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.