14 Sep 2011

Iwi should take over social housing from Govt - Turia

7:11 am on 14 September 2011

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says iwi organisations would do a better job than Housing New Zealand, when it comes to social housing.

Housing New Zealand is now limiting the work staff have done in the past to help tenants with other needs, saying its role is purely that of landlord.

Mrs Turia says the Government is looking at divesting itself of social housing, or much of it, and iwi should step in.

She says a number of Maori organisations are doing good work now with needy tenants, and they should start taking over state houses.

Mrs Turia says the funding for social housing should move to organisations prepared to take on the job, including iwi.