A Far North trust that's been housing the homeless, and helping needy families into their own homes, is embarking on a new project. He Korowai Trust is starting a trades training academy in Kaitaia for young Māori.
The Sweet-As Academy will open next February on land the trust is gradually turning into a self-sufficient housing estate: Whare Ora. It's been bringing old state houses up from Auckland, renovating them and selling them to poor families on a rent-to-buy system. The only conditions - no drugs, no alcohol and no violence.
Trust manager Ricky Houghton says trades training is the logical next step in the Trust's dream of lifting people out of poverty.
