January 20, 2020
Otautahi trade training hostel to become apartments
A former Māori trade training hostel at Christchurch's Rehua Marae is to become whānau housing.
The site was blessed this morning.
Di Grenell, Te Puni Kōkiri regional partnerships deputy chief executive, says the hostel has been largely empty since the 1980s.
It will be re-purposed into six one and two bedroom apartments.
The department is putting $2.4 million into the project, with Te Whatumanawa Māoritanga o Rehua contributing a further $780,000.
The new apartments will consist of two two-bedroom units, two one-bedroom units and two one-bedroom studios.
A common area on the ground floor could be used for wrap around services including a nurse’s clinic and rongoā services for Rehua whānau.
Ms Grenell says this style of living will allow whānau to be on the urban marae grounds and engage in a wide variety of marae activities including kapa haka and traditional rongoā practices.”
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