Housing urgent problem facing Maoris — M.P.

Press, 18 May 1984, Page 3

Housing urgent problem facing Maoris — M.P.

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

Housing is one of the most urgent problems facing the Maori community, according to- the Labour member of Parliament for Southern Maori, Mrs Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan. She said the number of Maoris owning their own homes was lagging well behind the rest of the population.

According to the 1981 Census, only 45 per cent of adult Maoris owned their home compared with 73 per

cent of non-Maoris. This situation was getting worse instead of better as in 1951 the proportion of Maoris owning their home had been higher than it was today, Mrs Tirikatene-Sulli-van said. A vigorous Maori housing policy was needed, with houses being built for Maoris and young Maoris involved in trade training and apprenticeships. She said that a study last year by the Maori Council had shown that most prospective Maori homeowners could not afford the deposit required for a new house,

and even those who could were often unable to meet mortgage repayments on a relatively cheap house. The Government ought to be addressing this problem.

“Hand in hand is the problem of Maoris being prevented from building on land they owned because of the cultural insensitivity of town and country planning legislation,” she said. That legislation and its ordinances had to be amended to allow much needed homes to be built so families could be housed, said Mrs Tirikatane-Sulli-van.