October 22, 2014
House moving sanction in model papakainga
A far north social service provider believes its housing development model could be used by other Maori communities around the country.
He Korowai Trust will open nine homes in February on a block near Kaitaia, with another 11 houses coming later.
Chief executive Ricky Houghton says He Korowai converted the land from general to Maori land.
It is giving homeowners a licence to occupy the land, and providing wraparound services for the community.
For $190 a week residents get their own house, which will be paid off over 17 years, medical care, an early childhood education centre, as well as milk, eggs and meat grown on the land.
"The site is alcohol, drug and violence free and that is monitored by using the Maori Community Development Act and then if there is trouble with compliance, they get one chance to come right where we provide the specialist care for them but in the event it still doesn't come right then we'll buy the house back off them at cost or they can lift the house up and take it onto their own property," Mr Houghton says.
He wants to see Maori owning their own homes, rather than relying on state or private rentals.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH RICKY HOUGHTON CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjMyODQ=
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com