Maori Party welcomes Kāinga Whenua initiative
Hon Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Māori Party
3 February 2010

Housing spokesperson and Māori Party co-leader, Tariana Turia, is proud that another key milestone in the Māori Party's policy manifesto has been achieved with the Housing Minister's announcement of a new home ownership product called Kāinga Whenua.

"Our policy priority was to resource iwi and Māori organisations to develop sustainable housing initiatives" said Mrs Turia. "This came from our recognition that Māori often have the land but not the income to service borrowing" said Mrs Turia. "We were particularly keen to encourage investment in multiply owned land, so that Māori would be able to experience home ownership on their own papakāinga".

"I have been very pleased with the response from the Minister of Housing, and acknowledge his leadership in forging a partnership between Kiwibank and Housing NZ to provide the type of finance necessary for our whānau to build on Māori land with multiple ownership".

"We know that most Māori have a strong desire to own their own homes, but barriers such as low incomes, poor access to finance or inconsistent and uncoordinated policy responses have not aligned with Māori housing aspirations".

"Today's announcement that with a Kāinga Whenua loan, Kiwibank can lend 100% of house building costs or the purchase price of the house will be well received by whānau right across Aotearoa".

"The home loan package is a great solution to aid the development of Māori multiple-owned land to ensure affordable Māori housing" said Mrs Turia.

ENDS

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