Latest news with #TātauTātauoTeWairoa
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
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Scoop
‘A Safer Approach': New Flood Plan For Wairoa River Bar
An ecological survey of the Wairoa River has helped Hawke's Bay Regional Council devise a new plan for managing the bar. The Intermediate Management Plan, led by HBRC in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to manage flood risks and will improve resilience for the Wairoa community in flood events. The plan includes, when conditions allow, lowering a section of the beach crest between Rangi-houa (Pilot Hill) and the old pier. HBRC said this will be maintained and monitored, and allow water to safely exit during a flood, reducing the need for emergency bar openings and helping to manage risk more effectively. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says anything that can be done to mitigate the risk of floods is imperative. 'As we near the first anniversary of the June 2024 flooding, I am mindful that we still have many people who have not recovered from the floods, and we will support anything we can to help protect our community,' Little said. The new plan follows a Government review into the June floods over the decision by HBRC not to begin opening the Wairoa River bar earlier, given the information available to it. The review hit out at the council's culture, its communication with Wairoa officials and locals, its tendency to be overly optimistic, and the lack of warning given to those in the firing line of the potential for flooding in June. However, it did not go as far as stating an earlier opening of the bar would have avoided the floods that swamped the lower part of the township. About 127 homes were flooded and hundreds more properties were affected by water tearing through the northern Hawke's Bay town. HBRC says the top priority remains to keep a healthy open mouth in the river at its optimal location, and where there are opportunities, to relocate it from a poor to an ideal location. HBRC Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the plan is a more resilient way of managing the Wairoa River mouth. 'We're grateful for the partnership with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa in delivering this important piece of work.' The plan is a 'living document' that will be reviewed and updated as needed, she said. Crown Manager Lawrence Yule said it was important to have a holistic floodplain management approach for Wairoa, including both short-term and long-term strategies for the river bar. 'This plan marks an important step toward a safer and more consistent approach to managing the Wairoa River mouth. It's also just one piece of the puzzle, and further work to develop a permanent, long-term solution to the bar is ongoing,' Yule said. The Regional Council says the community can expect to see gravel surveying starting soon and diggers working on the bar in the coming weeks.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
New Plan For Wairoa River Mouth Will Improve Resilience For The Wairoa Community
A new plan for managing the Wairoa River Bar is set to improve resilience for the Wairoa community in flood events. The Intermediate Management Plan for the Wairoa Bar, led by Hawke's Bay Regional Council in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to managing flood risks. The top priority remains to keep a healthy open mouth in its optimal location, and where there are opportunities to relocate the mouth from a poor to ideal location – this will be progressed. Also, as conditions allow, it has been agreed to carefully lower a section of the beach crest between Rangi-houa (Pilot Hill) and the old pier. This will be maintained, and monitored, and allow water to safely exit during a flood, reducing the need for emergency bar openings and helping to manage risk more effectively. Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby says the plan is a more resilient way of managing the Wairoa River mouth. 'We're grateful for the partnership with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa in delivering this important piece of work.' The plan is a 'living document' that will be reviewed and updated as needed, she says. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little welcomed Regional Council's approach to river mouth management. 'Anything that can be done to mitigate flooding risks is imperative. As we near the first anniversary of the June 2024 flooding, I am mindful that we still have many people who have not recovered from the floods, and we will support anything we can to help protect our community." Crown Manager Lawrence Yule has emphasised the importance of a holistic floodplain management approach for Wairoa, including both short-term and long-term strategies for the river bar. 'This plan marks an important step toward a safer and more consistent approach to managing the Wairoa River mouth. It's also just one piece of the puzzle, and further work to develop a permanent, long-term solution to the bar is ongoing,' Mr Yule says. The Regional Council says leading up to proposed work starting, an ecological survey of the Wairoa Bar was carried out. The community can expect to see gravel surveying starting in the coming days and diggers working on the bar in the coming weeks.
