5. Question No. 5—Housing (Māori Housing)BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing)Question No. 5—Housing (Māori Housing)5. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing): How many houses are projected to be built and by when at the land at Ihumātao?Hon PEENI HENARE (Associate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing)): Kia ora Mr Speaker. A memorandum of understanding—he pūmautanga—has been signed by the Kīngitanga the Crown and Auckland Council which sets out how parties will work together to decide the future of the land and I do not wish to pre-empt this process.Hon Member: So nothing will ever happen.Hon PEENI HENARE: It is important to note—the member might want to listen; this is a good koha—that parties have committed that there will be housing on the site and we are continuing to work through this process.Brooke van Velden: Does the Minister believe it is acceptable that over six months on from the Government signing a memorandum of understanding with Kīngitanga and Auckland Council for the land at Ihumātao the Minister of Housing has not met with either Kīngitanga or Auckland Council?Hon PEENI HENARE: We make no apology for taking the time to get this right—[Interruption] That side might want to listen. The Treaty of Waitangi over 180 years—it's taken a long time to come to where we are now. If that member is referring directly to the land at Ihumātao I can reassure that member that I've met with the Kīngitanga I have met with those who are out at the ahikā out at Ihumātao and I have also met with the council in the time that I've been responsible for Māori housing.Brooke van Velden: Can he confirm that the land will still be used for housing as was agreed to and announced on the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Government Kīngitanga and Auckland Council?David Seymour: Point of order Mr Speaker. It may just be me but I wasn't clear if the Minister was answering—actually Mr Speaker I've made a mistake and I shouldn't have raised this point of order. I'm very sorry.Hon PEENI HENARE: Yes.Brooke van Velden: Can he confirm over six months on from the signing of the memorandum of understanding that the steering committee has been formed?Hon PEENI HENARE: Right now with respect to he pūmautanga we are working with the Kīngitanga and ngā ahikā to establish the rōpū whakahaere.Brooke van Velden: When can we expect the steering committee consisting of six representatives representing or supporting the Crown and Kīngitanga to be formed?Hon PEENI HENARE: I have it on the good authority of my colleague the Hon Willie Jackson to my right here that we will be looking to push this kaupapa along and my expectation is that in the very near future we will have an announcement.Brooke van Velden: How many houses can be built at the land at Ihumātao given the agreement the Government has signed and council zoning?Hon PEENI HENARE: I refer back to my first answer to the primary question which actually establishes that he pūmautanga to sit down together to establish the use of that land which the expectation of the Government is part of it will be for housing.Brooke van Velden: Does he know of any private developers that have spent $30 million and have produced no plans for housing?Hon PEENI HENARE: No.