19 Apr 2013

Land trustee urges others to seek housing funds

7:03 pm on 19 April 2013

A Maori land trustee in Tauranga is encouraging other trusts in the Bay of Plenty region to seek funding from the Government's social housing unit.

The Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks Incorporation was granted $2.6 million by the Government for a papakainga housing project on Maori land in Papamoa.

Trustee Victoria Kingi said if more trusts apply for funding, it would certainly help ease the great demand from Maori families who are in desperate need of affordable housing.

Ms Kingi said the incorporation will now fine-tune the planning.

Building consents need to be obtained and construction is not expected to start until mid-2014.

Ms Kingi said 36 homes will have been built by the end of the project.