Listen Now: 
Download AudioA Far North iwi leader says last week’s housing expo at Waitangi gave him confidence solutions can be found to the critical shortage of affordable housing in Te Hiku o Te Ika.
The expo organise by the Waitangi National Trust included displays of transportable cabins, earth houses, solar panels and small sewage and water schemes as well as sessions on local government planning, iwi prototypes and cummunity housing providers.
Nga Takoto chair Wallace Rivers says his runanga is working with government agencies on housing options for its people.
“There’s no question iwi can play a pivotal role transitioning our people from rental property into their own papakainga on settlement assets. It will be typical of a lease procurement where the land is ownd by iwi. I’m sure there is a way of navigating around that,” he says.
Mr Rivers says there are already some innovative papakianga being developed through the north, with a 12-home build recently opened at Ngawha.
RELATED NEWS
