Maori housing policy earns Hastings council award finalist spot

Official opening of papakainga on the hills above Waimarama Marae, Waimarama.

A housing development policy to support whanau to build on their own land has been recognised with the Hastings District Council named a finalist in this year's LGNZ Excellence Awards.

The council was one of five finalists up for the best practice contribution to local economic development award for its Papakainga development policy and implementation project 2007-2017.

The project began in 2006 when the council began work with Te Puni Kokiri and the Maori Land Court to develop the Papakainga Development Guide, which was followed by district plan review that helped opened the way for more whanau to develop on their own land.

More recently Te Puni Kokiri committed $35 million nationally to Maori housing in the last budget, which allowed the council to guide eight Papakainga to completion, with three more in the pipeline in the district.

Te Puni Kokiri contracts adviser George Mackey said completed projects included a 10-home development across from the Waiohiki Golf Course, an eight-home development at Waipatu, Hastings, and a five-home development at Waimarama that was officially opened at the end of March this year.

"It's great for whanau," Mr Mackey said.

"It means they can relocate back onto their own land that's been in their families for a thousand years or so."

Although such initiatives were underway in other parts of the country, Hastings had led the way with this work, he said.

The award judges noted the issues the Hastings council's policy addressed had been ongoing, and that by working with other sector agencies, as well as whanau trust, land trusts and Ahuwhenua trusts the council had been effective in supporting Maori to occupy Maori land.

"The released land will contribute to housing and bring all the social good that goes with that, at a time when housing is a pressure point," the judges said.

Other finalists in the same award category are: Hauraki District council for its economic development strategy, Rotorua Lakes Council for its Rotorua mountain bike strategy, Selwyn District Council for an Izone business park development and West Coast Regional Council for its Untamed Natural Wilderness brand development.

The awards are in their fourth year, established to recognise and celebrate the key role local government plays within New Zealand communities.

From 56 applications, 17 finalists for five awards had been named, with winners to be announced at the LGNZ conference dinner in Auckland on July 24.