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Tauranga Moana iwi are backing the bid by IHC subsidiary Accessible Properties to buy more than 1000 state houses in Tauranga.
The company is one of three still in the running for what is a pilot for the wider sell-off of the government’s housing stock in an effort to create an separate social housing sector.
Te Runanga o Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi Settlement Trust and Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust and Ngati Pukenga Iwi ki Tauranga Trust say Accessible Properties is the only bidder that can provide integrated ownership and management, as well as being the only bidder that is totally a New Zealand entity.
Ngati Ranginui chair Tawharangi Nuku says more than half of social housing tenants in Tauranga are Maori, and there needs to be a way for them to get support from their iwi and hapu.
The deal could also allow opportunities for future iwi investment in social housing.
Ngai Te Rangi chair Charlie Tawhiao says iwi are concerned the Government is pushing its social housing reform programme in Tauranga without due regard for its treaty partnership with the Tauranga Moana Iwi.
The iwi intended to put their concerns to senior cabinet minister Stephen Joyce, who is in the city today as part of the post budget national roadshow.
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