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.
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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.
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