Sacha and Julio Masigan with their children Levi, 8 (left), Caleb, 10 and Jordan, 7. Photo / Caroline Fleming
Sacha and Julio Masigan with their children Levi, 8 (left), Caleb, 10 and Jordan, 7. Photo / Caroline Fleming
The smell of sizzling sausages fills the air as small children on bikes zoom around the balloon-lined marquee.
It sounds like a family gathering, but those in attendance were marking a special day for the small Pāpāmoa community of Manawa.
The residential development, which sits on 20 hectares of TeHouhou settlement land owned by Ngā Pōtiki, yesterday held a small ceremony to open the walkway to Pāpāmoa beach.
The area used to be farmland but is now being developed into housing. Ngā Pōtiki chose to subdivide the land to be able to create a community for its hapu and others.
Building companies had bought a large percentage of the sections, but around 20 per cent of the land was put aside to house members of the Ngā Pōtiki hapu.
An app was being launched next month that would allow people walking in the area to be able to learn the history of Ngā Pōtiki and the area while they walk.
Small beacons along the walkway and around the subdivision would trigger notifications on a user's phone that would allow them to read the history behind where they were standing.
Only sustainable houses that follow strict design rules can be built in the area.
Development manager Peter Cross said the idea for the area was to create "a vibrant hub" and to "build a community".
Young families featured strongly in those interested in the development, he said.
She said there was no way she would be in a position to own in the area without the land put aside for her people.
Subsidy rules
Qualifying Ngā Pōtiki members will be able to apply to purchase sections with subsidies. * To qualify for a subsidy, a buyer must be a hapu member and satisfy normal lending criteria of the banks. * The level of the subsidy will vary depending on the total cost of the house and land package. * If the buyer onsells the house at a later date they can keep the capital gain, less the percentage of the subsidy. * Ngā Pōtiki will then use those funds from the capital gain to assist other members.
