MEDIA RELEASE

16 March 2017

From landless to landlord – iwi launches new housing project

An iwi-led partnership is building a 49-home development at Whenuapai, and says the project is the first of a number it hopes to undertake to help address Auckland’s housing shortage as Treaty of Waitangi settlements are finalised.

The Whenuapai Housing Development Partnership, made up of Pare Hauraki Iwi and Te Tumu Kāinga, a charitable trust administered by Te Tumu Paeroa, has purchased a greenfield site and is funding the construction of the development.

The partnership is working with New Ground Capital, Mike Greer Homes and the China Construction Bank to develop the 6,400m2 site. It is adjacent to other significant residential and commercial developments in the rapidly developing Whenuapai area.

Whenuapai Housing Development Partnership chair Paul Majurey says this is a significant investment for iwi.

“It also demonstrates the growing role of iwi in the local economy as we look to develop our commercial asset base in the post-Treaty settlement phase, which will only increase as more settlements are finalised, such as the Hauraki Collective and Marutūāhu Collective settlements,” Mr Majurey said.

Two other examples of iwi developing sites for housing are:

• At Waimahia, the community housing partnership that will this year complete a 300 house development (over 60% of which are social and affordable homes).

• At New North Rd, a housing partnership that will begin construction of a 110 housing unit development (over 60% of which will be affordable).

“Iwi will become more and more important as developers of housing projects, including affordable housing, which we hope will help ease housing shortages as well helping to grow the asset bases of iwi for the long term.”

Te Tumu Kāinga General Manager Declan Millin said: “this is an exciting opportunity for Te Tumu Kāinga. It enables us to extend partnerships with iwi organisations and create new relationships. Following our successful involvement developing affordable housing at Waimahia Inlet, the financial returns from this development will allow us to continue our charitable trust aim - delivering better accommodation outcomes for Māori.”

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who spoke at the project’s sod turning event today, welcomed the project and the growing involvement of iwi in housing developments across Auckland.

“This type of project addresses Auckland’s housing shortage. It is great example of iwi working with Auckland Council and central government to unlock suitable land for housing which Auckland desperately needs,” Mr Goff said.

The Whenuapai project has been designed by Stevens Lawson, with support from Calibre Engineers, Campbell Brown Planning and Sola Landscape Architects. AECOM is the project QS and Engineer to the Contract.

The 49 homes will be leased to the New Zealand Defence Force for staff accommodation.

Mr Majurey said there is nice symbolism in having the Defence Force as tenants.

“For many years, the Defence Force occupied land taken from iwi all over New Zealand. Hauraki iwi suffered worse than anyone in terms of land alienation. Now, as settlements occur and land is returned to us, we are leasing property in fully commercial relationships. It is a sign of the changing face of New Zealand and of the progress we are making from landless to landlord.”

Background

The Whenuapai Housing Development Partnership - The Partnership involves Pare Hauraki Iwi and Te Tumu Kāinga. The Partnership board consists of chair Paul Majurey, a well-known Tāmaki and Hauraki iwi leader, Te Tumu Kāinga General Manager Declan Millin, and an independent director, Andrew Harrison, from Koau Capital Partners and the former head of Ngai Tahu Holdings.

Te Tumu Kāinga - is a registered charitable trust. It is administered by The Maori Trustee and its purpose is delivering better Maori accommodation outcomes. It has a number of endowment properties in Auckland which funds its charitable activities, the first properties of the trust were endowed by Governor Grey in 1850. It is also involved alongside iwi and other organisations with the Waimahia affordable housing development.

Pare Hauraki Iwi – comprises the 12 iwi of Hauraki: Ngāi Tai ki Tamaki; Ngāti Hako; Ngāti Hei; Ngāti Maru; Ngati Pāoa;Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki; Ngāti Pūkenga; Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu; Ngāti Tamaterā; Ngāti Tara Tokanui; Ngāti Whanaunga; and Te Patukirikiri. Half of these iwi are also mana whenua across Tāmaki Makaurau. Paul Majurey chairs both the Marutūāhu and Hauraki Collectives in their Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown. He also chaired the Tāmaki Collective who successfully completed their settlement in 2014 after the enactment of the Tāmaki Collective settlement legislation.

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