News Release
For immediate release
October 12, 2012

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Applauds Kainga Whenua Scheme Revamp

Changes being made to the Kainga Whenua Scheme making it is easier for Maori to raise finance to build on collectively-owned land were welcomed as timely and pragmatic by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Çhairman Grant Hawke

Those changes were announced today by the Associate Minister for Housing, Hon Tariana Turia at Ōrākei Marae.

Grant Hawke says the long running problem for anyone wanting to build houses on Kainga Whenua land that is collectively owned by an iwi or hapu is that banks have not wanted to lend mortgage finance. He says it has been considered too complex for a mortgage to be secured against collectively-owned land.

“Finally, we have a catalyst to the funding solution for housing our people. The revised Kainga Whenua Scheme will allow our people to fulfill their dreams of owning their own homes, on their own land,” said Mr Hawke.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is no stranger to housing developments on collectively owned Māori land. Finance hurdles for their last two developments of 17 homes in Nga Oho View and 11 homes in lower Kitemoana - both on the Ōrākei Block - were challenging.

“If it were not for the working relationship with Housing New Zealand and their papakainga scheme model, which the present Kainga Whenua scheme mirrored prior to the recent changes, we would not have been able to build those houses,” Mr Hawke said.

He said Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei had been involved, alongside many others, in lobbying for changes that would open doors to home ownership for Maori.

“The Kainga Whenua Scheme will not be the total answer to our future developments in housing as it actively targets low income families in its capping policy on income. But alongside this scheme we can formulate alternative measures to cater for a diverse range of whanau who all seek a home on the ‘hill’.”

Mr Hawke said like many other iwi and hapu who are operating in a post settlement world, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has the need to house whanau and land to provide housing. The missing link has been the ability for people to raise their own finance.

Minister Turia made this announcement at the Mai Whanau Launch of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s whanau ora project during her speech at Ōrākei Marae.

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