Housing milestone: new roof over their heads at Whangārā

HOUSING MILESTONE: Brian Leach, of Whāngārā, had good reason to be smiling after he and his whānau became the recipients of the first home built at the Toitu Tairawhiti Builtsmart facility Te Wharau o Hineakua. The three-bedroom home was transported from Te Wharau o Hineakua in Aerodrome Road all the way to the Waiomoko Road in Whangara. Pictures by Liam Clayton

The first home built at Te Wharau o Hineakua, the Toitū Tairāwhiti Builtsmart facility, has been completed and delivered to a whānau in Whāngārā.

On Monday, a significant milestone was reached when the first three-bedroom home was delivered to Waiomoko Road in Whāngārā to Brian Leach and his whānau.

Te Wharau o Hineakua have six “smart” shelters that allow them to build multiple houses at once for whānau in the Toitū Tairāwhiti home ownership programme.

Brian, surrounded by whānau from Ngāti Konohi was elated when his home arrived on Monday morning.

Brian and his late wife Toni Lea Martin have five children and ten grandchildren. Two of their sons, a daughter-in-law and mokopuna will move to Whāngārā with him in the next few months once services have been connected.

They will be joined in the next two months by three other whānau from Whāngārā, on Matore Papa Kāinga, where licences tō occupy have been issued by the landowners who are all related through whakapapa.

Three whānau are relocating from Tūranga and another whānau of two adults and five tamariki are returning from Pātea.

Along with reaching this milestone, Te Wharau o Hineakua have two crews from Te Whānau a Apanui and Whakatāne, building whare āwhina for whānau from Te Araroa and Te Wairoa.

The first six of the whare āwhina will depart for Te Karaka today as part of Te Aitanga a Mahaki’s recovery and resilience programme.

The iwi have been grateful for support from Whāia Titirangi, Māhaki Mahinga Kai, tradies, contractors and the local community who have been out to Frasertown, Wairoa, Uawa and Te Karaka helping with silt removal and whenua restoration.

Minister Kiritapu Allan is planning to meet with Te Whānau a Taupara and the community and see the iwi-led iniaitives that will house displaced whānau in temporary accommodation.