Welcome Bay pensioner Te Poihipi Phillips, 75, says moving into one of the papakainga units at Welcome Bay's Tahuwhakatiki Marae has been marvellous. Photo / Andrew Warner
Welcome Bay pensioner Te Poihipi Phillips, 75, says moving into one of the papakainga units at Welcome Bay's Tahuwhakatiki Marae has been marvellous. Photo / Andrew Warner
A Bay of Plenty iwi is celebrating a key milestone in providing affordable housing for some of the community's most vulnerable.
Pirihima Whanau Trust formally opened the six housing units, named Te Ohaaki a Miriama, at Welcome Bay's Tahuwhakatiki Marae on Saturday.
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell officiated at the blessing of the papakainga (marae housing) project.
Pirihima Whanau Trust chairwoman Marita Ranclaud said the trust planned to also build three to four family homes at the marae, plus potentially extend the housing to vacant land nearby under the Nga Potiki a Tamapahore housing strategy.
"It's fantastic. For me this is just one part of a bigger picture in the long term," Ms Ranclaud said. "It's so we can become a whole community."
Historically Maori often lived in close-knit family communities, but since the 1960s many left seeking work in bigger centres - becoming disconnected from their people. It was hoped the project would help turn that around, she said.
"The people who need housing in Tauranga are people on a single income, such as pensioners, because the cost of a good, dry, warm house is so much."
Papakainga residents needed to have a connection to family of the trust and also be facing a serious housing need, such as pensioner Te Poihipi Phillips.
Mr Phillips grew up in Welcome Bay but moved to Auckland where he spent much of his adult life, aside from regular trips to Tauranga to attend kiwifruit trust meetings.
Earlier this month Mr Phillips, 75, was given a week's notice to move out of the rental he was living in. The stress of trying to find somewhere to live took such a toll on his health, he was admitted to hospital.
A week ago Mr Phillips and his cat, Trudy, moved in.
Chairwoman of the Pirihima Whanau Trust Marita Ranclaud. Photo/Andrew Warner.
"It's heaven. I don't believe it," he said.
Mr Phillips said he loved being closer to family and "escaping the Auckland rat race".
Niece Joelene Phillips said the papakainga was a blessing.
"I love having him here just down the road and not two or three hours away," she said. "We need places like this to help our older people function independently on a daily basis without the extra stresses of living as they would on their own, like in Auckland, for example.
"They are surrounded by support here. You know they are being looked after."
Papakainga residents will pay a small percentage of their income toward rent.
Mr Flavell praised the efforts of Nga Potiki a Tamapahore iwi and the trust.
"This papakainga project is visionary. The tribe is building a living community around the marae and it has made an economic, social and cultural investment in its future," Mr Flavell said.
Nga Potiki a Tamapahore housing strategy
* The project is a joint venture between Pirihima Whanau Trust and Nga Potiki a Tamapahore iwi.
* The $1.25million community housing project was boosted with $875,000 from the Government and a further TECT grant of $118,000.
* Most residents are older people, with only two of the six under 60.
* The project was modelled on similar papakainga like the Mangatawa Lane project off State Highway 2, opposite Papamoa.
