November 08, 2018
Housing help gives Rātana cause to smile
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says a $3.6 million investment in housing at Rātana will be a true partnership.
The funds were announced yesterday when Ms Ardern was welcomed to a hui at the pā marking 100 years since the religious and social movement was founded.
An initial $1.9 million will go towards infrastructure for 26 sections starting in late 2019, and the balance will assist the development of a further 34 sections.
She says the community had wanted to develop the land for some time.
"There’s infrastructure issues here and it's an area that has experienced some flooding so we've committed $1.9 million to help create a pond, subdivide the sections, just really get them started so over 20 sections will be first cab off the rank and it's a great partnership," she says.
Tens of thousands of people are at Rātana to commemorate the vision Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana had 100 years ago today to start the movement.
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