Latest news with #Ratapu
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Tātau Tātau O Te Wairoa Calls For Urgent Government Investment Following Alarming Arrears Statistics
Following the release of the June Credit Indicator by Centrix showing Wairoa has the highest rate of people in arrears across Aotearoa – a staggering 18.3% – Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa is calling on the government to urgently step up investment in housing for the region, saying current efforts are not meeting the scale of need. 'The statistics are shocking, but they're not surprising. Wairoa locals are under intense pressure—crippled by high living costs, low incomes, overcrowded housing, and the long tail of climate disasters. The fact that nearly one in five people here are in arrears is a symptom of systemic failure, not personal irresponsibility,' says Lewis Ratapu, Chief Executive Officer of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa. Ratapu says the Centrix data reflects what people in Wairoa are living every day. 'Our own research shows we need at least 420 homes to meet current demand and recover from the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2024 floods. Over 57 whānau are still living in temporary accommodation, and many others are in old, inadequate homes—80% of our housing stock was built before 1980, and more than a third are damp. It's not just housing, our unemployment rate is over 9.9%, more than twice the national average, and household incomes are 36% lower. These aren't just numbers—they're daily struggles for our whānau, and they demand urgent, targeted investment in locally-led housing and economic development.' Tātau Tātau's flagship development, Te Rauā, is an excellent example of what's possible when iwi, local contractors, and central government work together. When complete, the development will deliver 43 warm, modern homes—including kaumātua units and large whānau homes. "Many of the whānau applying are coming from overcrowded situations, temporary housing, or returning to Wairoa after being displaced by the floods,' said Ratapu. 'Te Rauā represents stability and a step toward long-term wellbeing.' Importantly, through the Te Rauā Affordable Rental Grant, those eligible pay just 80% of market rent—a critical lifeline for those struggling under the weight of inflation, debt, and inadequate housing. Local employment has also been prioritised. Contractors including PCS Projects, Platinum Homes and Iconiq Construction have subcontracted to local electricians, landscapers and builders, a testament to Tātau Tātau's commitment to Wairoa's skilled workforce. Beyond housing, Tātau Tātau's commitment to regional transformation includes Haumako, the iwi's horticultural arm and a subsidiary of E Tipu. With 70 hectares of orchards and crop fields under development, the project is expected to create 60 seasonal jobs by 2027 and currently employs 17 full-time orchard staff, including cadets. 'We're investing in long-term employment and resilience—housing is one piece of the puzzle, but economic opportunity is the other,' says Ratapu. 'The government must back communities like Wairoa that are already building solutions.' Haumako prioritises hiring and upskilling locals, especially rangatahi, with long-term plans for water storage, coolstores and post-harvest processing to support expansion and full regional value-chain employment. Tātau Tātau is urging the government to expand its investment in proven, community-led solutions like Te Rauā and Haumako—initiatives that are already lifting outcomes for whānau, creating jobs, and restoring pride in the region. 'We've shown what can be achieved when local knowledge and national support come together. Now we need the Government to walk alongside us, so we can scale these solutions to meet the real scale of the challenge,' says Ratapu.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Innovative Report Shows Collaboration To Improve Māori Health Would Increase Regional Productivity By $122m Annually
Press Release – HBREDA The research only further highlights the importance of Mori health to Hawkes Bays future. This issue is not going to go away, especially as the working age population of Mori is expected to grow to 43,540 within the next two decades. A co-ordinated effort to help improve the health of working age Hawke's Bay Māori can lead to a productivity increase worth $122 million a year and supply an extra 1,800 workers for Hawke's Bay, an innovative new study has found. The report, 'Health and productivity opportunities: Assessing the economic value of addressing priority health conditions in Hawke's Bay working-age Māori', was commissioned jointly by Hawke's Bay Regional Development Agency (REDA) and theTihei Tākitimu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board. Produced by NZIER economists Sarah Hogan and Tom Dunn, the report is thought to be the first in New Zealand to consider the critical links between Māori wellbeing and regional economic development. Māori make up 29 percent of Hawke's Bay's overall working population and play a vital role in the food and fibre sector industries, along with regional recovery. 'The research shows that Hawke's Bay's working age Māori aren't accessing health care early enough, for a variety of reasons, which leads to more serious primary health conditions,' Lucy Laitinen, REDA's CEO says. 'One of the reasons it's so difficult for Māori to access health services is because they largely work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing with little or no flexibility in their working hours. They also earn less than the regional average. These are among the issues driving the relatively low use of preventative care which leads to the high rate of ED visits.'' Tihei Tākitimu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board co-chair Lewis Ratapu says the report provides the wider community with a burning platform to think about and act differently in how health services to Māori are delivered. We need to invest more effectively and deliver services targeting mental illness and addiction, diabetes and cardiovascular disease so Māori can lead happier, healthier lives, provide for their whānau and continue to make a productive contribution to the local community. Ratapu hopes the collaboration with REDA ensures health stays on the agenda for local regional leaders – the Matariki Governance Group – as it considers its priorities over the coming year. He noted the Regional Recovery Plan identified a need for 2,500 extra people to deliver the recovery programme over the next three years and with co-ordination needed to address current and future workforce requirements. 'We will be actively encouraging and facilitating a joined-up approach to addressing this issue, including exploring alternative health service models with large local employers, iwi, hauora Māori and health service providers and local and central government working together to trial different options for Māori that suit their needs, Ratapu says. The research only further highlights the importance of Māori health to Hawke's Bay's future. This issue is not going to go away, especially as the working age population of Māori is expected to grow to 43,540 within the next two decades. Together as a community we have to improve Māori health now,' Ms Laitinen says.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Innovative Report Shows Collaboration To Improve Māori Health Would Increase Regional Productivity By $122m Annually
