Category: Airlines

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

However, many of the families coming from motels etc have no household goods of their own.  

Fortunately, in Hawke’s Bay, organisations like Re-Source are ready to help families overcome this challenge.

Re-Source is a Hawke’s Bay not-for-profit focused on rehoming, reusing and repurposing pre-loved resources to people in need through trusted networks – reducing waste while strengthening our region.

Re-Source supports people doing the mahi in communities, such as social workers, Plunket nurses, health staff and Kāinga Ora housing support managers.

Re-Source founder Nadine Gaunt says we often help people who are moving from emergency housing, where they can’t have any of their own household goods, into a long-term Kāinga Ora home.

“When one of the team from Kāinga Ora contacted Re-Source about the 14 newly built homes that were completed just before Christmas, I knew there would be families who needed furniture.”

“I was keen to help, but the volume that would be needed in a short timeframe presented a problem. Donors regularly offer us furniture, but we don’t always have the room. to receive, sort, clean, repair, and collate donations for distribution. We can help more people if we have more space.”

Since the start, Re-Source has been collaborating with Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga (TToH), and Chair Mike Paku says on hearing Re-Source’s need offered two vacant garages in Hastings.

Naomi Whitewood, (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi) Regional Director East North Island says this has been a great example of local organisations collaborating for a common cause.

“Often our whānau come from emergency housing with very little because they can’t store furniture or homeware at motels – they arrive at a new home with no furniture, no linen, and no kitchenware. Re-Source gives them dignity and independence by giving them a head start in setting up a home,” says Naomi.

“Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga has helped Re-Source to help us, in turn, we will help people who need a warm, dry home. And those people, who often have a relationship with TToH, will be happier and healthier. In the end, we are all getting closer to where we need to be.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Whānau will soon be able to move into eight two-bedroom and one three-bedroom home at Main Road in Stoke.

The homes were blessed by local iwi this week and neighbours had a chance to look through the homes before residents move in.

Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says one of the ways Kāinga Ora is increasing the number of homes available for people in need is by purchasing them off developers once they are completed, as it has done with these homes in Stoke.

“These homes are in an ideal location in Stoke as they’re within walking distance to schools, shops and other services. We’re looking forward to welcoming people and their families into a stable place that they can call home,” she says.

A mix of current customers and people who are on the housing register managed by Ministry of Social Development will move into the new homes. “Before placing a customer in a Kāinga Ora home, our dedicated placement team talks to them about both their housing needs and connections to the community and other groups to help us make a suitable housing match,” Ms Campbell says.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

Regional Director Naomi Whitewood (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi), says the new homes are a welcome addition for families in desperate need of a home. “We know that having a warm, dry place to call home can make such a huge difference to people’s lives. One of the ways we’re looking to increase the number of homes available for people in need is by purchasing them new from developers.”.

“There’s a growing demand for more housing in the Havelock North area and some of the people moving into the homes are effectively moving back home. We’re pleased to be able to provide modern homes for people in an ideal location that’s very close to town, shops, schools and other services.”

Local kaumatua blessed each of the homes alongside the families who moved into into them. After the blessing the new residents met each other. Many shared their journey of struggling to have somewhere suitable to live and their joy at moving into one of the new, quality homes.

One of the families moving in is pleased to be returning back to Havelock North after a couple of years living in motels. Joseph and Karen lived in Havelock North for three and a half years before they became homeless when their landlord sold the house they were living in.

We applied for so many private rentals but just couldn’t get anything, says Karen. “Since 2021 we have been living with two of our sons in emergency accommodation. We have been in small motel rooms, firstly in Havelock North and then in Hastings. We all struggled living in such tight quarters, but we had no choice but to put up with it.”

“We loved the relaxed family atmosphere and being part of the Havelock North community when we last lived here. I have been praying that we would be able to get a home back in this area. I was also praying for number seven, for a small lawn and stairs to keep me fit. This lovely new home answers all my prayers. I am so pleased that the boys will now have their own rooms after sleeping in a dormitory at the last motel. It will be a lovely place for me to finish the book I have been writing.”

For Joseph community is very important. “People who were living at the motel had been to ground zero, but we learnt to communicate, to support each other and build others up. I felt that same sense of community as were waiting to start the blessing of our new home.  The whakawhanaungatanga (creating relationships) when everyone shared their stories was a special moment. It was how it should be; learning about our neighbours was a good introduction into our new community.”

Mrs Whitewood says people who have not had a suitable place to live are moving into the homes. “Before placing a customer in a Kāinga Ora home, our dedicated placement team talk to them about both their housing needs and connections to the community and other groups to help us make a suitable housing match,” she said.  

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The HDS is a new way of planning and building quality homes faster, driving productivity, reliability and reducing costs. It currently operates alongside existing ways Kāinga Ora is providing new homes for New Zealanders in need.

The latest milestone of houses built in a 59-day timeframe (including foundations, civil works and construction of three homes) reduces the standard construction time for a similar project by more than half.

“The challenge was set, and we nailed it,” says Jennian Homes Operations Manager, Paul Jenkins.

“We pride ourselves on doing a good job. We’ve got a high-quality process, and we’ll continue to do that. I believe Kāinga Ora and Jennian Homes have got a fantastic partnership. I wouldn’t have gone into the challenge of building this in 59 days unless I knew I had the support.

