ORA is not a typical developer delivering cheap, homogeneous housing. We build connected, secure, beautiful communities designed to benefit future generations.
Most housing in Aotearoa is built as quickly and cheaply as possible — disconnected from place, indifferent to ecology, and offering little more than commodity dwellings. ORA exists to prove a different model. Our Regenerative Villages are neighbourhoods intentionally shaped to restore wellbeing to people, place, and the environment — not just at handover, but for decades to come.
Grounded in John Fullerton’s regenerative principles, each village works with natural systems, strengthens local relationships, circulates value within the community, and endures through time. ORA delivers 20–40 home regenerative neighbourhoods, 50–100 home medium-density communities, and town-centre revitalisation projects that blend homes, enterprise, and shared spaces — always designed with communities, iwi, and local partners.
Principles of a Regenerative Village
1. Work with natural systems
Design is shaped by the land and its ecology — restoring soils, managing water naturally, and enhancing biodiversity.
In practice: water-sensitive design, rain gardens, native planting, edible landscapes, and climate-responsive buildings.
2. Circulate value locally
Instead of extracting profit, ORA’s villages support local enterprise and food systems.
In practice: spaces for growers and makers, small cafés and shops, LOMA-style market concepts, partnerships with nearby farms.
3. Foster belonging and community life
Neighbourhoods are designed to bring people together.
In practice: walkable streets, shared gardens, community rooms, mixed-use spaces, and stewardship structures that strengthen local voice.
4. Build for long-term resilience
Every decision considers future generations.
In practice: permanently affordable homes, mission-locked governance, durable materials, and climate-resilient landscape and energy systems.
5. Honour place and cultural identity
Each village reflects its whenua and its people.
In practice: local narratives, cultural design cues, placemaking that feels authentic and grounded.
What Regenerative Villages Include
Ecology & Landscape
Water-sensitive design, native restoration, habitat corridors, edible gardens, shade and cooling landscapes.
Energy & Low-Carbon Systems
Community solar, shared battery storage, highly efficient homes, passive design, low-carbon construction.
Local Food & Enterprise
Spaces for small businesses, growers, community markets, CSA partnerships, circular economy initiatives.
Homes & Shared Spaces
Beautiful, modestly sized, permanently affordable homes; a mix of typologies; universal design; shared greens and social spaces.
Why It Matters
Regenerative Villages show that affordability, beauty, ecological restoration, and community wellbeing can reinforce one another when land, capital, and community are aligned. ORA builds these villages to demonstrate a new model for Aotearoa — one that creates lasting value and vibrant neighbourhoods for generations.