A Maori housing development in the Far North is set to transform families - and the concept of social housing.
That is the mission of He Korowai - a trust that has bought more than 20 hectares of land in Kaitaia.
It has just had a $700,000 government subsidy to build nine homes on the land and is aiming to create a village of 20 or more.
He Korowai's manager Ricky Houghton says families will have a license to occupy for life; the land will become Maori freehold; and there will be opportunities for small farming, horticulture and trade training.
He says the village will be alcohol, drug and violence-free and will be built with traditional Maori elements in mind.
Ricky Houghton says prison inmates will help with building work in Kaitaia's Whare Ora village and the first houses should be ready by Christmas.