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Waikato Tainui has set up a housing scheme to take advantage of the first right of refusal for surplus crown properties included in the tribe’s treaty settlement.
Ricky Maipi from Te Riu o Waikato says Housing New Zealand wants to quit some of its stock, so his group is working with Kiwibank and real estate professionals to help beneficiaries to buy some of the houses.
They will get a day’s training on the steps needed to own a home, including how to use Kiwisaver as a deposit.
There will be a continuing support if they go ahead.
Mr Maipi says the tribe has turned down surplus houses in the past because it wasn’t in a position to pick them up.
He says one aim of the programme is to teach clusters of marae how to eventually run their own financial affairs and generate economic opportunities.
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