Wha¯ nau in new home thanks to trust
Housing trust builds 10 affordable rentals, with 20 more to come
Awha¯nau of five have just moved into their “forever home” in Pa¯pa¯moa after 10 new rental homes were built following a funding boost from the Government.
Danya Anderson said she, her partner Piripi Rangikotua and their three children moved into one¯ of the 10 homes from Opo¯tiki on November 19.
The 37-year-old was at the official opening of the homes in Pa¯pa¯moa yesterday, attended by Associate Minister of Housing (Ma¯ ori Housing) Peeni Henare. The homes are for working wha¯nau of Nga¯ Po¯tiki a¯ Tamapahore.
Following a $15 million funding boost from the Government this year, Manawa Community Housing Trust built the new four-bedroom affordable rental homes, with a further 20 homes to be delivered by the end of 2024.
Anderson said Pa¯pa¯moa provided better access to health services and schools compared to “the small town of O¯po¯tiki”.
Anderson said her partner still worked in O¯po¯tiki, while she had just started her own commercial cleaning business after being in the industry for more than 13 years.
Living in Pa¯pa¯moa meant more opportunities to grow her business. The move also meant they were closer to wha¯nau — “It’s brought our families back together.”
She said the move provided “a new future” for her wha¯ nau.
“We can actually call this our forever home now.”
She said the initiative was “awesome” as it meant Ma¯ori families could “finally call a house their home”.
“The market today is just shocking, whereas now that the Government is helping us to live a better, stable life — I reckon that’s really awesome.”
Nga¯ Po¯tiki a¯ Tamapahore chairwoman Verna Ohia-gate said the homes were for “hardworking, low-income” wha¯ nau.
The homes would be rented for 40 to 50 per cent lower than the market average — a financial saving of $375 to $425 per week, she said.
According to Trade Me figures, Tauranga’s median weekly rent was $650 in October.
Manawa Community Housing Trust is the housing delivery entity of Nga¯ Po¯tiki a¯ Tamapahore Trust. It is a registered community housing provider tasked with providing housing solutions for Nga¯ Po¯tiki wha¯nau.
Manawa Community Housing Trust general manager Victoria Carroll said the homes would also be available for young adult members to band together as flatmates.
“For many of our wha¯nau, this is their only opportunity to leave the nest and start their journey to independence.”
Carroll said all rental tenants would be supported by the Nga¯ Po¯tiki Housing team and its partners, providing wraparound services including budget advice, access to free healthcare services, housing and home ownership pathways.
Henare said the Bay of Plenty region was one of many facing “significant housing challenges”.
“This Government is taking action by working in partnership with iwi to deliver warm, dry homes for wha¯nau.”
The houses will be offered to low-income earners who have struggled to get into local market rental homes at a much more affordable cost.
“These whare will give Nga¯ Po¯tiki wha¯nau the ability to continue living in their rohe, to be close to their wha¯nau and marae [and] to stay connected to their whenua, which is what is at the core of the Government’s Ma¯ori Housing Strategy,” Henare said.
The next stage of the project is the construction of four townhouse blocks of twobedroom and three-bedroom homes.
These 20 homes will also be affordable rentals for Nga¯ Po¯tiki wha¯nau.