Following the release of the June Credit Indicator by Centrix showing Wairoa has the highest rate of people in arrears across Aotearoa – a staggering 18.3% – Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa is calling on the government to urgently step up investment in housing for the region, saying current efforts are not meeting the scale of need.

“The statistics are shocking, but they’re not surprising. Wairoa locals are under intense pressure—crippled by high living costs, low incomes, overcrowded housing, and the long tail of climate disasters. The fact that nearly one in five people here are in arrears is a symptom of systemic failure, not personal irresponsibility,” says Lewis Ratapu, Chief Executive Officer of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa.

Ratapu says the Centrix data reflects what people in Wairoa are living every day.

“Our own research shows we need at least 420 homes to meet current demand and recover from the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2024 floods. Over 57 whānau are still living in temporary accommodation, and many others are in old, inadequate homes—80% of our housing stock was built before 1980, and more than a third are damp. It’s not just housing, our unemployment rate is over 9.9%, more than twice the national average, and household incomes are 36% lower. These aren’t just numbers—they’re daily struggles for our whānau, and they demand urgent, targeted investment in locally-led housing and economic development.”

Tātau Tātau’s flagship development, Te Rauā, is an excellent example of what’s possible when iwi, local contractors, and central government work together. When complete, the development will deliver 43 warm, modern homes—including kaumātua units and large whānau homes.

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"Many of the whānau applying are coming from overcrowded situations, temporary housing, or returning to Wairoa after being displaced by the floods,” said Ratapu. “Te Rauā represents stability and a step toward long-term wellbeing.”

Importantly, through the Te Rauā Affordable Rental Grant, those eligible pay just 80% of market rent—a critical lifeline for those struggling under the weight of inflation, debt, and inadequate housing.

Local employment has also been prioritised. Contractors including PCS Projects, Platinum Homes and Iconiq Construction have subcontracted to local electricians, landscapers and builders, a testament to Tātau Tātau’s commitment to Wairoa’s skilled workforce.

Beyond housing, Tātau Tātau’s commitment to regional transformation includes Haumako, the iwi’s horticultural arm and a subsidiary of E Tipu. With 70 hectares of orchards and crop fields under development, the project is expected to create 60 seasonal jobs by 2027 and currently employs 17 full-time orchard staff, including cadets.

“We’re investing in long-term employment and resilience—housing is one piece of the puzzle, but economic opportunity is the other,” says Ratapu. “The government must back communities like Wairoa that are already building solutions.”

Haumako prioritises hiring and upskilling locals, especially rangatahi, with long-term plans for water storage, coolstores and post-harvest processing to support expansion and full regional value-chain employment.

Tātau Tātau is urging the government to expand its investment in proven, community-led solutions like Te Rauā and Haumako—initiatives that are already lifting outcomes for whānau, creating jobs, and restoring pride in the region.

“We’ve shown what can be achieved when local knowledge and national support come together. Now we need the Government to walk alongside us, so we can scale these solutions to meet the real scale of the challenge,” says Ratapu.

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