It's not every day that you get a house delivered to your front doorstep.

But as people in Aotearoa look for alternative ways of housing at a time when the country’s housing situation is growing increasingly dire, prefab homes could be the future.

Homes are usually built on-site while prefab homes are made from parts constructed in a factory and then taken to its site where it is assembled.

And last Monday Porirua company Wright Industrial sent off its first Te Whare-iti prefab modular home to Naenae on the back of a Brittons Homemovers truck.

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Wright Industrial’s director is Richard Wright, who is an architect and also runs Aonui Architecture.

Mark Gray and Keryn Squires looked on with delight as their future home made its way to Gray’s subdivision. The pair are looking to move in around December 20.

Gray, who previously owned the house at the front, said he and his partner had opted for a two-bedroom, 70 square metre home that had a bathroom, kitchen, lounge and two sun rooms.

His previous property, which was 99 sqm, was too big for Gray, he said, so he sold it to a couple looking for their first home after years of renting.

Gray said he found out about the Te Whare-iti homes from Prefab NZ's Snug competition in 2018, which aimed to find designs for homes small enough to be raised in urban back gardens.

Impressed with the size, style and waste minimisation of Wright’s homes, he and his partner decided to get in touch.

And Gray’s decision to go with a prefab home was due to the lack of waste when it came to creating them.,

“That was one of the main motivating factors, it’s amazing how little waste there is on-site ... I also thought the prefab modular homes were quite funky looking.”

Gray also enjoyed being part of the development of his home, he said.

“I go out there all the time, digging the drain and trenches. I’m part of the process which I really love and Richard, who is an architect, is also out there digging too.”

Wright, who designed the prefab modular homes, said he was excited the first Te Whare-iti modular home had arrived to its owners.

“Obviously, there's a little bit of anxiety when you’re using major new technology that hasn't necessarily been tested in the local area," Wright said.

The fully furnished homes were broken up into "bite-sized pieces" that were then lifted on-site where the last bits and bobs were completed, he said.

It took about 10 to 12 weeks to construct the homes at the assembly site, one day to move the home and three weeks to complete work on-site.

Wright said its business model was to increase density in existing suburbs.

“It’s about getting more people close to the city, using people's front yards and backyards.”

Te Whare-iti houses ranged from a small studio unit to three -or four-bedroom houses, and even papakāinga housing (multi-generational).

Wright said the houses could go on existing owners’ lands which meant there was no land cost and people could tap into existing infrastructure.

The prefab modular homes could also be placed on steep slopes - something Wellington was not short of, he said.

This also meant they could get to sites that were difficult for traditional builders – with one home planned for a spot in Aro Valley and another in Brooklyn.

Fives houses were also in the works for a subdivision in Tītahi Bay.

The homes were made out of cross laminated timber which reduced the need for traditional trades such as timber-framed walls and roofs, plaster board timber trimming and the majority of painting.

“With 80,000 people expected to move to Wellington in the next 30 years, there's a lot of anxiety about unsuitable developments. Our approach is stealthy and low-key,” Wright said.

“Modularity is key. People can use our houses in places where there might be coastal hazards. They’re lightweight and designed to be moved, so they can be taken off site – we can’t solve Wellington’s housing problem but we’re part of the solution.”

A fully assembled Te Whare-iti, before it leaves the assembly site, sells for $250,000 to $350,000 depending on the number of bedrooms.

The cost of delivery and service connections on the owner’s site could range from $50,000 to $80,000.