Papakowhai is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Porirua, one of 19 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Papakowhai is the 10th largest suburb of Porirua in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Papakowhai provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1910 - 1919. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1970 - 1979. Residential housing stock in Papakowhai is made up of approximately 99% residential housing and 1% residential investment housing properties.