30 Oct 2012

Ministers like one-stop shop for Maori homes

6:33 am on 30 October 2012

Ministers are supporting a suggestion to set up a one-stop shop to help more Maori build homes on customary land.

It's one of five recommendations on Maori housing from the Productivity Commission.

The Government has responded by saying centralising advice and expertise could create a more streamlined and cost effective approach for land owners - who won't have to go to several agencies.

Ministers will ask the Department of Building and housing to talk to Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Maori Development) about whether bringing Maori housing advisors together is feasible.

Building on traditional Maori land is difficult because there can be hundreds of owners and each shareholder has to given their consent to build.

Last year the Auditor General found building a house on Maori land was difficult - with people having to deal with a number of agencies staffed by workers who don't know enough to give high-quality advice.