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Housing is a priority for an Auckland hapu as it looks at ways to share its growing wealth among beneficiaries.
Ngati Whatua Orakei reported a big increase in asset values over the past financial year, but income nearly matched expenses as it spent up on developing and upgrading its housing stock.
Deputy chair Ngarimu Blair says housing has always been a big priority for the hapu, whose land was taken for state housing schemes.
It has more than 150 houses it either rents, leases or gives whanau a licence to occuopy.
it is also building 30 homes along Kupe St, and is spending almost $6 million upgrading the former state houses it owns.
"We've got our own Ngati Whatua Orakei standard which is higher than the national standard for housing around warmth and comfort. We've invested a lot in the past 18 months into making those houses more liveable, safer, and something whanau can be proud of and look after," Mr Blair says.
He says the long term aim of Ngati Whatua Orakei has always been that its people are prosperous on their own land and strong in culture, identity and health.
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