Six families in Papamoa will receive keys to their new rental homes today.

The keys are being presented as part of stage four of a papakainga project providing safe and affordable housing in the regions.

Minister for Maori Development Willie Jackson congratulates Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks Incorporated on the opening of three affordable rentals and three social housing whare.

Stage four of this papakainga also includes the completion of infrastructure for three additional sites where whanau will soon build and own their own homes.

'The six affordable rental and social housing whare have been specifically built to support single tane (men) who are sole parents,” says Jackson.

'The Mangatawa whanau have a great understanding of where the need lies within their community and have taken the steps to get help to those who need it most.”

Te Puni Kokiri has invested $1.1 million into this project and Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks Incorporated contributed more than $746,000 to bring stage four to life.

Mangatawa Papamoa Blocks Incorporated, a Maori incorporation formed in 1957, whanau have been building their housing stock since 2011, and currently manage 36 whare on their papakainga in the Bay of Plenty.

They have done this through different stages of the development and Te Puni Kokiri have supported the project since stage two.

Stage 1: Original papakainga established including kaumatua flats

Stage 2: Feasibility support for papakainga planning

Stage 3: Infrastructure support for three home ownership whare

Stage 4: Three affordable rentals, three social housing whare, infrastructure complete for three home ownership whare (current).