B37 - Papakāinga and Kaumātua Housing

Papakainga housing is a cluster of dwellings that are occupied by Maori of all ages who are connected by common kinship or kaupapa.

These are no longer just a feature of rural landscapes. With more and more Māori living in urban areas, papakāinga are now developing in towns and cities as well. Wherever they are located, papakāinga enable Māori to live on ancestral lands.

Papakāinga operate with a variety of tenure arrangements. Many papakāinga work under a licence-to-occupy arrangement. The resident pays a 'purchase price', which grants them the legal right to live in their dwelling, but they do not own the dwelling. Some papakāinga offer rental accommodation.

Kaumātua housing is often part of a papakāinga development. Kaumātua housing has also been built in close proximity to many marae so that kaumātua can support the activities that take place on the marae and help keep the paepae warm.

There may now be different options open to you if you wish to return to ancestral land and live within your tribal rohe.

There are also opportunities for whānau and hapū to start planning and building their own papakāinga. So, even if there is not a place for you at present, this may not always be the case - especially if you can help activate the aspirations of your own whānau to live on their land.

Pros

• This is an opportunity for you to participate in the life of your community and marae.
• Many recent papakāinga developments have been well planned and make housing available for tribal members at different life stages, including older Māori - you're likely to be part of a community of all ages.

Cons

• Sometimes less modern kaumātua housing is not well insulated and can be very cold in winter.
• There may not be any features to help mobility, such as level entry and a wet-area shower.
• Where the marae is on the outskirts of town, the associated kaumātua housing can be far away from shops or other important services. If you don't have your own transport, you may find that you are isolated. Find out about public transport options and also who else will be around in the area if things are quiet at the marae.
• It is more complicated to move to a papakāinga with license-to-occupy tenure than buy a house because there are more legal and financial matters to consider. It's important to get independent legal advice.
• Papakāinga living is a big change from living in a general neighbourhood and may take a bit of getting used to.
• You must abide by the papakāinga or kaumātua housing rules and requirements.

What do I need in order to take this option?

• Papakāinga or kaumātua housing needs to be available where you want to live.
• You need to have sufficient money to afford the cost of the license to occupy or rent.

Could this option limit my future choices?

There may be financial implications because of tenure arrangements (many papakāinga operate a license to occupy, which means you do not own the dwelling) and restrictions on who can live in the housing. On the other hand you may be able to release some equity if you sell your home and move to a papakāinga development.

For more information

• For information about existing papakāinga and kaumātua housing, contact your local marae or iwi authority
• For information about developing a papakāinga, contact your local Te Puni Kōkiri and Māori Land Court offices
• For information about local planning requirements for papakāinga housing, contact your local council
• Hastings District Council has published a comprehensive guide for those wishing to develop papakāinga. See: www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/papakainga-development-guide
• Kāinga Whenua Infrastructure grants for infrastructure development on housing on Māori land. See: Māori Housing network www.tpk.govt.nz/docs/mhn/MHN-our-processes-our-funds.pdf
• For information on building on Māori land that is not papakāinga, see Māori Housing network www.tpk.govt.nz/en/whakamahia/maori-housing-network