February 28, 2017
Marae hospitality highlights state house sell off
Manurewa MP Louisa Wall says a south Auckland marae's manaakitanga towards a planeload of American tourists is a consequence of the mess the National Government has made of housing.
United Airlines contacted Te Puea Marae last week when it could not find any hotel or motel accommodation for more than 50 passengers whose flight was delayed.
The marae says it is increasingly being asked to put up such groups.
Ms Wall says the Government responded to Te Puea Marae housing the homeless last winter by making a grant available for homeless families to be put up at motels – and that has put pressure on that sector as well.
It anticipated making 1400 grants a year but gave put six times that number in the first quarter.
"It's actually a shocking situation. We had 69,000 state houses when National came into power. We have 62,000 state houses now and even though National is now claiming a huge build, in 10 years we won't have replaced the stock they've sold. The people who are getting those grants would also qualify for state houses if we had them," Ms Wall says.
She says it's wonderful that marae are able to serve those in need, whether it's homeless whanau or elderly tourists.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH LOUISA WALL
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