People in desperate need of housing are suffering because the government-run Māori Housing Network isn't working properly, a Far North housing provider says.
Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta says Labour's promise to set up a Māori Housing Unit was still on the table. Photo: RNZ
But there's no sign of a dedicated Māori Housing Unit promised by the Labour Party before the election.
And Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta can't guarantee that one will be established as a solution to the housing crisis facing Māori .
Rueben Taipari works in the Far North for Te Ahikaaroa Trust, which provides home for families in Northland.
The north faced huge struggles with homelessness as the winter months kicked in, he said.
"Everyday we wait is another day closer to winter and every winter decimates our people - it's detrimental to the health of our people."
The Māori Housing Network set-up under Te Puni Kokiri secured $37 million worth of funding over six years in 2015 to support Māori housing.
However, Mr Taipari said the Network in its current form was not effective in dealing with housing issues in Northland.
"You've got to deal with that before you even start out counting timbre, lineage, bricks and mortar - the best way to do it is to give the best support you can to established housing providers that are in their regions."
Ms Mahuta said Labour's pre-election promise to set-up a Māori Housing Unit was still on the table.
Labour promised to establish a Māori Housing Unit within the Affordable Housing Authority to ensure housing policies are tailored to meet the specific needs and aspirations of Māori.
"A Māori housing unit...is a serious consideration that both the Minister of Housing and myself are thinking about as we make our way forward."
Ms Mahuta said there hadn't been a major focus on Māori housing in decades.
"The last big push in Māori housing was in the 1950s when we did get a concerted effort around Māori home ownership."
More needed to be done but Ms Mahuta would not say when.
She said the government was currently working on the Māori housing strategy, which would be aligned with the New Zealand housing strategy.
Rau Hoskins is the chairman of the independent Māori housing advisors, Te Matapihi.
He said the government should look back to the days when it was easier for Māori to get loans.
"Perhaps looking back to the Māori Housing unit of 1935 - and to effectively make sure there is an identifiable and well resourced unit which is able to make Māori housing its single priority."
Under the Māori Housing Act of 1935, Mr Hoskins said Māori could get Māori Affairs loans to build homes on Māori land.
That lasted until the early 1990s when it was absorbed into mainstream housing policies.
Since then, Māori home ownership rates have plummeted, down by nearly a third between 1991 and 2013.