Affordable housing on offer for Bay hapu

A Maori initiative to offer affordable housing to its people has formally been launched.

Nga Potiki a Tamapahore Trust formally launched Manawa - The Heart of Papamoa, at Mangatawa Marae, Tauranga, on Saturday.

The 50 acre, residentially zoned development is on Te HouHou settlement land in Papamoa.

The project will include 240 house sites, 30 per cent of which will be set aside for Nga Potiki hapu members. The area has been designated a Special Housing Area.

Manawa has been designed to reflect the historical and cultural connections the hapu has to the land, while providing much-needed quality, affordable housing for Nga Potiki members, as well as a commercial return on the remaining sites, which will be sold to national group builders for release to the general public.

Civil works are planned for Stage 1 to progress in early 2017, being a total of 110 sites, 40 of which are set aside for Nga Potiki members. The development will include a mix of affordable rentals, license to occupy and affordable house and land packages.

Much work has occurred behind the scenes to get the project to this stage, including securing an early release of Te HouHou from the Crown ahead of settlement legislation being passed.

Nga Potiki will receive title to Te HouHou ahead of all other settlement transfers under the Ngai Te Rangi and Nga Potiki Treaty Settlement.

Interested parties can register their interest for this unique, community-focused residential development at www.manawapapamoa.co.nz