This homeless family, who did not want to be identified, have ended up staying at Te Puea Marae because they cannot afford to pay rent. Credit: Doug Sherring
By Patrice Dougan
A South Auckland couple with nine children sheltering at Te Puea Marae after losing their rental home say they feel like a failure for not being able to secure a home for their kids - despite the father working.
It comes as the marae seeks private-sector input into how the wider community can help struggling families get back on their feet.
The Pasifika couple, who did not want to be identified, were forced to move out of their Mangere rental three months ago when the landlord decided to renovate the uninsulated and dated property.
They're on the Ministry of Social Development and Housing New Zealand's high-priority list for a six-bedroom house.
But after three months in ministry-appointed motels they were referred to Te Puea, which is helping them get their children, aged 1 to 15 - including two sets of twins - back to health and school.
The cold, uninsulated five-bedroom house they rented had made the children sick - two were diagnosed with strep throat after arriving at the marae.
Their emotional mother told the Herald she felt like she was failing her family.
"My family is unhealthy," she said. "They always ask me, why are we staying around, why we didn't find a house.
"I feel sad for myself and my husband because I know that's my job and my husband's to find a house for my family."
She added: "I think I try my best with my husband to make my family a better life, but at the moment we struggle with their school, struggle with their health and we struggle with our life."
Te Puea Marae chairman Hurimoana Dennis, described them as "a very good family".
"[They're a] good mum and dad, loving parents, but it's just affordability."
Hurimoana Dennis of Te Puea Marae hopes to engage the private sector to help struggling families get back on their feet. Photo / Doug Sherring
The father works as a self-employed painter - contracted by Housing New Zealand - but his wages were not enough to meet private sector rents, he said.
"He wants to upskill himself, in carpentry. He's not satisfied with just going on a benefit."
The family were an example of the people the marae is hoping to target with its idea of getting the private sector to help out, he said.
The marae will hold a hui next week to gauge interest from companies, businesses and philanthropists, in the hope of coming up with concrete ideas to help struggling families get back on their feet.
It has invited companies like Mitre10, Bunnings, Farmers, The Warehouse, PWC, KPMG, the Warriors, New Zealand Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby League, as well as the Philanthropic Society.
Dennis is hoping for "a lot of lateral thinking" around how each organisation can best help - whether that's by sponsoring a family for a year, paying their rent for a year, helping them get jobs, increasing wages, or helping to train and upskill families.
It was about creating opportunities, he said, and he's open to suggestions.
"It's not all about money, it could be about advocacy, it could be about networking, it could be about sponsorship. It could be about funding, but it could be about getting a car," he said.
Dennis said he was appealing to companies and organisations with a social conscience, who wanted to help but maybe weren't sure how.
"I know there's a lot out there who want to help and they've got plenty of resources," he said.
Dennis added: "So from Te Puea to the corporate world we're asking you to come here and we'll show you our vision.
"We've got a model here that works, we've got something that works, we can be the portal to help the corporate world into the community if they just want to work with us."
The hui will be held at Te Puea Marae on Tuesday, August 23, from 10am.
Housing New Zealand referred Herald enquiries to MSD, which was unable to respond last night.
