A Māori incorporation has found that the best way to utilised their lands in Tauranga was to occupy them. Mangatawa Papamoa Inc chairman, Kevin Haua says they began with an asset base of $5mil, today they are worth $65mil.
Later this month employees of Mangatawa Papamoa Inc will occupy their new premises.
Mangatawa Papamoa Inc chairman Kevin Haua says, “We're lucky you know where other Māori entities are up in the middle of no-where. They haven't got the income, it's hard for them so we are very fortunate that our tipuna have left us this land and one of our founding statements was never to sell our land.”
The building overlooks their papakāinga development of 12 kaumātua homes and replaces the previous offices which were damaged by fire last January. Mr Haua believed that the fire was deliberately lit and Police say it was suspicious but in spite of that, their incorporation has expanded.
“I think the main thing that helped us achieve this was, we had the income to back us up and with the city encroaching all our lands the land rates went up all the value went up and so growing cows on here or sheep was not a viable proposition.”
The incorporation has investigated the needs of its 700 odd beneficiaries, from health and educational grants to housing development.
“That's us in Mangatawa when we decided to do something we do it. We are building a retirement village that you can see up here too down by the beach there and that's really the jewel of our crown that one it's awesome.”
Mr Haua says he became chairman of this incorporation in 1991 and now he's looking towards his succession plan.