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The new Maori trustee, Te Tumu Paeroa, is leading a project to develop papakainga housing at a site on Wellington's Evans Bay Parade formerly occupied by the Sheepskin Warehouse.
The site is owned by a trust whose 1000-plus beneficial owners are decended from the occupants of Te Aro Pa, which stood in the vicinity of Taranaki Street and Courtney Place.
Landowner and trustee Leo Buchanan says the 13 two storey, three bedroom apartments will be in keeping with other residential developments in the area while incorporating design features reflecting the development's papakainga nature and its connections to Taranaki iwi.
He says it offers the descendants of Te Aro Pa a chance to have a home on their land.
Te Tumu Paeroa chief executive Jamie Tuuta says the project is a great model for improving the use of urban Maori land.
It will give families who connect to the land the chance to get into affordable housing in a prime location, as well as substantially improve the returns to the Trust once the development debt has been repaid.
The feasibility study was done with a Kainga Whenua Project Capability Grant from the Social Housing Unit. Further, and the government's Social Housing Unit has approved a Kainga Whenua Infrastructure Grant to assist with site development work.
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