Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the story behind our name
In November 2020 the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development adopted a te reo Māori name – Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga.
The story behind our name
Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga translates to ‘the foundation for a treasured home’.
The name comes from the Māori proverb ‘he kura kāinga e hokia, he kura tangata e kore e hokia’, or ‘a treasured home will endure, not so a treasured person’.
It carries a strong connection to our purpose: he kāinga ora, he hapori ora – thriving communities where everyone has a place to call home.
It speaks to the importance of ensuring the wellbeing of people within the home, and our connection with the land – acknowledging the generations of people who have always called this place ‘home’ – and our commitment to delivering for future generations of New Zealanders.
The name was gifted to HUD by Kingi Kiriona, a passionate advocate for te reo Māori.
To learn more about the origins of Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga, watch the short video below.
How to pronounce our name
Our full name is Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Watch the short video below to help you learn how to pronounce it correctly.
Published: January 22, 2021