Listen Now: 
An iwi-led group which is trying to buy state houses in Tauranga has sought help and expertise from a large Wairarapa-based social housing provider.
Tauranga Moana & Te Puke Housing Consortium spokesperson Victoria Kingi says the consortium, which includes Nga Potiki a Tamapahore Trust, Tapuika Iwi Authority and Nga Hapu o Ngati Ranginui Settlement Trust, already has experience building new housing for kaumatua.
The bid to take over some of the state's social housing in the Tauranga area is a step up.
Masterton Trust House Community Enterprise has been in social housing for 16 years and now has a rental portfolio of 500 homes in Wairarapa and Tararua.
Chief executive Allan Pollard says in 2014 it became New Zealand's first registered community housing provider, and today's formal agreement means it will be able to help the consortium through the transfer process.
Ms Kingi says both organisations believe communities are best placed to take responsibility for social housing in their regions.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
