Much more than old houses from Auckland

The sight of second-hand homes, in this case big homes that, as always, are not in a great state of repair, arriving in an urban setting is guaranteed to ring alarm bells among the neighbours.

He Korowai Trust chief executive Ricky Houghton goes to some pains to explain there is much more to the development under way in Kaitaia than meets the eye.

Project Whare Ora is taking shape at the end of Kaitaia's Kohuhu St, a small enclave of relatively new homes generally occupied by elderly owners who clearly take pride in their surroundings.

The arrival of the first of what will eventually be 18 old homes at the end of their cul-de-sac has not gone down well with some.

Mr Houghton said the project was designed to be inclusive but everything was up for discussion and he hoped the neighbours would become actively involved as the project gathered momentum. He also asked that no one rushed to make a judgement.

The property, some 50 ha in all (ten per cent of that will be used for housing) would be transferred to Maori land status, he said, and the homes would be owned by the families who moved into them.

The families would be expected to sign up to a strict kaupapa, including an undertaking that their homes would be drug, alcohol and violence-free. Anyone who breached that condition would be supported into changing their ways and if that didn't work they would be evicted.

The trust would retain the right to buy homes back from families that did not fit in, or the owners would have the right to have the houses removed to another site.

There would be much more to the project than family homes though. The concept also included a kohanga reo, a health clinic, the operation of small businesses and substantial plantings, including a shared organic garden, vegetable and salad gardens, fruit and ornamental trees, medicinal herb gardens, play areas, hen houses, barbecue areas, a wetland and native trees.

In one sense Project Whare Ora would be a complete community on a small scale but it would by no means be exclusive. The neighbours, and the wider community, would be invited to be part of it, not least by way of offering ideas but more importantly by making use of public areas within the property.

Mr Houghton accepted that the development's appearance was not especially prepossessing.

"You're seeing it in the worst possible light," he said, "but roofing contractors are at work now so the tarpaulins will soon be gone and a painting contractor is on-site. It will all be in shape by Christmas and the first families will move in in July.

"They are big homes, beautiful homes," he added.

"Some of these families are coming from 26 sq m homes, so they won't know themselves."

Auckland University had provided an architect and students from the School of Spacial Design would reconfigure the interiors.

From the 57 registrations of interest received, a short-list of 21 buyers was drawn up. Criteria included that each family must have at least two and no more than eight children, that they must have lived in the Far North District for at least two years, that they must be living in substandard housing and will comply with the five-year programme.

That obligation, which will begin at the time of purchase, will require compliance in terms of medical treatment, social programmes, training (in fields ranging from landscaping and beautification to carpentry, horticulture and animal husbandry), employment, specialist counselling and budgeting.

Each house will sell for $130,000, purchasers making weekly payments of $220 (including an accommodation supplement of $70) over 15 years.

Mr Houghton said th at the trust, and the families who lived in the homes, wanted to be good neighbours. To that end an open day would be organised, along with a public meeting where neighbours would be able to express any concerns, and make suggestions.

"Everything is negotiable," he said. "If people are concerned, we want to hear about it. My door is always open and the coffee is always hot. We will do whatever we can to address any concerns and we will welcome any offers of involvement or assistance. People need to understand what we're doing.

"The idea is to give families who are living in this community the kick-start they need to achieve home ownership and to begin working toward financial prosperity. The more people who can help with that the better, and now is the time to sort out any concerns anyone might have.

"This is the way of the future and we hope what we are doing will be replicated throughout the Far North. It can be tough going for individuals but a project like this generates economies of scale and the benefits of that go back to the families.

"It's all going to be out in the open and well-documented. We'll be setting up a webpage where families will be able to tell their stories and talk about what they hope to get out of this. Home ownership brings about a lot of changes and we will see that here.

"Kids will be going to one school and they'll be going every day.

"It will give whole families the chance to connect with their environment, including their neighbours, and with traditional values that used to bind communities together so effectively.

"Home ownership brings a sense of belonging that these families don't have now. It will help them see possibilities that they will hot have seen before. This project has huge potential but I'm now asking anyone to take my word for that. I'm asking for an opportunity to show what an organisation that cares deeply can do," Mr Houghton said.

"We've taken out a $750,000 commercial loan to make this happen. We're putting our money where our mouth is. We're showing we don't expect The Government to solve all our problems and that we're prepared to chip in.

"I don't want anyone who has genuine concerns to be unnecessarily anxious about their safety, or the value of their property.

"We would welcome the chance to answer any questions and we could do with the neighbours' help. The more minds that are involved in this the better off we will all be.

"I think it will be a huge asset, I truly do. And it will be an asset to the neighbourhood too, because of what it will become and because it will keep intensive residential development at bay."