January 30, 2015
Flaxmere housing plan on inside track
Hastings District councillor Henare O'Keefe says the Government’s plan to sell off state housing is good news for his Flaxmere Housing Project.
Te Aranga Marae has been trying for seven years to become an accredited housing provider that could acquire existing Housing New Zealand stock as well as build its own houses near the marae.
Mr O’Keefe says quality housing would be a game-changer for the predominantly Maori low income community.
He says Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, the Minister responsible for Housing New Zealand, gave him the heads up when they met before Christmas.
"We were also given an assurance by him that for seven years it may have seemed like doors were being slammed in our faces and he assured us that really wasn't the case, that we are indeed at the table, we are being acknowledged, and they would love to walk off into the sunset with us hand in hand," Mr O’Keefe says.
He says double glazing and good insulation would solve many of Flaxmere’s health and social problems overnight.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HENARE O'KEEFE CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjU5MTg=
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