New home for Auckland Councillor, Josephine Bartley

Josephine Bartley has spent her life in service to her community, but now it’s time to put herself first.

At 52 years old, Councillor Bartley is marking a personal milestone: buying her first home through the Tāmaki Regeneration shared homeownership program.

“Everybody kept telling me, ‘Josie, it’s time you focus on yourself,’” she said. “I’ve always been about my community, and I thought that was enough. But I’m getting older, and my family started saying, ‘Think of your retirement, think of your future.’”

Bartley is well known and visible in the Tāmaki community. She serves on the Auckland Council and is a long time advocate for the community. Her mother hails from Sinamoga, in Sāmoa, and her father from Tapatapao.

Growing up, Bartley believed home ownership was out of reach.

Her father passed away at age 52—the same age she is now—after a lifetime of working to pay off a mortgage, only for the family to lose the house.

“Becoming a homeowner is significant for me on so many levels—not just buying my first home but for my personal growth and healing. I used to think, ‘Why commit to a mortgage just to die?’ But now I’ve made it to 52, and I’m not dead yet, so it’s time to prepare for my future.”

Bartley’s deep connection to her community runs through every aspect of her life. Since 2010, she has served the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward in Auckland—which covers Onehunga, One Tree Hill, Panmure, and Glen Innes—first as a Local Board member and then as its city councillor. She was the first Pacific woman elected to the Auckland Council and chairs the council’s Regulatory and Safety Committee.

As a local councillor, Bartley has seen firsthand how home ownership is often out of reach for Māori and Pasifika women.

“We’re the worst affected,” she says. “I’ve seen reports showing how hard it is for us to get on the property ladder. And it makes sense—many of us are caregivers, raising children, looking after whānau, working multiple jobs. Saving money? That’s a privilege most of us don’t have.”

“I used to sit around the council table as the only one without a home. It was humbling and frustrating. Everyone else owned their home. I didn’t. And I thought, this has to change—not just for me but for other women like me.”

During the first COVID-19 lockdown, Bartley used her own money to create a food bank, packing parcels in the boot of her car and delivering them to families in need.

“I loved being able to do that,” she says. “It’s what I’ve always done—prioritized the community.”

Bartley recounts her experiences with renting, including dealing with a slum landlord and the uncertainty and exploitation faced by renters, especially the elderly.

“When I moved up from Wellington in 2006 and went to stay with my mum, the ceiling was molded, and the wallpaper was peeling. That experience made me want to advocate for things like warm, dry homes and at least having minimum standards for what a home should be like.”

“The thing with renting is the uncertainty. It’s like, oh man, the landlord can come in anytime and just say they’re selling the house, and then you’re out. I’ve had lots of residents and constituents contact me as a councillor for that exact reason. Elderly people, especially those in private rentals, are often affected.”

When Bartley signed up for the Tāmaki Regeneration shared homeownership program, she was unsure at first.

“I didn’t want to be part of the state housing redevelopment. I was worried because of the past hurt that happened in our community when the first housing redevelopment happened in Glen Innes North. “But over time, I saw how it was creating more homes for more people and I’ve seen our local families now become homeowners through this shared homeownership programme. And as a single, older woman, the shared homeownership program was really the only way for me to stay in the community I love and work in as a homeowner.”

The Tāmaki Regeneration financial workshops helped in shifting her mindset.

“Even with two degrees, I couldn’t wrap my head around things like insurance,” she says. “The program connected me to experts and showed me what I needed to do to succeed. Erin, the coordinator, really is a miracle worker and Roimata who signed me up at the opening of Taniwha Reserve a few years ago.”

Bartley says the Tāmaki community is on a transformative journey.

“Tāmaki is a unique place—innovative and resilient,” she says. “It doesn’t get the same resources as other areas of Auckland, so we have to do things differently, faster, and better. I’ve seen the positive impact of the redevelopment: people buying homes, moving into better housing from the homes that were run down.

Her advice to others considering the program is simple: “Just do it. Get your name in the pipeline. This could be your chance to break barriers and create stability.”

For Bartley, buying her first home means financial security and a foundation for the future.

“I used to worry about how I’d afford rent in retirement,” she says. “Now I can focus on doing what I love in the community without that uncertainty.”

“It still feels surreal to say, ‘I have a two-bedroom, two-story home.’ But I’m excited. This isn’t just about owning a house; it’s about growth, stability, and finally putting myself first.”