Ngāti Whakaue teams up with Kāinga Ora to address Rotorua's housing problems

The partnership would address the housing shortage, getting whānau into homes, and creating much-needed job opportunities for the community. Photo / File

Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands (NWTL) has partnered with Kāinga Ora to work together on housing development in the city.

The partnership signed today followed last week's announcement of Government funding of $55 million for storm water and transport infrastructure.

NWTL chairman David Thomas said the agreement marked the beginning of a partnership between iwi, the government and Kāinga Ora to find mutually beneficial ways to help people into homes and to address housing shortages in Rotorua.

"This signing marks the beginning of a partnership which has significant opportunities and benefits for Iwi, whānau and the wider Rotorua community," he said.

Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands general manager Ray Morrison. Photo / File

Thomas said they now needed to work together with Kāinga Ora to share relative strengths to benefit the community.

NWTL general manager Ray Morrison said the MOU provided major momentum for the incorporation's owner and shareholder base who had made it clear that helping people into homes, improving returns from tribal lands and boosting employment opportunities were key priorities.

The partnership would address the housing shortage, getting whānau into homes, and creating much-needed job opportunities for the community. Photo / File

He said the partnership would address the housing shortage, getting whānau into homes, and creating much-needed job opportunities for the community that has been severely impacted by the economic fallout from Covid-19.

"This is just the beginning and we welcome the coming discussions and the opportunity to work together with Kāinga Ora and Council to ease the housing pressure for the Rotorua and ultimately support more whānau into homes."

Housing Minister Megan Woods said in a press release this afternoon the partnership was the beginning of "a range of significant infrastructure projects that will unlock future urban development on iwi land and provide a range of housing and employment benefits."

The Government will confirm later this year how the 8,000 public and transitional homes announced in Budget 2020 will be delivered across the country, including Rotorua.

"The work already done to identify potential sites will mean that Kāinga Ora can move quickly to build much needed public and transitional homes," Woods said.