Commercial Project: Te Pakau Maru
Posted April 24, 2026
The team at The Flooring Centre is proud to have been involved in the Te Pakau Maru social housing project in New Brighton, Christchurch. This thoughtfully designed, mixed-tenure development features 63 one- to four-bedroom terraced homes across 13 blocks.
Construction began in March 2025 and was completed in multiple stages, with the final stage finished in December 2025. It was a pleasure working alongside Home Construction and Home Foundation on a project that delivers warm, dry, and affordable housing for the local Christchurch community.
Designed to suit a wide range of residents—from families to retirees and everyone in between—the homes at Te Pakau Maru needed to balance practicality, comfort, and style. This is clearly reflected in the flooring selections throughout the development.
Carpet choices included Pleasant Point by Feltex and Cable Bay by Godfrey Hirst, both trusted New Zealand-made products. These carpets were selected for their excellent fade, stain, and wear resistance, making them ideal for busy households. With an ACCS rating of 6 (the highest possible rating), they are perfectly suited to heavy residential traffic, including stairs. In addition to their durability, both ranges offer a soft feel underfoot and a timeless aesthetic that complements modern interiors.
Pleasant Point by Feltex and Cable Bay carpets by Godfrey Hirst offer excellent fade, stain and wear resistance. This makes them a durable and practical choice for busy households.
For hard flooring, durability and ease of maintenance were key considerations. Vinyl plank and sheet vinyl were chosen as practical, cost-effective solutions that can withstand a variety of lifestyles and high foot traffic. The Firenze and Forest FX sheet vinyl collections, along with Expona Commercial vinyl planks—all by Polyflor—were specified for their robust wear layers and excellent acoustic performance.
These flooring options also provide a wide selection of timber-look finishes, delivering the natural appearance of wood while offering the resilience and low maintenance of vinyl. This ensures a cohesive, stylish look throughout the homes while meeting the practical demands of social housing in Christchurch and Canterbury.
Vinyl plank and vinyl sheet by Polyflor were used in the kitchen/dining areas as well as in the lounges and bathrooms. Able to withstand high foot traffic and 100% waterproof, these selections deliver practicality and style.
From a commercial flooring perspective, this project required products that could consistently perform under sustained use while remaining cost-effective at scale. Careful consideration was given to lifecycle performance, ease of cleaning, and long-term maintenance requirements—key factors in multi-unit residential developments. The selected flooring solutions not only meet these demands but also contribute to reducing ongoing maintenance costs, making them a smart investment for social housing providers.
Additionally, acoustic performance and occupant comfort were important factors in the specification process. With multiple dwellings in close proximity, flooring needed to help minimise noise transfer while maintaining a comfortable underfoot feel. By combining high-performance carpet with quality vinyl products, the result is a well-balanced flooring solution that supports both durability and liveability—an essential outcome for modern commercial and community housing projects.
Projects like Te Pakau Maru highlight the importance of selecting the right flooring solutions to support comfortable, long-lasting living environments. We’re proud to have contributed to a development that will have a positive impact on the New Brighton community for years to come.
Photos: @homeconstruction_nz