• Hastings Place Based housing plan delivering results one year on

Hastings Place Based housing plan delivering results one year on

This month marks a year since the Hastings Place Based Plan pilot to tackle the housing challenges in the district was launched, and significant progress has been made to help more whānau into safe, dry, warm affordable homes. 

Hawke’s Bay has some of the highest levels of housing need in New Zealand in terms of population size, and within that Hastings has a range of complex and inter-related housing issues putting pressure on whānau and communities. 

To address this Hastings District Council began to engage with the Crown, Iwi, and government agencies midway through last year to tackle this challenge and came up with the Hastings Place Based Plan housing solution.

Officially launched by the Government in December 2019, the holistic programme includes not only building new affordable houses and papakāinga, but also addressing homelessness and conducting repairs on existing Māori-owned homes to make them healthier and more liveable, making a huge difference to those who live in them.

The agencies involved are: Hastings District Council, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Social Development, Hawke’s Bay District Health Board and the Department of Corrections.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Chief Executive Andrew Crisp said that to achieve a sustainable improvement in housing, it was important to be prepared to think and act differently.

“The progress that is being made in Hastings reinforces the importance of central and local government, iwi and providers working together to drive change.”

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said getting whānau into their own homes and out of motels or other temporary accommodation is one of council’s highest priorities.

“Coming together with these other agencies to create locally-led solutions that include employing local people in construction has been really effective and we are proud of what’s been achieved so far.”

She said that along with providing infrastructure support for the developments, Hastings District Council was also freeing up land to develop for affordable housing, particularly in Flaxmere where development has started on 17 first homes and 18 public houses in Tarbet St, and other council land in the area is actively under consideration for housing.

Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga has been working on a development in Flaxmere West, called Waingākau Village, the aim of which is to build up to 120 high-quality, well designed, healthy and environmentally sustainable houses and infrastructure.

Chief executive George Reedy said that while delivering homes was important, there was also a strong focus on providing pathways to home ownership for whānau.

“We’re exploring ways we can support people into home ownership, through shared equity and rent-to-own options, and other innovative initiatives that will help people navigate the financial challenges in today’s market.”

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