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COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
HEAT FOR WAIMARAMA KAUMÄTUA HOMES
Kaumätua who live on our marae
keep the home fires burning across
Aotearoa: in a new initiative, the
Täkitimu Te Puni Kökiri team is helping
to keep those elders own homes warm
and healthy.
Working alongside the Hawkes Bay
District Health Board, Te Puni Kökiri
is working to see kaumätua flats are
healthy, safe and comfortable. The
DHB’s expert knowledge and resources
was boosted by the relationship
facilitation and coordinating support
from Te Puni Kökiri.
An initial survey of local marae found
that nine had kaumätua housing in
place and three reported that those
homes needed extensive work or major
upgrades. Work was soon underway
that saw insulation, safety and heating
solutions for every flat.
Through the project, Waimarama
Kaumätua Flats were identified as
a potential location for a unique,
communal heating system.
Te Puni Kökiri Acting Deputy Secretary
Eruera Reedy says, “we understand that
using this type of system for multiple
homes on a marae is a first: it's similar
to the old school boiler system.”
A pöwhiri was held to acknowledge the
mahi and whänau reported that there’d
been no hospital admissions since the
heating system had been installed: the
flats were now seen as an enviable
place to live.
Hawkes Bay DHB healthy populations
team spoke of their commitment to assist
with better health for the Hawkes Bay
people and their environments. They said
it starts out with fundamental issues
like where you live, your home. Through
greater insulation and knowledge whänau
can consider better heating solutions
which will then reduce illness.
The Rätana Housing Strategy was launched three years ago by the Rätana
Ahuwhenua Trust in a bid to improve the quality of life of local whänau.
With huge housing hopes, Trustees have set
their sights on future housing developments
in the rural township. Their first priority
has been the upgrade of existing homes.
Leveraging training and employment
opportunities for Rätana rangatahi is another
key concern. Rätana whänau have worked
alongside a range of government agencies
and their goals will soon be realised. A year
after the strategy was launched, Cabinet
approved funding for repairs paving the way
for the safe installation of insulation as well
as clean, efficient heating.
“Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority
(EECA) is the lead agency and with support
from Te Puni Kökiri, we have partnered
with Rätana Ahuwhenua Trust to facilitate
community “buy in” and access to homes so
we can assess them. Assessments enable EECA
to priorities essential repairs,” says Te Puni
Kökiri Acting Deputy Secretary Eruera Reedy.
“Once repairs are complete, EECA will
arrange for the installation of insulation and
clean heating to current Warm Up NZ: Heat
Smart standards and rules.”
The Trust’s partnership with government
agencies is a good model for other
communities wishing to embark on healthy
housing projects says Eruera.
Twenty per cent of all homes have been fully
insulated while seventy per cent had clean
heating devices installed: all homes have
electrical repairs completed.
When Mäori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples
announced funding for the project he said it
would make Rätana homes warmer, healthier
and much more affordable to heat properly.
“It will also show other Mäori communities
the benefits of these improvements, and we
hope it will inspire communities to invest in
similar projects.”
Housing Minister Phil Heatley said the
scheme was a positive step to improving
housing conditions for a community in need.
“There is little point in insulating a home
that has leaks or unsafe wiring. The scheme
will focus on repairs that will enable the safe
and effective installation of insulation and
new, efficient heating.”
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