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A landmark Heads of Agreement was signed today (Friday 29 April 2022) giving iwi greater autonomy and control in delivering housing solutions within their rohe.
The partnership agreement is between Ka Uruora Trustee Aotearoa Limited (Ka Uruora – a collective iwi consortium focussed on housing and financial wellbeing) Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga (The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development – HUD) and Te Puni Kōkiri to invest more than $58 million in affordable housing focused on new affordable rentals, progressive home ownership solutions and financial education.
The agreement allows Ka Uruora to partner with the Government in a new Programme Delivery Partnership Agreement (PDPA) to deliver regional impact projects based on three key areas:
a) Regional/Impact projects – delivering affordable rentals on iwi owned land
b) Urban/Scale projects – delivering mixed tenure projects across locations including Taranaki, Tokoroa, Blenheim, Thames and Tāmaki Makaurau
c) Progressive Home Ownership projects – infrastructure only investment to support the development of houses to assist whānau into home ownership
The funding will be invested alongside iwi capital to deliver a programme of a minimum of 170 affordable rental homes across the above locations. The investment forms part of the $730 million Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga Māori Housing budget announced by HUD in their 2021-25 budget to improve housing outcomes for Māori.
Speaking at today’s signing, Ka Uruora Chair, Jamie Tuuta, said: “This partnership will support Ka Uruora deliver critical affordable housing solutions for our whānau. We have developed a long-term co-investment partnership model with iwi designed to support our whānau move up the housing continuum and achieve greater housing and financial independence.
“This funding will continuously be reinvested together with iwi capital to support intergenerational wealth for whānau. Working with iwi we are also able to leverage existing iwi land to deliver affordable and safe homes where and when they are needed for our whānau.”
Ka Uruora Whānau Engagement Manager Te Waka McLeod: “This funding will give a huge boost to supporting our whānau on a pathway into home ownership. Owning your own whare is an aspiration for many whānau but most simply cannot afford a conventional deposit and mortgage repayments in the current market. This programme will support our whānau into secure, healthy, affordable housing, and together with our financial education and savings programmes, assist our whānau realise their home ownership aspirations and achieve greater financial independence.”
Liana Poutu, Chair of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa said: “This model can become a blueprint for future investment in Māori housing investment. We know where the needs are greatest within our rohe and working with Ka Uruora we can streamline the process for whānau to get them into warm dry homes sooner rather than later.”
Commenting on the opportunities that the investment would bring Te Kāhui o Taranaki Iwi Chair Jacqui King said: “We see huge potential in the housing sector for Māori. This is an iwi-led end to end delivery model where everything from land development to housing construction, tenancy management and wrap around services can be serviced by iwi for iwi. The training, development and employment opportunities for our people are significant.”
Pictured above: From Left – Jamie Tuuta, Ka Uruora Chair; Jacqui King, Te Kāhui o Taranaki Iwi Chair; Liana Poutu, Chair of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa; Dave Samuels, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Puni Kōkiri, Secretary for Māori Development; Hon Willie Jackson, Minister for Māori Development; Hon Peeni Henare, Assoicate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing); and Kararaina Calcott-Cribb, Deputy Chief Executive, Tumuaki – Te Kāhui Kāinga Ora, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
