The Bay of Plenty iwi of Ngai Tuhoe is considering subsidies for descendants to make their homes environmentally friendly.
The tribe will open its $15 million headquarters in Taneatua, near Whakatane in March, which among its functions utilises solar panels to power the building.
Te Uru Taumatua chairperson Tamati Kruger says it wants to share the new technology and how to better utilise natural resources such as water, power and housing material with tribal homeowners.
He says it will be able to tell its people about housing materials that are environmentally responsible, and perhaps it could subsidise the cost of those items.
Mr Kruger says Te Uru Taumatua wants to gauge in the next five years - how its new office functions, before offering help to its tribal members.
