Housing Minister, Nick Smith has announced 36 new Special Housing Areas within Auckland. Treaty Negotiator for Ngāti Paoa, Hauāuru Rawiri says they will look at the government's latest housing developments and any areas that affect their claim.
The latest 36 Special Housing Areas (SHAs) and last allocation under the Auckland Housing Accord has no iwi involvement.
Minister for Building and Housing Nick Smith says, “In the decision making around Special Housing Area, the ownership is irrelevant, it's a decision about the planning rules that should rightly be blind to the ownership structure.”
But Ngāti Paoa Treaty Negotiator, Hauāuru Rawiri disagrees.
“First of all, the government needs to talk to us, all mana whenua.”
Last year the Housing Mahi Ngātahi Agreement was formed between all Auckland mana whenua and the Crown. This gave iwi the first opportunity to be the developers, before offering it to other private sector developers.
Rawiri says, “We will analyse the details of the latest SHAs. The important thing for us is to build homes for people, that's good. But helping our own people in poverty is the priority.”
One of the new areas is in Panmure and Point England.
“We have links there, some of our people live there. Because of that we need to talk with our relations, perhaps work with other mana whenua in the area, about housing development,” says Rawiri.
Details of new Housing Mahi Ngātahi Agreements will be announced in the near future