Kāinga Whenua

Facilitating banks to loan money so that maori can build homes on papakainga (communal land) seems like a good idea.

From Scoop

"Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced that from today Maori who want to build on their ancestral land will have an opportunity through an innovative partnership between Housing New Zealand Corporation and Kiwibank.

“It is difficult for Maori to own a home on multiple-owned Maori land,” Mr Heatley said.

“The special nature of Maori land means it cannot be sold, which means banks are unable to meet their standard requirements for mortgage security.

Yes let's make sure that it stays that way - "cannot be sold'.

"Kāinga Whenua is available to first home buyers, or people who have previously owned a home and are in a similar financial position as a first home buyer.

The borrower must earn less than $85,000 or three or more borrowers can earn less than $120,000. This multi-borrower option, which allows three or more borrowers in a single household to apply for the loan, makes a loan more feasible for multi-generational households."

This multi-buyer option is good because it is actually our (and everyones) natural way. I'd like to see much more communal housing, where whanau can have their whare and there can be communal buildings to bring people together - like a marae.

Some concerns have been raised that this initiative will only affect a few and that most won't be able to afford morgage payments and so on. These are legitimate concerns, especially when low income earners are under constant pressure from this government. Give on one hand and take with the other - which hand do you trust?

My other concern is that some may want to break up communal land so that they can make money. I oppose that kaupapa.

Tariana says she,

"... is proud that another key milestone in the Māori Party's policy manifesto has been achieved.

"Our policy priority was to resource iwi and Māori organisations to develop sustainable housing initiatives" said Mrs Turia. "This came from our recognition that Māori often have the land but not the income to service borrowing" said Mrs Turia. "We were particularly keen to encourage investment in multiply owned land, so that Māori would be able to experience home ownership on their own papakāinga"

I think i might keep an open mind on this one for a while, my radar is pinging for some reason.