Te Pūtahi-nui-o-Rehua, the charity providing equitable housing solutions and much more for whānau, drew in the crowds as the only Māori-led kaupapa housing solution at the Roadmap to my House expo at Waitangi this year.
The expo was attended by thousands and it was evident there was a strong desire for whānau to get into their own homes. Te Pūtahi-nui-o-Rehua Trust was established to lead, innovate and support Māori approaches to whānau, hapū, and iwi development in Te Tai Tokerau. Their mahi includes providing equitable, high-quality housing solutions which can be transported and located onto Māori whenua. They also aim to provide a rent-to-own finance facility to ensure affordability and their operational model utilises a kaupapa Māori approach to wellbeing – spanning not just housing, but employment, health and social services too.
“We were hoping to create interest by exhibiting our housing solution cabin on site at the expo, but we were blown away by the interest shown by so many people. We received well over 70 expressions of interest to follow up that were generated just from the expo,” said Sharon Henare, Kaiwhakahaere, Manager.
“Our Māori-led approach – from Māori construction, to Māori civil infrastructure, to wrap around kaupapa Māori social services, aims to provide a uniquely Māori approach which looks, feels and sounds like a place where our people would be happy to raise their whānau,” Sharon said.
“Our team engaged in kōrero building connections, sharing knowledge and offering support to assist whānau to think about building the spaces that they wish to live in. We had meaningful kōrero about shaping rent-to-own finance facilities and gained a deep understanding of whānau circumstances and affordability which helps our small team understand how we can help whānau to purchase their own whare”.
The Roadmap to my House initiative was the brainchild of The Waitangi National Trust, and key partners such as Te Pūtahi-nui-o-Rehua provided visitors with the support and knowledge about how to improve their current whare and potentially own their own home too. The expo brought together housing construction, financing, service providers and housing products to provide aspiring homeowners with the knowledge they need to make owning their own home a reality.
The Tindall Foundation prioritises kaupapa Māori-led initiatives that support the wellbeing and aspirations of Tangata whenua, especially the acceleration of housing outcomes across our focus areas of Te Tai Tokerau, Tairāwhiti, Whanganui and Horowhenua.