28 Jun 2012

Kaumatua to get 10-bedroom rest home

7:53 pm on 28 June 2012

A communal home for kaumatua is being developed in the Hawke's Bay suburb of Flaxmere.

Construction of the 10 bedroom house is being funded by local Maori trust Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and the Housing New Zealand Corporation.

The idea for the home was first brought up in a trust housing strategy in 1986, but only began development in 2010 due to lack of funding.

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga CEO, Alayna Watene, says the home is aimed at providing an affordable alternative for elderly Maori from low-income families.

She says it differs from a nursing home because it allows residents to remain independent and continue their involvement in the local community.

The number of elderly Maori in the region is expected to more than double by 2026.

The home, being built close to Flaxmere Park, is expected to be complete in a year.