July 15, 2016
Housing vision should inspire others
Te Taitokerau MP Kelvin Davis would like to see other groups take up the innovative housing model developed in the far north.
Mr Davis yesterday opened an early childhood centre that is part of He Korowai Trust's Kaitaia papakainga development.
The trust trucked up former state houses from AUckland and refurbished them.
Whanau buying into the scheme commit to staying drug and violence free, and there's health, social and economic services wrapped around it.
Mr Davis applauded the vision of trust head Ricky Houghton.
"There's going to be businesses at this development area that Ricky (Houghton) has started to get underway. So it's not just about houses, it's about communities and it really is a fantastic day for all of Kaitaia it's a fantastic model for all of New Zealand. I hope the government gets right in behind other areas of the country and supports other communities to develop in the way Ricky has shown the way," he says.
Kelvin Davis says his Labour colleagues are looking at what He Korowai is doing and are factoring iwi plans into their own housing policies.
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