Whānau full of thanks for community effort

Home sweet home . . . from left, Dupree Kara, Paige Harrison, Anzia Hohipa, Waimarie Hohipa, Cheyne Kara, Connie Kara, Dahnell Hohipa, Te Ramaroa Hohipa and River Harrison outside their restored home. Picture by Paul Rickard

“It’s a blessing.” 

That’s how Connie Kara of Iaopa Road in Te Karaka feels about having her uninsured home fully renovated, thanks to funding from iwi and government agencies.

Ms Kara lives there with 11 others in a home that holds many stories for her whānau.

Their house was severely damaged by flooding in Cyclone Gabrielle in February.

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” Ms Kara said.

“Luckily, we had the Cranswick Hill to go up. When I was there I was just thinking ‘how am I going to do this? How am I going to pay for everything? Where will I live?’”

Floodwater went through their whare, damaging everything in its path.

But through the efforts of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki lead negotiator Willie Te Aho, and Te Karaka community leaders Pimia Wehi and Dave Pikitia, the process of helping Connie and her whānau was begun.

Right at the start of the weather emergency, they stayed at Te Karaka Area School, before cabins were arranged as temporary accommodation for the whānau.

The iwi managed to get funding from Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Te Puni Kōkiri along with Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, to restore the house to a high, liveable standard.

“We didn’t have to battle with anyone either,” Ms Kara said.

Yesterday morning, a karakia was held at the house before the family move back in.

“It felt amazing. It’s all blessings.Straight away after the cyclone it has been blessing after blessing,” she said.

“We are so grateful and humbled by it all.”

She wanted to thank everyone who had helped them get to this point.

“Our mind frame now is, ‘how do we give back to those who helped us?’”