Papakaainga workshop success continues in Tuakau

Over 90 Maaori landowners and their whanau joined key organisations involved in the development of papakaainga at a workshop held in Tuakau on Sunday 20 November. This is the second of two papakaainga workshops held over the last few months.

The workshops aim to empower Maaori landowners by providing them with information about the papakaainga housing process in the Waikato district, and offering opportunities for them to ask questions.

The consensus amongst attendees supported the need for both the process and workshops themselves and shows how far the papakaainga forum has come over recent years.

“Several of those in attendance had the hopes of developing papakaainga six years ago but couldn’t progress because of the rules and lack of capability.” says Council Kaiwhakamahere (Policy Planner/Advisor) Sheryl Paekau.

“I am extremely proud to see the forum support these whanau with the knowledge and capability to enable them to build on their whenua.”

Council was supported at the workshop by partnering agencies Waikato Tainui, the Maaori Land Court and Te Tuuaapapa Kura Kaainga (MHUD).

Looking ahead, Council will look at the data from those who attended the workshops and split them into two groups based on what criteria they may already meet.

Groups and people who attended the Tuakau and Ngaaruawaahia workshops will be contacted in the New Year regarding future workshops, hui and other opportunities to engage with relevant agencies to ask questions.

With partnering papakaainga agencies, Council will then continue to support these groups with the development of papakaainga projects across the Waikato district.

If you have an interest in papakaainga and were unable to attend the recent hui, please register your interest in future workshops by emailing Waikato District Council’s District Plan email address at districtplan@waidc.govt.nz.