Press Release – HBREDA The research only further highlights the importance of Mori health to Hawkes Bays future. This issue is not going to go away, especially as the working age population of Mori is expected to grow to 43,540 within the next two decades. A co-ordinated effort to help improve the health of working age Hawke's Bay Māori can lead to a productivity increase worth $122 million a year and supply an extra 1,800 workers for Hawke's Bay, an innovative new study has found. The report, 'Health and productivity opportunities: Assessing the economic value of addressing priority health conditions in Hawke's Bay working-age Māori', was commissioned jointly by Hawke's Bay Regional Development Agency (REDA) and theTihei Tākitimu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board. Produced by NZIER economists Sarah Hogan and Tom Dunn, the report is thought to be the first in New Zealand to consider the critical links between Māori wellbeing and regional economic development. Māori make up 29 percent of Hawke's Bay's overall working population and play a vital role in the food and fibre sector industries, along with regional recovery. 'The research shows that Hawke's Bay's working age Māori aren't accessing health care early enough, for a variety of reasons, which leads to more serious primary health conditions,' Lucy Laitinen, REDA's CEO says. 'One of the reasons it's so difficult for Māori to access health services is because they largely work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing with little or no flexibility in their working hours. They also earn less than the regional average. These are among the issues driving the relatively low use of preventative care which leads to the high rate of ED visits.'' Tihei Tākitimu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board co-chair Lewis Ratapu says the report provides the wider community with a burning platform to think about and act differently in how health services to Māori are delivered. We need to invest more effectively and deliver services targeting mental illness and addiction, diabetes and cardiovascular disease so Māori can lead happier, healthier lives, provide for their whānau and continue to make a productive contribution to the local community. Ratapu hopes the collaboration with REDA ensures health stays on the agenda for local regional leaders – the Matariki Governance Group – as it considers its priorities over the coming year. He noted the Regional Recovery Plan identified a need for 2,500 extra people to deliver the recovery programme over the next three years and with co-ordination needed to address current and future workforce requirements. 'We will be actively encouraging and facilitating a joined-up approach to addressing this issue, including exploring alternative health service models with large local employers, iwi, hauora Māori and health service providers and local and central government working together to trial different options for Māori that suit their needs, Ratapu says. The research only further highlights the importance of Māori health to Hawke's Bay's future. This issue is not going to go away, especially as the working age population of Māori is expected to grow to 43,540 within the next two decades. Together as a community we have to improve Māori health now,' Ms Laitinen says.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Innovative Report Shows Collaboration To Improve Māori Health Would Increase Regional Productivity By $122m Annually
A co-ordinated effort to help improve the health of working age Hawke's Bay Māori can lead to a productivity increase worth $122 million a year and supply an extra 1,800 workers for Hawke's Bay, an innovative new study has found. The report, 'Health and productivity opportunities: Assessing the economic value of addressing priority health conditions in Hawke's Bay working-age Māori', was commissioned jointly by Hawke's Bay Regional Development Agency (REDA) and theTihei Tākitimu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board. Produced by NZIER economists Sarah Hogan and Tom Dunn, the report is thought to be the first in New Zealand to consider the critical links between Māori wellbeing and regional economic development. Māori make up 29 percent of Hawke's Bay's overall working population and play a vital role in the food and fibre sector industries, along with regional recovery. 'The research shows that Hawke's Bay's working age Māori aren't accessing health care early enough, for a variety of reasons, which leads to more serious primary health conditions,' Lucy Laitinen, REDA's CEO says. 'One of the reasons it's so difficult for Māori to access health services is because they largely work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing with little or no flexibility in their working hours. They also earn less than the regional average. These are among the issues driving the relatively low use of preventative care which leads to the high rate of ED visits.'' Tihei Tākitimu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board co-chair Lewis Ratapu says the report provides the wider community with a burning platform to think about and act differently in how health services to Māori are delivered. We need to invest more effectively and deliver services targeting mental illness and addiction, diabetes and cardiovascular disease so Māori can lead happier, healthier lives, provide for their whānau and continue to make a productive contribution to the local community. Ratapu hopes the collaboration with REDA ensures health stays on the agenda for local regional leaders - the Matariki Governance Group - as it considers its priorities over the coming year. He noted the Regional Recovery Plan identified a need for 2,500 extra people to deliver the recovery programme over the next three years and with co-ordination needed to address current and future workforce requirements. 'We will be actively encouraging and facilitating a joined-up approach to addressing this issue, including exploring alternative health service models with large local employers, iwi, hauora Māori and health service providers and local and central government working together to trial different options for Māori that suit their needs, Ratapu says. The research only further highlights the importance of Māori health to Hawke's Bay's future. This issue is not going to go away, especially as the working age population of Māori is expected to grow to 43,540 within the next two decades. Together as a community we have to improve Māori health now,' Ms Laitinen says.
