For four years, Melo Hauiti’s whānau have shared one wardrobe and relied on laundromats to wash their clothes.
That will change when they move into one of 150 new affordable rental homes operated by Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing in Tūranga.
Hauiti, a tenant in the new development, was among the first whānau invited inside before the official opening.
“Tona tokowha pea tangata e tuari ana i te kāpata kotahi,” she said while describing the wardrobe her whānau currently shares.
Every bedroom in the new home has its own wardrobe.
“Āe, he tino nui, me te mea hoki he kāpata kei ia rūma, so kōanga ngākau,” Hauiti said.
Each home also comes with a fridge, dishwasher and washing machine supplied by Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing.
Hauiti said her whānau had spent a significant amount using laundromat machines over the past four years.
“Kua tino whakapau i te pūtea ki ngā mīhini o aua toa horoi kākahu. So waimarie hoki.”
Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing chief operations officer Boo Haronga has worked on the development for five years and watched it progress from plans on paper to completed homes.
“It’s great to see it come to fruition at the moment, but this is only the start,” Haronga said.
“So we’ve still got a long way to go around the outskirts of this site and to actually get people in, people warm, people safe.”
The development cost $75 million. The Government contributed $49 million, with the iwi of Tūranga Tangata Rite funding the remainder.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop joined iwi representatives and members of the community at the official opening.
“The best days are when you get to go and open new houses,” Bishop said.
Social Housing Minister Tama Potaka was amazed at the development.
“Koa ana te ngākau,hari ana te wairua, me te whakamīharo hoki o te hinengaro ki te kite i tēnei hanga, i tēnei momo me ngā Mihi kāmehameha ki a Willie Te Aho, Annie mā, Kararaina, Matua Pehimana, katoa te marea, e whakangūngū nei ki te whakatārewa i tēnei, i tēnei ōhanga mō ngā mokopuna me ngā kōhungahunga.”
Toitū Tairāwhiti Housing managing director Annette Wehi said housing comes first as the foundation of wellbeing for whānau.
“Ko te whare, ko te kāenga, te mea tuatahi, te tuāpapa o te oranga mō ngā whānau.”
The first tenants are expected to move in over the coming weeks. When Melo Hauiti next opens the door, she’ll be home.
