From the Minister of Maori Affairs Marae Projects Waiting For Subsidies Can Be Tided Over With Guaranteed Loans

Te Ao Hou, March 1974, Page 41

From the Minister of Maori Affairs Marae Projects Waiting For Subsidies Can Be Tided Over With Guaranteed Loans Rural marae projects whose fund-raising is complete but where building cannot begin because the project is some way down the queue for a subsidy will now be able to raise Government-guaranteed loans from trustee savings banks to tide them over until the subsidy is available. The Maori and Island Affairs Vote receives $80,000 a year for subsidies for tribal buildings in rural areas to be paid out according to priorities laid down by district Maori councils. The subsidy is 1 for 1 on the first $30,000 and 1 for 2 on the next $15,000. In a separate item in the same vote, $75,000 a year is set aside to subsidise at 1 for 2 community centres for Maori and Island communities in Otara, Mangere and Porirua East. The same access to Government-guaranteed loans from trustee savings banks has been granted to these projects. The ability to raise a loan for a rural marae will mean some projects will be able to start building up to three years earlier than previously and so save money on some of the cost escalations to be expected in that period. Urban marae projects will also be able to start building sooner under the guarantees. Consideration of whether subsidies for urban maraes and Islander community buildings in urban areas should be extended to urban areas outside South Auckland and Porirua was referred to a sub-committee of the Caucus Committee on Maori Affairs. Chaired by the Member of Parliament for Western Maori, Mr K. T. Wetere, this sub-committee is to examine marae subsidies and report on how they should be applied to both urban and rural situations.