Palmer, F.
Economic Government Housing Need
Abstract Committee And Proceedings Editorial Board, 174,
2012
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This analysis examines the challenges and potential solutions for the reintegration of Māori communities in Kaitaia.
The study highlights the historical and ongoing effects of colonisation, marginalisation, and the inequitable distribution of land and resources, which have hindered Māori communities from developing affordable housing and local businesses. The research also addresses government initiatives such as the Social Housing Unit, which announced government intention to focus future state housing in main urban area, and the implications for Māori communities in places like Kaitaia where the existing stock would be decommissioned. This entry provides a critical insight into the socio-economic struggles of Māori communities in urban centres like Kaitaia. It underlines the need for equitable access to land and resources as a means to empower Māori communities economically and socially. The study suggests that Treaty settlements and government policies have been inadequate in addressing the historical injustices and current disparities faced by Māori. It advocates for a reevaluation of these settlements and policies to ensure they support the economic and social development of Māori communities in a way that respects their cultural values and aspirations, suggesting that the decommissioned housing stock be given to local Māori. The support for economic development includes enabling Māori to access a broader range of jobs and opportunities in commercial and industrial development, especially if sites in Kaitaia are rezoned. This would enable Māori to transition from marginalised tenants to accumulating wealth, it compensates Māori for historical injustices, , and provides Māori with an opportunity to manage and develop Housing New Zealand’s housing stock in Kaitaia, thereby reinforcing their rights and fostering indigenous self-determination.
