More emergency housing in Tauranga

Te Tuinga Whānau Support Services Trust have officially opened two whare which will provide more emergency accommodation for those in need in Tauranga. Photo: ttw.org.nz

The opening of two whare by Te Tuinga Whānau Support Services Trust will provide more emergency accommodation for those in need in Tauranga.

Inspired by a need to accommodate mothers and their children whose partners have been incarcerated, the two whare – Whare Ora and Whare Awa – were officially opened on Friday.

Whare Awa was named in honour of former Te Tuinga Whānau board member, Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor and local iwi leader Te Awanuiarangi Black.

Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has welcomed the opening of the whare, saying the trust has intimate knowledge and understands the needs of whānau.

'I commend Te Tuinga Whānau Support Services Trust for their enthusiasm, determination and commitment to provide safe and secure homes for whānau.”

Whānau who occupy the homes also receive a 12-week personalised wrap-around service designed to enable and support them into their own rental homes.

The trust secured $80,000 funding through the Māori Housing Network, led by Te Puni Kōkiri, to help pay for the refurbishment of the two homes.

Both the Ministry of Social Development and Tauranga City Council have also been significant contributors to the project.

'The Māori Housing Network has been working closely with communities and with other agencies to ensure we leverage all available opportunities for whānau from existing funding.”

The two whare became available for whānau to use in the first week of April.

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1 comment

What a shame

Posted on 01-05-2017 12:43 | By Tgaboy

If someone is in a relationship with a criminal, do we really want to maintain them in Tauranga? It's hard to imagine that someone can not be aware of their partners criminal involvement when you share a relationship with them. And in that case, it probably suggests the partner is a low life too. I for one, don't want these people in our community. A big like throwing good money after bad.


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