Ana Apatu: People just want to help others

Ana Apatu.

The weeks are whizzing by - not enough hours in the day I say to Pam.

We discuss our plans for Christmas. Wouldn't it be great to call on volunteers to help provide a Christmas lunch at the Marae for some of our families. We could have two lunch sittings. Gary in a Santa suit, lunch on the lawn. I know there would be many who would love to volunteer half of their Christmas day to be able to give to others. However at this stage there is a booking for a wedding. Maybe next year.

People contact us wanting to help others in some way. One example is a 14-year-old boy with family connected to the Mongrel Mob. This boy has been attending the boxing academy and also Camp David. We are enrollinghim with Auckland Grammar due to the generosity of someone locally who wants to assist someone less fortunate. Craig has a contact who has set up a boarding hostel connected to Auckland Grammar for those who need guidance and support. This is all possible with the generosity of someone who contacted us after watching the Nigel Latta show on family violence that highlighted some of our programmes. At 14, this boy is at a turning point. He can work hard and has so much potential.

We have been donated four baths for the garden - worm farms, liquid compost receptacles. The largest of the baths, that needs four of us to lift to the ground from the trailer, is not there the next day when we go to check the garden. A few more natives are damaged during the week.

People continue to bring stories of suicide and attempted suicides. Substandard housing and the effects of this on families continues. I attend our newly-formed Flaxmere collaboration group. We have come together to better co-ordinate our activities and create a shared vision. An example of Collective Impact in the making. We agree to make Housing in Flaxmere a priority. Agencies such as police, Family Works, Hastings District Council fire service, all share stories of what we see as a result of inadequate housing. For example, police dealing with increased family violence in houses that are overcrowded.

What we do know from our 2013 census data is that there has been a significant change in home ownership between 2001 and 2013 in Flaxmere. Home ownership rates in the Flaxmere have dropped significantly and more than half of all households are not in home ownership. Flaxmere has lower home ownership rates compared to overall Hawke's Bay rates. Figures show 1212 households or 51 per cent of Flaxmere households did not own their own home compared to 34 per cent in Hawke's Bay. There are more renters in Flaxmere compared to Hawke's Bay generally.

Also from 2013 census data in Flaxmere 780 households 74 per cent rent from private landlords, trusts or businesses compared to 210 households or 20 per cent of renters who have Housing New Zealand as their landlord.

We all agree that it is some private landlords that allow these houses to be lived in, in substandard conditions.

Families living in garages, fire places removed due to compliance of air quality standards and not replaced, mouldy, cold, uninsulated. We all agree collectively we will try to support families to move into houses that are of a better standard.

Families that move to insulated warmer houses quickly report how much better they feel, take fewer sick days off work, fewer days off school, fewer cases of asthma, fewer sore throats which may lead to rheumatic fever if not treated. Let's instate the housing warrant of fitness, build more affordable quality houses and support families to relocate to these. An example of recently built quality homes are the new Housing New Zealand Houses at Maraenui. Double glazed, sunny, warm, requiring less energy to heat. Speak to any of these people that now reside in these houses and they will share with you how much better they feel. So, should we feel concerned that Housing New Zealand stock is being transferred to private ownership? I guess it depends on whom these houses are transferred to.

• Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.