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7th
DEC
Tainui housing purchase scheme hits a snag
Posted by karere under Maori News
A plan to get Tainui beneficiaries into home ownership has hit a major hurdle after the tribal executive, Te Arataura, refused to give the initiative the go-ahead.
Ricky Maipi, general manager of Te Riu o Waikato housing scheme, was negotiating with the tribe’s executive to buy surplus Housing New Zealand stock offered to Tainui under a first right of refusal clause in their Treaty settlement.
The initiative would provide free home ownership workshops and support for Waikato-Tainui beneficiaries to purchase houses but is now in doubt after hitting a sticking point.
“The housing initiative has been stalled and this is through some technical issues around first right of refusal,” Mr Maipi said.
If Tainui refuse the Government offer the properties will be put up for sale on the open market. It is an opportunity Mr Maipi does not want to see lost.
‘The biggest disadvantage is to the Tainui beneficiaries because they are the ones missing out,” he said.
Mr Maipi and Te Riu o Waikato have responded to Te Arataura’s decision and will meet them early next week in the hope of finding a solution.
“We are in negotiation with the tribe around the process and we are confident that we will be able to get through this so that the Tainui beneficiaries can take advantage of the first right and have home ownership,” he said.
“We are looking forward to a meeting with the executive next week in order to overcome this final hurdle in the process.”
Mr Maipi said home ownership for Tainui beneficiaries was a stepping stone to breaking the cycle of dependency and Te Arataura’s stance put it in jeopardy.
“We have followed all of the steps as outlined in the process and we are still not clear why they don’t support this initiative at this time. It is really mind-boggling.”
The Arataura deputy chairman Hemi Rau said the hold up was related to the slowness of the first refusal process when dealing with the government rather than a lack of desire from Tainui to see the deals done. He was confident it could be sorted.
“I can understand Mr Maipi’s frustration. Housing, along with employment is our biggest focus.”
- © Fairfax NZ News
Read all the news [here]
I bet the negotiators for these old houses haven’t even given any consideration about rapid climate change or thought about the extremes the owners of these houses will face going forwards. Seems near every Maori I have come across is in deep denial that rapid climate change is actually upon us and are refusing to believe that its going to affect themselves and their families personally. If they did the would be considering building structures like domes that WILL survive anything and everything that comes this way. Besides reinforce lightweight concrete domes will last for centuries whereas colonial type house would be lucky to see out 80. The people doing these projects need to factor on power, water, self contained sewerage systems etc and stop doing stuff the old fashioned way when we live in a modern fast paced technological world. Besides the clock is ticking and ticking loud the problems is most Maori who have the funding to get stuff done are wilfully stone deaf.