28 January 2015

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei keen to invest in housing

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei wants to play a greater role in housing within Auckland, for the benefit its members and the wider community.

The Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, Phillip Davis, says the hapū will consider all opportunities to buy housing in Auckland.

“We are ready to take an even more direct role in the housing space in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“Providing safe and affordable, warm homes is something we are really focused on as a hapū and we’re keen to be involved where possible,” he says.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has owned and leased one hundred homes to Housing New Zealand since 1996.

Through its commerical arm, Whai Rawa, the Trust now directly manages its own housing stock, including 106 homes, some of which are leased to Housing New Zealand.

“Since we took back ownership of these homes, we have ensured that they have been significantly upgraded and rents have been kept to a minimum,” says Mr Davis.

“We now want to broaden our sights and understand how best to provide affordable housing options for our people, and for the wider community.”

Mr Davis says the hapū is encouraged by the Prime Minister’s announcement today that the Government aims to have more social housing delivered by outside providers by 2017.

“Iwi, NGOs and community groups are well placed to deliver housing services because we often work directly with the people who most need them.

“Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is intent on taking an active lead in this area," Mr Davis says.

ENDS

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