Board Welcomes new Associate Minister of Housing Role (Māori)
14 November 2018
The Independent Māori Statutory Board welcomes the appointment of the Hon Nanaia Mahuta as Associate Minister of Housing and Urban Development with responsibility for Māori outcomes.
Board Chair, David Taipari, says housing needs for Māori in Auckland are urgent. “The appointment, announced by the Minister of Housing at the National Maaori Housing Conference in Hamilton today, is an encouraging step. I encourage the Minister and the Chief Executive of the newly-formed Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to act swiftly to deliver housing outcomes for Māori in Auckland and nationally,” Mr Taipari says.
The announcement of the new Ministerial position was made at the National Maaori Housing Conference in Hamilton this morning, where the Independent Māori Statutory Board, in conjunction with Te Matapihi, will present the draft Kāinga Strategic Action Plan to improve Māori housing outcomes in Auckland, tomorrow morning. Among the recommendations in the draft plan is the call for a Ministerial role with responsibility for Māori housing.
“The Associate Minister of Housing role is a key aspiration in the draft Kāinga Strategic Action Plan and represents the plan’s dual lens approach: elevating Te Tiriti outcomes and Kāinga experiences for whānau. Our hope is the new role improves the Te Tiriti relationship at cabinet level, while also providing more direct opportunities to improve housing outcomes for Māori on the ground,” Mr Taipari says.