Man who lived in Mount Maunganui cave for two years has a home

Awhi lived in a cave under Mount Maunganuis Mount Drury is now in a house. Photo / George Novak

A man who lived in a cave in Mount Maunganui for nearly two years has been offered a home.

The 65-year-old doesn't regret his new home, but he believes a young family should have been a priority over him.

Awhi, who only wanted to be known by his first name, has lived under Hopukiore (Mt Drury) in the seaside suburb — where the average home is worth over $1 million — since last year.

A descendant of Ngāi Te Rangi and Waitaha, Awhi said he was "content" at the cave and no one seemed to mind he was there.

Before the cave, Awhi was renting in Wellington and was in Tauranga for two days when the country went into lockdown last year.

"I went to the only place I knew in this rohe where I felt safe.

"To me, that place had a lot of feeling, I don't know how to explain it. I don't know what was so important about me being under the mountain."

Awhi said he felt like he was given two options; either take the social housing or be moved or trespassed from the cave.

"I'd rather a family with a child be in here. I'd rather them have a house and a child gets some comfort."

He's barely left the one-bedroom house since he moved in three weeks ago. His niece brings him food.

"If I don't leave, nobody is going to come and take anything.

Awhi said the cave under Mount Drury had a lot of feeling. Photo / George Novak

"I try and keep it tidy for myself and others that come and visit."

He did not regret the decision to move as it meant his family could visit and stay the night, which was the best thing about the house.

He was now paying $300 a fortnight and had to take care of someone else's home, a problem that didn't exist for him at the cave.

"That was my home. I should still be under the mountain," he said.

"Under the mountain, I had no one to answer to but myself."

Some residents in Mount Maunganui had complained about him and his visitors being there, he believed, and wanted him out there.

"The best way they could do it was to find me a house - not that I really wanted a house."

Tauranga City Council received eight complaints about Awhi living in the cave.

"It wasn't that fair. Nobody came up and talked to me with these complaints that they had," he said.

"It's a public domain, I can't do anything about people walking up to the cave, even if it's just to have a look or sit and chat."

He believed although some residents wanted him gone, "many" opened their arms to support him by showing care, understanding, and treated him how they would like being treated.

He said he never knew how to thank them.

One elderly couple had even offered a room in their house, which he said he declined because he knew they needed their privacy.

"I was quite alright there, but the public had a different opinion."

Awhi turned 65 recently and he believed this also played a part in him being moved as "they didn't want an elderly [person] living under the mountain".

The council's regulation monitoring team leader Stuart Goodman said it did not threaten to move him or give him an ultimatum.

"We made sure that he was connected with the appropriate support agencies and encouraged him to keep the area clean and tidy."

The People's Project, the organisation that helped Awhi into his new home, also helped connect him to wrap-around support services.

Manager Simone Cuers said she had seen people who hadn't had traditional shelter for a long time could find moving into a house difficult.

"People have told us they have slept on the floor for a time as the beds are too soft and felt restricted by the property as opposed to the space of sleeping outdoors."

Others found it took time to become accustomed to the space compared to a well-hidden sleeping spot.

"Many of the people we work with have big hearts and feel there are others more deserving than themselves and would give what they have to others.

"The values of caring and sharing are alive and well among people who experience homelessness."

She said it was best practice to assess what support was needed and develop a plan with the person to meet their needs and goals, usually in partnership with a range of service providers.

The organisation was always looking for more properties to house the "huge" number of people and families immediately needing a safe and healthy home.

Landlords could access social return on investment by leasing properties to LinkPeople which sources and manages properties for the People's Project.