Opinion: Ask and you shall be given

Hikoi for homeless. Photo / Stephen Parker

Ask and you shall receive, so the saying goes.

It's been a whirlwind of a week for Rotorua's homeless community.

On Monday a hīkoi marched through the city's streets pleading with officials to provide them with shelter over the winter.

There were fears people would die if they were forced to sleep out in the cold.

Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue general manager Roana Bennett, Ngāti Whakaue kuia Norma Sturley and Tiny Deane, from Visions of a Helping Hand Charitable Trust have met Rotorua Lakes Council officials and a deal has been done.

A night shelter will be fast-tracked and will be up and running in the next two weeks.

The news couldn't come any sooner for our city's most vulnerable.

Yesterday marked the first day of winter, and it's making its mark on the city with frost and low temperatures.

Credit must be given to the council for its quick decision and also to the tireless Sturley and Deane for getting the deal over the line.

Rotorua district councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says she found the hīkoi "very upsetting".

"I don't want anybody to die outside in the cold.

"I want to put all my effort into helping the homeless and rough sleepers, into getting something I think they should have had a long time ago."

Raukawa-Tait says she believes the council could have done more.

"Within a week we have added such big changes and now it's about what can we do and how can we fast-track it."

While the homeless can rest easy at night this winter, we must look forward to future winters and see to it that this night shelter is not the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

We need to make sure the night shelter is part of a holistic approach to supporting the homeless and the vulnerable in getting back on their feet.

Well done council, and well done all who took part in getting this deal done.