Cabins Project Partnership
We’re really excited to see the progress of our Cabins Project, in partnership with Te Kahu o Taonui – (TKoT - Northern Iwi Chairs Collective).
TKoT was established in 2006/7 and is now a collective of the twelve Iwi in Te Tai Tokerau representing Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Kahu, Kahukuraariki, Whaingaroa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Roroa and Ngāti Whātua.
Ākonga at our Dyer St, Whangārei campus are putting the finishing touches to six self-contained, relocatable cabins destined to help whānau in Te Tai Tokerau.
Originally started as a case study to provide Covid-19 self-isolation and quarantine spaces for large households in the North, the cabins will also provide accommodation for whānau currently experiencing overcrowding issues, or be placed alongside marae or existing papakāinga, and in remote work locations like orchards in the Far North.
Our ākonga get the opportunity to work on real projects for local people, and whānau get quality, compliant housing assistance. With funding from a range of avenues including Te Puni Kōkiri, 48 cabins are in production through various providers, to help advance the collective aspirations of Te Tai Tokerau iwi.
The success of this smaller cabins project has demonstrated that together we are capable of standing up larger projects including renovating category one housing stock in partnership with Kainga Ora, to provide another solution towards helping to alleviate the region’s housing problems.
Whilst still in its infancy, it is expected the first tranche of homes will be renovated by the end of 2022/early 2023.
