Housing plan ticks every box

Anna Wallis PHOTO/FILE

One of the outcomes of a housing conference in Wanganui this month was the announcement of a $16 million boost to rural housing.

The funds cover the improvement of rural housing, including the Chatham Islands and the building of new housing for Maori on communally-owned ancestral land, with emphasis on community rather than individual houses.

It's fascinating stuff - an initiative on the Whanganui River is looking at mixing local pumice with cement to make building blocks and testing has indicated it has the same insulation value as glass wool pink Batts.

Access to money for building new houses or improving existing homes is crucial for Maori. They are playing catch-up.

Many of us can remember a time when not a single Maori was employed at a bank, let alone lent money for land or home developments. Multiple titles may have made decisions on lending complicated but not impossible, though it was used as a reason for not lending against assets in the past.

But gradually New Zealand is learning there is more than one way of doing things.

For Maori to prosper - and for all of us to prosper - those assets are now being taken full advantage of.

Housing goes hand-in-hand with health, education and social advancement. If housing is not improved, then the change in circumstances sought through initiatives such as Whanau Ora won't happen.

Building papakainga in the Wanganui district will have other advantages.

Rural districts need more people and providing good housing is a start - as a means of reversing some of the rural drift to cities it will be beneficial.

Forestry and intensive farming, such as dairying, need staff. The very building of the houses, or improving existing homes, will give local people work.

There is no downside to the scheme.