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Any party that wants Mana’s support after the election needs to front up with some cash for Māori housing.
Releasing the party’s housing policy in the Lower Hutt suburb of Pomare today, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate Te Hamua Nikora spelled out the need for no deposit, low interest loans from the government for Māori home buyers.
Mr Nikora says Māori are being driven out of the market by property developers and foreign owners who were driving up prices.
He says the answer is to go back to the sort of housing loans made available through the old Department of Māori Affairs, which was closed in 1989.
The Mana plan would be administered through Te Puni Kokiri, and would loan Māori first home buyers up to $200,000 to buy or build.
Mana also wants to reintroduce Māori trade training to help with the building.
It also wants 10,000 state houses built each year, starting with 500 in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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