14 Oct 2015

Far North trust's charitable status confirmed

6:32 am on 14 October 2015

A housing trust says it is thrilled its charitable status has been confirmed after what it says have been many traumatic weeks.

Ricky Houghton in front of the affordable housing project, Whare Ora.

Ricky Houghton Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams

He Korowai Trust in the Far North had been warned it could lose its charity registration, because of the way it let homeless whanau pay off renovated state houses.

But the government said a rigorous review process had found the law was being properly applied, and the trust could be confident of its status.

Manager Ricky Houghton said it ended weeks of hell during which the charity's character has been called into question.

He said the decision meant 43 children and 16 adults would be able to move into new homes in the next six weeks.

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