An Auckland hapū and charitable trust has partnered to launch a transitional housing initiative in Ihumātao for South Auckland youth.
Under the hapū of Ihumātao, Te Ahiwaru Trust has collaborated with the Māori youth organisation Mā Te Huruhuru to establish a new transitional housing base called, ‘He Pā Tupu’, aimed at wāhine Māori with housing insecurities.
Mahera Maihi, CEO of Mā Te Huruhuru said when the opportunity from Te Ahiwaru Trust came with a vacant house that needed filling, her team leapt at the chance.
“He Pā Tupu is more than just housing. This initiative ensures that our young people don’t just survive, they thrive."
There are around more than 19,000 homeless young people in New Zealand. Māori and Pasifika youth aged 25 years old and under make up more than 60% of that total.
Maihi said He Pā Tupu is a way of ensuring young Māori stay off the streets while reconnecting them to their land.
“Our aim will be to prepare young people for independence and support them into long-term housing.”
He Pā Tupu will be targeting young wāhine aged 18-24 years old experiencing housing insecurities. The house has five fully furnished bedrooms and will be welcoming its new residents in the coming days.
Monique Raihānia, 18, is one of the young women who will be moving into the Pā Tupu and said this initiative has been a second chance at life.
“This place [He Pā Tupu} is giving me hope. It’s giving my faith back in terms of housing.”
Raihānia’s life before He Pā Tupu consisted of her being one in nine people living in a 5-bedroom household. By the age of just 16 years old, she was the sole provider for her household.
“On top of everything you know, maintaining a house, as well as trying to help my family. But now, coming to He Pā Tupu this one is for me.”
Ko te hauora hinengaro te take
Koinei te wāhi tuarua o te noho whare whakawhiti mō ngā rangatahi Māori.
I tērā tau, Ko Pā Piringa te whare whakawhiti tuatahi i whakarewaina i Otāhūhū mo ngā rangatahi Māori i waenga i te 17 - 21 te pakeke.
Ko April Tunupopo tētehi atu wahine Māori ka hūnuku ki te Pā Tupu.
E kī ana a Tunupopo, ko te mea nui ka taea e ia te whakautu i ngā nama o te whare e noho nei ia.
“Ko te mahi me te moni whiwhi kāore i āwhina i a au, inā koa mo te whare. He mahi wa-katoa ahau, ahakoa he mahi me nga moni whiwhi kaore au i te nui hei utu mo te whare noho me taku motuka kia haere ki te mahi.”
Ko te take e whakaihiihi ana a Tunupopo ki tēnei kaupapa hou, ko te whai waahi ki tētahi kāinga hou me te penapena tonu i āna pūtea.
“Kei te harikoa taku ngākau ka taea e au te noho ki roto i te whare whānau nei a Pā Tupu. Ka taea e au te utu mō te whare, ka taea hoki e au te noho pumau mo te roanga wā”
Hei te mutunga o tēnei marama ka hūnuku ngā wāhine nei i raro i te maru o te Pā, ā ki reira timata ai ngā mahi whakawhanaunga i waenga i te hapū me ngā kainoho hou i te hapori o Ihumātao.
