Minginui village residents say they are living in unhealthy and damp houses and are asking for government assistance to fix their homes. Ripeka Timutimu spoke with Minginui locals about their concerns and their wishes for the community.
Katerina Mason says her house is falling away, and she wants the government to lend a hand to fix it.
“The government owes the Minginui residents.”
The houses in Minginui were built in the 1940s to support the local forestry industry.
“They should build new homes for us, for the people here.”
The Minginui Village Community Health Profile report states, there are 84 homes here in Minginui. 65 are liveable but many of those are unhealthy and damp.
Mining Village council spokesperson Winiata Tamaki says, “We want any assistance we can get whether it’s through government, through iwi contribution, our trust, we will do what we need to. Do we specifically want it from the govt., no, but if there are opportunities we will take them on.”
Mason says all they want is a helping hand.
“We still want to live here, so do our children and our grandchildren. The bush is here, our lives are here. There is a lot here for our children and the residents here. The time will come when we will need to teach our traditions to the younger generation.”
Native Affairs will have more on the story tonight on Māori Television at 8pm.