Unless we ensure these rangatahi are work-fit or able to engage with education/training in a meaningful way, we may unintentionally add to their stress levels. Ending up with a student debt with no qualifications is something we are also mindful of.
Having an ongoing feedback loop of communicating all issues back to our governance group will be critical to enable us to improve this pathway. We also plan our first community hui for Flaxmere in April.
This past week we, the Hawke's Bay District Health Board, Energy Smart and the U-Turn Trust rolled out insulating homes in Flaxmere. We agreed to a pragmatic approach, initially targeting the streets surrounding Te Aranga Marae - west Flaxmere.
The "west" side of Flaxmere is known for its poorer housing and consequently poorer health status. After an attempt at writing letters to occupants and owners which received little response, we agreed to Tunu Tunu barbecue and face-to-face door knocking by Energy Smart employees who assess the homes.
Energy Smart then returns to insulate for little or no cost, whether owner-occupied or rentals. What seemed like a straightforward exercise provides its own set of challenges.
For example we need landlord consent before we insulate; however, some whanau do not know who their landlord is. Some whanau, because Energy Smart has a white car with writing on it, treat it with suspicion and don't respond to knocking on doors.
Some houses have scary dogs, some families need assistance with ventilation and some whanau homes have serious overcrowding.
Another hurdle is, to be able to access EECA funding, families need a current community services card, which will enable our funding to be stretched further. Our ambition stretches to wanting to sort all issues out with our families so we tag those families who require extra assistance outside our insulation process with the intention of returning to deal with these issues.
At the end of the week, we received this wonderful email from one of the whanau: "Thank you so much for the free insulation for our whanau home in Flaxmere West. It has made such a difference on the extremely hot days and, with the cooler temperatures now here in the mornings, it is noticeable how much warmer the house is compared to outside. With winter coming, I know it will reduce our heating costs."
We are grateful. Can you please pass on our thanks to the correct department of H.B Health. Thank you.
Dr Taemumu Richardson posts a photo of us with Tunu Tunu at Nana Kona park and comments "U-Turn insulating houses one sausage at a time".
- Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.
