In 2024, with the support of Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Aka Whaiora, we helped repair 24 homes across our community that were damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle. These repairs have been key to providing safe, warm, and healthy living spaces for whānau who were impacted by the cyclone and the June flood, ensuring they have a place to call home once again.
This is part of a wider effort to support the recovery of our community, focusing on long-term housing solutions that truly benefit our people. We’ve been fortunate to partner with three amazing local Māori building companies—M K Tipoki Building, Red Antler Building, and Ngawari Homes—to carry out the work. Their expertise, along with local subcontractors who provided plumbing, electrical work, painting, and flooring, has made sure that homes have been repaired to a professional standard with all necessary codes. Thanks to Te Aka Whaiora we were also able to ensure most of the repaired homes met healthy home standards with exterior wall insulation as well as underfloor and heating.
Cyclone Gabrielle, Full house repair – Like for Like
Our local community has come together, too. Wairoa Recovery and Red Cross helped by donating furniture and whiteware, and Te Whare Marie o Tapuae contributed heat pumps and insulation, making sure homes are as warm and comfortable as possible.
One of the whānau who benefited from the repairs, Issac Henare, shared how much the work meant to him and his family. After their home was badly damaged, they stayed at a local marae before being given a cabin while their repairs were underway. “The renovated house is now a place we can be proud of and call home,” Issac said, a reminder of how important it is to have a safe and welcoming space to come back to.
With over 35% of homes in the region affected by the cyclone and flood, it’s clear that there’s a pressing need for new homes and more repairs to existing homes. Our Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Housing Strategy has both of these as goals.
