One year on from the devastating Edgecumbe foods, the New Zealand government has provided local whanau with new papakāinga housing.

A $2.7 million development was carried out with funding support from the Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Housing Network and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The housing opened five two-bedroom, pre-fabricated homes at Kōkōhīnau Marae on April 20.

“This initiative involving the marae, government agencies and the wider community is a good example of local collaboration to address a specific housing need,” Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta said.

Besides the five homes that have been developed, the minister noted papakāinga also has a provision for a further 14 homes to be built at the site.

“The Kōkōhīnau Marae papakāinga emergency housing response showcases the kind of work Te Puni Kokiri undertook to partner community initiatives to provide homes, jobs and training for whānau, and working alongside housing developer EasyBuild and the community in this instance,” she said.

The minister noted the site has potential for more houses, including some to accommodate larger whānau. Te Puni Kōkiri officials were asked to work with the Kōkōhīnau papakāinga committee, and other government agencies to secure a housing option for whānau in their community, she added.