Govt approves funds for 528 Māori homes
The Government has approved funding for 528 of the 1000 homes it promised for iwi Mā ori.
In Budget 2021, the Government committed $730 million for Mā ori housing developments – including a $380m promise to build 1000 homes.
The rest of the money was to be used to repair 700 existing homes, and build infrastructures to support 2700 houses.
A Government spokesperson said the $380m housing construction programme was scheduled to run across four years.
On Wednesday, housing ministers Megan Woods and Peeni Henare announced $55m in funding to build 150 houses in Tairā whiti.
The ministers said the National Iwi Chairs Forum had suggested the Government partner with Toitū Tairāwhiti to deliver Māori housing on the East Coast.
That announcement followed a similar project in Taranaki, with $58m funded to Ka Uruora to build 172 new homes.
Ka Uruora is a financial and housing service, established by various iwi across Taranaki, including Te Ā tiawa, Ngāti Maru, Ngāruahine and Taranaki Iwi.
It partners with banks and construction firms to help more Mā ori own their own home.
Henare, the associate minister for housing, said funding iwi housing initiatives ensured Mā ori could stay connected to their whenua.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said funding for Mā ori housing was vital, following ‘‘a lack of investment for many years’’.
He said it was also important to ensure Māori in cities had access to housing, and that tangata whenua in urban areas were supported.
Henare said these two announcements would be the ‘‘first of many’’ for more Mā ori housing, as part of the Government Maihi Ka Ora, National Mā ori Housing Strategy.