Hutt City Council has taken out the overall Supreme Award at the Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards for its innovative housing partnership.
The ‘Takai Here Tāngata’ project, established to provide quality housing in Taitā for whānau in high housing stress, also took out a national award for ‘Collaborative Government Action’ at the annual awards.
The Local Government Professionals Aotearoa Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards honour programmes, projects and approaches that demonstrate professional excellence in local government management.
The partnership between Kahungunu Whānau Services, Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, Hutt City Council and Council subsidiary, Urban Plus Ltd, has seen 34 people in 19 whānau moved into brand new, fully-furnished homes at Te Ara o Takapū, Taitā, Lower Hutt in December.
Lower Hutt Mayor, Campbell Barry said the award acknowledged the special partnership that had delivered permanent homes and wrap-around support for people in housing stress, and Council was keen to continue working in this way.
“We know that we continue to have challenges with housing here in Lower Hutt, and that’s the same right across New Zealand,” he said.
“Takai Here Tāngata illustrates the power of partnership, and what we can achieve together. I’m proud of having provided these warm, dry, safe and affordable homes together, and look forward to continuing this important mahi.”
Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, was a key partner in funding the project. Deputy Chief Executive, Te Kāhui Māori Housing Group, Kararaina Calcott-Cribb said the Government was learning how to be better partners through the Crown-Māori relationship.
“That is a critical element of the work that we do. Instead of leading and making the plans here, we enable Māori housing community providers to make work on their plans and we support them in delivering the outcomes,” she said.
“This project and the way the partners have worked together has been integral in setting the benchmark for what we might do in the future.
You can watch a film about the project here.
