Housing

The Trust has expanded its housing portfolio from 11 to 21 houses by building ten new brick homes in Kaikohe.

The gestation period for this project was long with the applications and administration commencing in 2007.

The site was eventually blessed in April 2010, the first houses were blessed and occupied in October 2010 and the last homes occupied in December 2010.

The Trust built 8 homes of 2 bed rooms for Kaumatua with another 2 x 4 bed rooms homes for young families.

The houses were built at an advantageous price on individual titles.

The new houses were financed on favourable terms through HNZC and are leased to HNZC.   All tenants are local Maori.

The Trust also owns a house in Kerikeri on one of the orchards which is rented by Kerifresh.

Overall, the trust housing portfolio is operating satisfactorily and the day to day management is undertaken by HNZC.

The Trust housing portfolio is now: -

Kawakawa       8 houses          Lessee - HNZC
Moerewa         3 houses           Lessee - HNZC
Kaikohe           10 houses         Lessee - HNZC
Kerikeri            1 house            Lessee - Kerifresh
Total                22 houses

The Trust's housing portfolio represents a considerable investment by the Trust in social housing and contributes in a small way to alleviate the generally poor housing throughout many pats of rural and small town Tai Tokerau.

Tai Tokerau is recognised as having very poor and inadequate housing.

Available funding from Government for many years has been insufficient and the housing situation continues to deteriorate.

To date, the Trust has been able to work with HNZC using favourable financial arrangements to develop its housing portfolio.

The Trust has always had a good working relationship with the local HNZC staff and with their Wellington management.