Source: Bay of Plenty Times. 11:57 AM Tuesday Nov 29, 2016

An affordable housing project set to provide 240 houses on Papamoa settlement land has been officially launched.

Hapu Ngā Potiki launched the 20ha Manawa - The Heart of Papamoa Special Housing Area on Saturday, with 30 per cent of the house sites set aside for Ngā Potiki people.

The first stage of project was planned for early 2017 with a total of 110 sites, 40 of which were for Ngā Potiki members.

The residential-zoned development is on Te Houhou settlement land and the project intended to both reflect the hapu's connection with the land and provide affordable, quality housing for its people.

The remaining sites would be sold to a national group of building companies to be released to the public for commercial return.

Waiariki MP and Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said the housing project would not only create homes for Ngā Potiki descendants but also for the wider community.

"Ngā Potiki a Tamapahore has already done some great work, fixing homes belonging to their whānau that were in real need of repair."

"I'm really looking forward to seeing more of our people living on their ancestral whenua in the heart of Papamoa," he said.

Ngā Potiki Trust board deputy chairwoman Victoria Kingi said the development meant the trust would still retain up to 60 per cent of the entire block.

"It's going to transform lives for people who can't buy in the market.

"Basically, we are assuring our members if they buy a house-and-land package, it will be very affordable.
"We can not only provide a commercial return, but also achieve social outcomes."
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The group of building companies had signed up to take on apprentices though the Maori Pasifika training programme.

The Manawa development project would have a mix of rentals, license to occupy and house and land packages.

Waiariki MP and Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said Ngā Potiki a Tamapahore had already done some great work, fixing homes belonging to their whānau that were in real need of repair.

He said in June this year, the trust secured more than $324,000 from the Māori Housing Network.

"Now the trust has taken their iwi's housing aspirations to the next level with their housing project Manawa and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of our people living on their ancestral whenua in the heart of Papamoa.

"Not only does the trust's housing project create homes for their descendants but for the wider community as well."
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- Bay of Plenty Times

​If you have been following our progress you will know that Nga Potiki has been working on a housing development project for the Te HouHou settlement land in Papamoa. We are now at the stage where we can formally launch the project and will do so at the November AGM.

A lot of work has occurred behind the scenes to make this happen.  Including securing an early release of Te HouHou from the Crown ahead of settlement legislation being passed.  This means Nga Potiki will receive title to Te HouHou ahead of all other settlement transfers under the Ngai Te Rangi and Nga Potiki Treaty Settlement.

The Housing project will be called MANAWA – “The heart of Papamoa” and has been designed to reflect our historical and cultural connections to this land while providing for much needed quality affordable housing for Nga Potiki members and also a commercial return on the sites that will be sold to Group Builders.  There will be a total of 240 house sites and 30 percent of the development will be set aside for our members.

Civil Works are planned for Stage 1 to progress in early 2017 being a total of 110 sites with 40 of those set aside for Nga Potiki members to apply for.  The housing options will be explained at the AGM but essentially include a mix of affordable rentals; licence to occupy (where you own the house not the land); and affordable house and land packages (you own the house and land). 
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A full presentation will be given at the AGM so please attend if you want to find out more and how you can register your interest.  The Manawa website will also go live the following Sunday 27th November so that you can register your interest online.