April 26, 2016
Ngati Whatua o Kaipara get stake in Hobsonville plan
Ngati Whatua o Kaipara has today signed a memorandum of understanding on how it will participate in the development of surplus public land in north-west Auckland.
Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith says it creates a framework that brings together the development skills of the Hobsonville Land Company, Ngati Whatua's treaty settlement right of first refusal, and the crown land housing programme run by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The first development with the iwi will be the 400-home Village Precinct covering 9 hectares in Hobsonville, which is due to start next summer.
Dr Smith says 15 per cent of the homes must be priced below $450,000, 7.5 per cent below $500,000 and 7.5 per cent below $550,000, and they will only be sold to owner occupiers, half to first home buyers.
The partners are also considering an agreement to develop 18 hectares in Brigham Creek Road owned by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Dr Smith says the right being exercised by Ngati Whatua o Kaipara in its rohe is different to the Housing Protocol and Mahi Ngatahi agreement with the 13 iwi over other parts of Auckland.
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