Housing update
Wairoa whānau work towards home ownership through financial capability programme
Whānau in Wairoa who lost their homes during Cyclone Gabrielle are taking positive steps toward financial stability and long-term housing, supported by a home-ownership initiative led by Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa.
Fourteen whānau, whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged in the cyclone, have now graduated from an eight-week financial capability and home-ownership programme. The course included five weeks of online learning, followed by three weeks of a guest speaker forum, and one-on-one mentoring, providing practical tools and tailored support.
Chief Executive Lewis Ratapu says many of these families have spent nearly two years living in temporary housing pods, and the programme is helping them explore pathways to turn these into permanent assets.
All 14 whānau who completed the programme are now in the process of purchasing their pods - creating long-term security and a place to call their own.
The programme, Sorted Kāinga Ora, is delivered by Te Puni Kōkiri, Ochre Business Solutions and eventually in partnership with Kāenga Hou, a kaupapa Māori, charitable trust housing provider that supports whānau through shared-ownership arrangements. Under this model, Kāenga Hou purchases the property and whānau can buy out their share over 10–15 years.
Ratapu says whānau are gaining clarity and confidence as they learn more about budgeting, mortgages and navigating ownership pathways.
“Whānau are learning budgeting skills and financial literacy and different housing solutions. The programme helps them develop healthy financial habits and have conversations with whānau about money matters.”
For participant Trevor Mihaere, who has lived in his pod for two years, the opportunity to own it would be a major milestone.
“They’re safe, they’re secure, they’re the best. Some of these pods… these are better homes than what we had before.”
Trevor outside his pod next to the lemon tree provided by TToTW
A 62 year’s old Trevor is a retired builder and found the course extremely helpful. “It taught me the importance of a clean credit rating, how to get it clean, budgeting tips and how to enter the market. It was really eye opening for me and it’s given me the necessary tools and confidence to be on my way to purchasing my own whare.”
Ratapu says the programme is opening whānau eyes to what’s possible.
“It’s reasonably affordable here, if you’ve got a good job. That is the problem - we don’t have jobs that are high-paying, so our weekly average income is quite low. But it’s enough that you can afford a loan, and some whānau don’t know until they’ve gone through the course that what they’re paying in rent now could cover a home mortgage.”
With strong demand, another 30 whānau are lined up to take part, with new cohorts beginning in April and June - continuing to build pathways toward secure, long-term housing for Wairoa whānau.