Another day at Te Puea Marae

Written By: - Date published: 12:54 pm, June 20th, 2016 - 7 comments
Categories: activism, class war, housing, human rights - Tags: , , ,

While the government evades and dithers, life goes on at Te Puea Marae:

‘Steady as she goes’ for Te Puea Marae

Thirty-three people stayed at Te Puea Marae in Mangere on Friday night. … The marae has helped about 95 people who approached them in desperate circumstances, chair Hurimoana Dennis said.
…

Mr Dennis described the situation as “steady” and hoped some of the five families currently staying would be matched with more permanent housing soon. He said there was still great need in the community, and he expected more people would call on the marae in the coming weeks. “Our wardens and our night patrols are going out and giving them (the homeless) soup and sandwiches. Everyone now knows where we are, and it’s just steady as she goes.”

One of the most heartbreaking stories:

Te Puea Marae steps up to find cancer teen and family a home

A teenager who is battling cancer ended up homeless with the rest of her family after moving to Auckland to receive treatment.
…
Her father, who previously worked as a painter in Hamilton, tried to find his family a home. “He would go to Winz for appointments, he told them about me having cancer, about us. “They did nothing. He went to Housing NZ, told them. They couldn’t find us a house. Too full, they said, too full.”

When things at her aunt’s “got really tense”, the family left and had stayed at the marae since. “We were stuck at Aunty’s. Things got really tense, so we had leave. My Dad heard about what the marae was doing and said ‘let’s try the marae’.”

Although Te Puea Marae was “pretty cool”, “B” wished she and her family had a place to call home. “I hope we get a house. So we can all live again. So my Dad can go back to work. He’s a hard worker. My brother wants to get a job. My sister, she likes her school and I want my little brothers to have a home. I feel responsible for all of this.”…

Toby and Toby tell this story at The Pencilsword.

If you want to help, donate here or here, follow Aunties Inc.

7 comments on “Another day at Te Puea Marae ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. marty mars 1
    20 June 2016 at 1:12 pm

    Good work by the marae – so proud of the mahi they are doing and I wish they didn’t have to do it.

    • Sabine 1.1
      20 June 2016 at 2:22 pm

      this + 1

      and still ashamed of our current National led Government.

      At long last have they no shame?

  2. Ad 2
    20 June 2016 at 2:40 pm

    What a good government would do.

  3. Takere 3
    20 June 2016 at 3:29 pm

    And the %5000 goes too …. the $5000 only goes to a moving company or covers fuel costs.
    “Once you’re in your new location you get a maximum of $2000

  4. Jack Ramaka 4
    20 June 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Marae’s around the country should be be the conduit for people in need of help WINZ and the current Government do not give a big fat rats ar*e.

  5. NZJester 5
    20 June 2016 at 4:35 pm

    Someone needs to find all the ghost houses in Auckland, change the locks and move in a bunch of the homeless families to them.
    I would cut down a lot of the problem.

  6. George 6
    24 June 2016 at 10:06 pm

    Really good work by the Marae – I am glad that there are people like you who are always willing to help. I think that I will send this to people from http://www.easy-packing.co.uk/ and maybe I will convince them to donate Te Puea Marae. Keep up the good work!

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