Kāinga Ora public housing customers are now beginning to move into the new one-bedroom homes in Christchurch, which are universally designed and accessibility friendly.

Earlier this year, Kāinga Ora also partnered with Jennian Homes Residential (NZ) & Jennian Homes Canterbury to complete three new homes in 68 days through the HDS. Learnings from this project were applied to the 59-day build, providing key insights and improvement opportunities.

HDS Group Lead, Jannie Greeff, says efficiencies are achieved by tightly coordinating and tracking all the different tasks, minimising duplication and rework.

“The reliable and repeatable nature of the HDS means our people and our build partners know what needs to happen, when it needs to be done and why, and who needs to do it,” says Jannie.

“It’s about detailed planning, resourcing and sequencing of tasks to create a predictable and steady workflow. The output of a high-quality home doesn’t change from our usual standards, just the way we get there.”

The HDS continues to evolve, as Kāinga Ora tests the system for regional differences, housing typologies and scale.

Homes are now being built using this method in more than 20 towns and cities throughout the country.

Through the HDS Kāinga Ora is also reducing the planning and design of new housing by 94% – from an average of 17 months to six weeks – enabling construction to get underway on the ground faster. Importantly, it means more homes for kiwis in a shorter time.

Strong sector partnerships are key to delivering on these targets, says Jannie.

“Speed is picking up and we are starting to see the rewards of all the good work over the last 18 months. Having build partners who are engaged and invested in this new way of delivery from the start makes all the difference.

“We cannot achieve these milestones in isolation. Together with our build partners and suppliers we continue to innovate and improve, so we can deliver housing in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible to meet the ongoing need in our communities.”

Watch the video below to hear more from build partner Jennian Homes Residential (NZ) & Jennian Homes Canterbury and the Kāinga Ora HDS team.

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

For a long time, Kat’z slept rough on inner-city streets. She’d left home young because the streets were a safer place to be – and for years she lived as part of the rough sleeping community.

When she eventually moved into a home, Kat’z maintained her work as a “street mother” – a protective figure for other members of the rough sleeping community. She was someone they could go to for help, day or night.

However, there were times when she needed a little solitude – and that’s what exactly what she’s found since moving into her new Kainga Ora home at Te Mātāwai.

Comprising 200 apartments across two buildings, it’s the biggest public housing complex in Aotearoa, and customers are afforded extra layers of privacy by Hapori Kaitiaki, the guardians who are onsite 24/7.

“What I love about this place is that I have privacy and security. Visitors have to go through reception, so that gives you the choice to say if it’s a good time or not. I feel safe here.”

Kat’z has beautiful views from her apartment, which is perfectly sized for her needs. “I have a bedroom and a space I use as a little office where I can study or work on my art. I have my guitars in there, too.”

When she’s not working in her role as a peer support worker, Kat’z likes to join some of the activities on offer within the development such as waiata and art classes, which she finds therapeutic.

“Art runs for two hours, every weekday. It’s enough to deescalate anything that’s gone on for me that day.”

She also makes good use of the communal spaces and is enjoying getting to know her new neighbours.

“At first, I found it a bit hard seeing lots of new faces in the building, but you become accustomed to it – we get to know each other.

“You can hear life around you in the building and I like that because you’ve got to have that human contact, you don’t want to be isolated.”

Kat’z is looking forward to spending her first Christmas at Te Mātāwai with whānau, “just being with others in kindness and happiness – it’s going to be special.”

Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

The couple has moved back into their one-bedroom home in Nelson in time for the festive season, after almost four months temporarily living in another Kāinga Ora house while renovations were carried out at their place.

“We try to use the deck as much as we can,” explains Ivy. “We make the most of it at breakfast time and try to get out there as much as possible. We are so spoilt here.”

Ivy and Glynn have lived in their home for eight years. While they were happy with the way it was before the renovations, they say it’s been wonderful to return to their home after it was given a new lease on life.

“It’s fresh and I love the new carpet. They’ve also made a good job of the bench in the kitchen,” Glynn says.

“I love it all!” Ivy adds.

Ivy and Glynn’s home was among 10 units in their housing complex that have been significantly improved as part of a programme that renews the life of a home for up to 50 more years and ensures they are warmer, drier, healthier and more energy efficient.

The homes have been freshly painted inside and out and new carpet and vinyl laid. New double glazing, insulation and heat pumps have been installed to make them warmer and drier. The homes also have new bathrooms and kitchens, and their layout has been changed so they now have an open-plan living space.

Julia Campbell, Regional Director Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast, says upgrading older homes has many benefits.

“We support our customers whose homes are undergoing work to move into other accommodation, and they get to move back into their homes after it’s completed. We know what a difference having a warm and dry home can make to people’s mental and physical health, which is why we’re focussing on improving many of our older homes in Nelson,” she says.

“We’re focussed on helping to support the local workforce, so aim to use Nelson contractors where we can – in this case, we’ve worked closely with a local contractor, Scott Construction, to complete the work on the homes in this development.”

And not only have the team finished the work – but they got everything done ahead of schedule.

“Scott Construction finished the work ahead of schedule, which means our customers have been able to move back into their homes sooner than they expected. We’re really pleased that our customers will be able to enjoy this Christmas in their much-improved homes,” Ms Campbell says.