in Toi’s residents’ lounge, “Housing is the key to better living standards and the key to this government’s agenda.

“This development in particular is a great example of the Crown, iwi and private sector working together under the Land For Housing programme. It’s clear that we have a shared commitment to address the housing shortage and provide quality homes for Kiwis.”

Brown agreed, saying Maungārongo is “the type of development that is good for this city. We need to celebrate it. This is the Auckland that is coming, it is the Auckland that I’m proud to push for.”

Marutūāhu chair Paul Majurey outlined how over the next couple of decades, Marutūāhu-Ockham would be putting up around 30 buildings with shops, hospitality, education facilities, parks and playgrounds.

Brown noted that high-density mixed-use developments with green spaces and community facilities around them is exactly what Auckland needs.

“This is precisely what we need to be doing as cities, and as a country. Developing areas where people want to live by enabling more efficient land use to create safe and vibrant neighbourhoods.

“Maungārongo is what building a community is all about – it’s not just about the homes, it is about what you put around it.”

Ockham’s Will Deihl paid tribute to Marutūāhu and the Ockham team for all the hard work to goes into buildings like Toi and Whetū.

 “It’s one of the best developments we’ve done to date, I believe. We’re really excited about bringing these two buildings, 142 new homes, to Auckland. We’re grateful for our partnership with Marutūāhu. We’re really proud of the 720 units we’ve created so far and we’ve got many more to build together.”

For Majurey, the opening of the first buildings of Maungārongo was a poignant moment.  "It is a generational task, but as time goes on the city building done will change the fabric and face of Auckland, and leave the city a legacy."