October 27, 2016
Ngati Whatua past in future development
A Ngati Whatua Orakei leader says a housing development at Massey is a chance for the hapu to celebrate its connection to the whenua.
Ngarimu Blair this week turned the sod on the Massey property where the hapu is to build almost 200 homes in a collaboration with Fletcher Residential.
He says the area was known as Manu Te Whau and was part of the system of seasonal fishing villages used by the hapu across the inner Waitemata and northern shores of Manukau Harbour.
"Our Kaipara whanaunga also would also come down the Kaipara portage through Toitoi-Riverhead and through Tauwhare which is at Hobsonville, where we had pa sites as well. Even in my great grandparents' age they were seasonal – they moved between the Kaipara as well as Tamaki," Mr Blair says.
Thirty percent of the Manu Te Whau development will be affordable and community housing, and he hopes Ngati Whatua whanau will be able to get in to some of those houses, which will be let by a community provider.
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