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A Flaxmere community worker is accusing Housing New Zealand of bad faith over a plan by Te Aranga Marae's to acquire ownership of state houses in the Hawkes Bay town.
Flaxmere Housing Project chair Henare O'Keefe has been working for six years to acquire the 316-home portfolio.
The marae wants to become a social housing provider, wrapping additional support around the tenancies.
But five of the houses have been put up for sale as surplus to requirements.
Mr O’Keefe says it comes down to trust and integrity.
"I wouldn’t do that to people. I don't do business like that neither does our marae. And so to have that happen after we've been at the table its not a very nice thing. The goal posts they keep shuffling them around. I mean why wouldn't government, they should be jumping all over this like a rash," he says.
Housing New Zealand denies it is negotiating with Henare O’Keefe’s group, but says it has offered advice on how it could become a social housing provider.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HENARE O'KEEFE CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MTk0MzA=
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