New Zealand Maori Tribes Lobbying For More Claim In Housing Sale

New Zealand’s emphasis on social housing has led to hectic lobbying by many interest groups including Maori tribes for preferential claim. The latter has started lobbying for first bidding rights for state houses when they are put on sale.

The issue came up for diswcussion at the annual pre-Waitangi forum at Kerikeri and they decided to press their demand with Prime Minister John Key and Housing Minister Nick Smith, reports New Zealand Herald.

According to Sonny Tau, chair of the country's biggest iwi Ngapuhi, he would seek a formal right of first refusal for about 1200 state houses from Whangarei to Mahurangi north of Auckland for a Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Already other big iwis, Tainui and Ngai Tahu have first rights of refusal for state housing, granted way back in the 1990s. Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan has said his tribe will exercise the right to buy state houses in South Auckland and the Waikato.

Though groups like Far North iwi and Te Rarawa do not have formal first refusal rights, they expect the Crown to talk to them first. "We expect that because we are the most logical next owners," said Te Rarawa chair Haami Piripi.

PM’s Promise

Maori's are inspired by Prime Minister John Key's promise that the Government would consult iwi and other community housing providers "with a view to selling between 1000 and 2000 Housing NZ properties over the coming year.”

Although Maoris are only 34 per cent of state tenants nationally, they enjoy a majority in many areas such as Northland, eastern Bay of Plenty and the East Coast.

The iwi chairs are also expecting vendor finance from the state. The model they are proposing is the Crown to provide funding at cost for prices based on future rental income. East Coast's Ngati Porou and other Gisborne iwi met Treasury officials to seek 1300 state houses in the Gisborne District.

Ngati Whatua Orakei deputy chairman Ngarimu Blair said his iwi was interested in state housing at traditional areas including the main Auckland isthmus and the northern shores of the Waitemata Harbour.

Clarity Sought

Meanwhile, one of the largest tribes of Aotearoa has called for more clarity from the Government before moving forward with a project to buy state houses in its region.

Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou has been in talks with the Government to buy the 600 state houses in their tribal region. But, Chief executive Teepa Wawatai said despite the Government's intention to create more opportunities for iwi to take up social housing responsibility, the uncertainty must be removed to reduce the risk, reports Radio Nz.

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