Tauranga iwi Ngāi Te Rangi buys apartments for homeless: 'I dropped to my knees and cried'

Doug Clay (front) and Rod Blackburn are residents at Ngāi Te Rangi's apartments in Tauranga. Photo / George Novak

A Tauranga iwi has bought an apartment block to house some of the city's most vulnerable residents - one of whom "dropped to [his] knees and cried" when he moved in.

Ngāi Te Rangi pumped $2 million from its commercial arm into the premises on Mayfair St, matching a Government funding contribution.

The Government's $2m for the purchase is part of $8.6m given to Bay of Plenty iwi organisations to support the homeless and boost housing supply, out of a national fund worth more than $22m.

The eight apartments are used as transitional housing for homeless families, former rough sleepers, pensioners, and those holed up in motels.

The facility opened in July and has 23 residents, who can also access holistic wraparound services.

Doug Clay (front) and Rod Blackburn are residents at Ngāi Te Rangi's apartments in Tauranga. Photo / George Novak

Resident Doug Clay said he had not had a roof over his head for years and credited the iwi for rescuing him off the streets.

''I was living by the Domain for about three and a half years. It was cold and ugly. When I first moved in here to my own apartment, I dropped to my knees and cried.

''They have given me shelter, they have shown me aroha, they are my whānau.''

Looking after the vegetable patch is a labour of love for Doug Clay. Photo / George Novak

Rod Blackburn has lived in seven different boarding homes over the past five years.

"I just got fed up with moving and not knowing if I would have a roof over my head," the 77-year-old said.

His last fixed abode was a camping ground. He was later referred to Ngāi Te Rangi by the Ministry for Social Development.

Rod Blackburn checks out the vege plot. Photo / George Novak

A mother of five, who NZME agreed not to name, was previously in a two-bedroom motel for what was supposed to be a two-night stay but stretched to more than a year.

''That was really stressful. My kids couldn't play outside.''

She was one of the first families to move into a three-bedroom apartment and said "honestly I couldn't ask for a better place, I am so grateful, everyone is so supportive".

She was on the waiting list for a state home, as the price of a private rental was out of reach.

Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley. Photo / George Novak

Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley said he could relate to those stories as he grew up ''in a flea-ridden shed in South Auckland''.

"As kids, we'd wake up screaming because the rats were running through the place and over our faces.

"It was cold, it was damp and it was shitty, my old man went into hospital with tuberculosis.

"So I know what it is like to have nothing. I know what it is like to struggle and I know what it is like to have no choices."

Ngāi Te Rangi's transitional housing apartment block on Mayfair St in Tauranga. Photo / George Novak

Stanley said it was not easy persuading iwi to use commercial money to fund social outcomes, but they recognised the huge benefit "of lifting people up".

The process was Māori-orientated, but Stanley said it was not just for Māori.

''I don't care if you are purple with pink polka dots. If you are willing to do something for you, we will stand behind you 100 per cent.

"We use a different medicine because often those that come to us have been mistreated and undermined. All they really want is a roof over their head."

Ngāi Te Rangi had social workers as well as employment brokers and counsellors, plus it had fostered relationships with numerous government agencies to run an array of programmes.

Potential residents were vetted against set criteria, and there was a waiting list.

Registered social worker and the iwi's Oranga Whānau manager, Trisha Britton, said she ran a tight team of dedicated staff at the apartments who were used to dealing with people who had a raft of issues.

Drug and alcohol addictions were rampant after the first lockdown and Britton said anger problems and traumatic backgrounds meant obstacles had to be overcome.

But she felt a great sense of pride and many goals had been achieved.

"We had a young man who came in here who was homeless and he got quite angry sometimes. Now he has a job and is a totally different kid who has more confidence.

"He can hold his head up high."

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development deputy chief executive Kararaina Calcott-Cribb said it was working with Māori housing providers and iwi in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty through the MAIHI partnerships programme.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development deputy chief executive Kararaina Calcott-Cribb. Photo / Supplied

"I'm humbled to be part of a partnership that is delivering warm, dry housing to these whānau. Supporting iwi and Māori to develop and keep safe, secure, healthy and affordable housing is essential to reducing the numbers of Māori experiencing homelessness."

The ministry was supporting at least 13 Bay iwi and Māori entities through three funds.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust received $2m through the He Kūkū Ki Te Kāinga Fund to help purchase the Oranga Whānau facility.

The other big beneficiary was Ngāti Uenukukōpako Iwi Trust, which got $4.2m to build 15 houses at Te Ngae Rd in Rotorua. It was working with Habitat for Humanity and providing wraparound support services.

Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities Bay of Plenty regional director Darren Toy. Photo / Supplied

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Bay of Plenty regional director Darren Toy said partnering with mana whenua to achieve their housing goals and aspirations was fundamental.

"While our collective commitment to this mahi is strong, we are very much at the beginning of this rich journey."

Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore Trust housing general manager Victoria Carroll said Māori and iwi had consistently called for Governments to partner with them to collectively provide housing solutions among Māori communities.

"Under this Government we have seen the biggest investment in targeted budgets to improve Māori housing outcomes and a demonstrable willingness to partner with Māori to deliver long-term, relevant housing responses."

The trust was committed to better housing for its people and was working on a partnership with the Government to assist with its housing strategies.