Ana Apatu: Quality housing our festive wish

All Ana Apatu wants for Christmas is quality housing for the less fortunate.

U-Turn Trust is holding its final meeting for the year. We have big items to discuss and plan for next year.

Takatimu Ora, our whanau ora collective with Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Nga Marae, Nga Kairauhii, Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu, Whakatu and Waimarama and Flaxmere communities of interest with a focus on rangatahi.

We need to ensure young people have a voice at all levels. Housing - the acquisition of Housing New Zealand houses and the development of quality affordable housing surrounding the marae is a driving issue. This includes investigating the process of becoming a community housing provider. The build of Flaxmere Boxing Academy in the Flaxmere village and the build of MAC Clubrooms is another big issue. Phew. To make a success of all of these areas we will be relying on sound partnerships built on relationships developed.

Henare shares with me that our main area of focus for 2015 should be housing. As previously stated, one cannot work in Flaxmere and not be moved emotionally by the poor standard of housing some families are subjected to. Families become too disempowered to move - coming up with bond money, guilt that the state of the house is their fault are all contributing factors to not moving to another suitable house.

These poor houses can be a major contributor of respiratory illnesses, impact on rheumatic fever rates, feeling safe, family violence, a sense of security and so on.

When asked to reflect on the highs and lows of 2014, Henare's response is the ever widening gap between rich and poor. But always the highs outweigh the lows.

Working with the Flaxmere community sustains me emotionally. People will give Pam and I the shirts off their backs. We know we have the love and the loyalty of the people - they are there at the drop of their hat. Unconditional love, you know when you have that, you never take it for granted, this sustains you to get out of bed at 2am - it's all based on love not money.

As my mum used to say, you can give without loving but you can't love without giving.

I would give my life for these people. I would rather go without.

Without the goodwill of the community, we would never be able to do what we do now. It's the currency of U-Turn - it goes beyond money and the bricks and mortar. Relationships have stood the test of time. These relationships include our sponsors who soon become our dear intimate friends - it's harder to get out of the heart of Flaxmere than to get in.

My aim for Flaxmere is for it to stand on its own feet and cut the umbilical cord from government. As long as we have our hand-out for government funding, we will never grow. We need to get off benefits - hand up, not hand out. We need to sustain ourselves.

If we all accept Flaxmere is an opportunity not a liability, things will change.

For me, leadership is about serving not leading. Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa are examples of real leaders. At times, it can be a tough and lonely walk.

When asked what a measure of success would look like, Henare shares that it would be when mums and dads take utmost responsibility and we put smiles on the faces of our children.

During our discussion at least five people approach Henare to shake his hand, hug him and to wish him Merry Xmas. At the end of our discussion, I look at his tired face and ask Henare if he and Pam are taking time off. For the first time I hear him ask - "do you think we are doing too much"?

Finally, your response to our Te Aranga Marae Xmas lunch is overwhelming.

So many of you have brought gifts and food to the marae, Pam is overwhelmed and tearful with these acts of kindness.

The chiller is bursting with donated hams, meat, chickens. There appears to be a growing appreciation of giving to others.

To all of you who support us - we thank you.

Finally, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi - the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Merry Xmas everyone.

-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere