Local News

Posted on: 6 September 2011

Habitat for Humanity is challenging New Zealanders to build or make something for a local cause or person in need. You could make a bird feeder for your neighbour, a toy for your local school, or even craft a quilt for a community hospice. It’s totally up to you!

By asking family and friends to sponsor your build, you will also be helping Habitat for Humanity’s vital work in building and repairing homes for Kiwi families currently living in substandard housing.

We know there are loads of creative people and budding DIY’ers out there, so why not give it a go and help Habitat for Humanity and your local community by building something special.

You can BUILD as a team or as an individual. Simply register your build on the Build Challenge website www.buildchallenge.org, receive a Mitre10 Mega $50 voucher towards your materials (Auckland & Hamilton only) and start building. On the Build Challenge website you will find some simple designs to get you going. SUPPORT  a team too, by going on the website and checking out all the builds.

The Build Challenge runs from September 1st to October 3rd 2011. A grand finale and prize giving night will take place at Cafe Agora in Hamilton on October 3rd (World Habitat Day). The Auckland finale night is to be confirmed.

For all teams in need of a location and some guidance, Mitre10 Mega is offering you the opportunity to work on your build at the Mitre10 Mega in Hamilton on Saturday 24 September from 10am-2pm. For those in Auckland our workshop in Otara is also available along with all the tools you might need.

For more information, visit the website or contact:

Karlijn Nelissen (Central North Island region): resdev@habitatcni.org.nz / 07 849 0284
 
Conrad LaPointe (rest of the country): conradlp@habitatga.org.nz / 09 271 3357

Posted on: 2 February 2011

Posted on: 25 November 2010

Posted on: 3 November 2010

10 days ago this fantastic Global Village Team from Canada thought they were going to build in Hamilton and spend their evenings on glamorous Victoria Street. Instead, due to a series of unfortunate events in the Waikato, Habitat Auckland were called upon at short notice to put the team to work.

Global Village teams are an integral part of Habitat’s work. Teams from around the world volunteer on builds from Chile to Mongolia and everywhere else in between to support our work and build with families in housing need. We feel very fortunate to have such a team with us who site supervisor Titia Besheval describes as “simply awesome”.

Team Canada will be on site for 10 days and then many plan to stay a while longer and travel around New Zealand. Team leader Barbara Gordon, an auditor by trade, says their expectations of the trip have already been exceeded. “The team have  really come together as a group and there are some wonderful dynamics….what is most pleasing is the sense of community within the group, with Kolini and his family and with the other families already housed on the new site”

Team member Paul  Colosimo, who has been fitting insulation for two days without complaining about a single itch, is to commemorate his trip with a tattoo from soon to be home owner Kolini Fakavai, who is, thankfully a professional tattoo artist. 

The group has already made a lasting impression on Mike and Titia. Speaking with more shock than awe Titia exclaimed that  “some of the ladies have been sanding for days and not even complained!” while Site Manager Mike Bourke has been very moved by the groups work ethic and more notably  their personalities.”It will be a real shame to see them leave…..they have been a real pleasure”

With Team Canada only 5 days into their trip, there is sure to be some emotional scenes when they finally leave the site at the end of the month.

Posted on: 3 November 2010

Posted on: 28 October 2010

Posted on: 27 October 2010

Erecting homes for Poor by Retired Citizen of New Zealand

Posted on: 20 October 2010

Posted on: 6 September 2010

Clarrie Wills Way in Otara, is more than just a street sign. It is a legacy of a man and his wife and the help they have given 50 Auckland families to own and maintain their homes as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. Clarrie and Jenny Wills, residents of Acacia Cove retirement village in Manurewa, had always planned to travel overseas together to work on houses one day. But Clarrie died three months ago and, next month, Jenny will make the Everest Build trip to Pokhara, Nepal – alone.

“This is for him really,” Jenny says of her pending trip. “He always talked about going overseas on a build, but his health was failing and I had to take care of him. If he’d been here, he would have been pretty excited. He was involved in so much with Habitat for Humanity.” Clarrie, a builder and inspector with the department of Maori Housing and Housing New Zealand, was a founding member of Habitat and a member on the board for about 13 years. Jenny spent eight years as chairwoman of Habitat’s family support committee and six on its board of directors.

“Between the two of them they have contributed a tremendous amount,” says Habitat Greater Auckland’s executive director, Warren Jack. “One month before he died we had him (Clarrie) on a Habitat site to dedicate the street to him. And Jenny has had quite a big role for someone on a voluntary basis.”

Jenny’s two children have had the opportunity to go to Nepal, and Jenny, 70, is relishing the opportunity to go herself. “I’m so excited to be a part of a 16 member Global Village team,” she says. A total of nine New Zealand teams representing 150 Kiwis will make up half of the volunteers from around the globe. They will be charged with the ambitious goal of building 30 new homes together with local family and community members next month.

Posted on: 6 September 2010

On 5th July a Global Village team made up of ten students from Elim Christian College, together with PE department head Jason Webb and science teacher Robyn Bailey, set off to Fiji on a Habitat build.
Little more than two years on from the Mangatepopo Gorge tragedy, in which six Elim students and their teacher were swept to their deaths, Mr. Webb believes that this first-time experience for the school, gave students a new passion and focus for getting out there and making a difference.

Mr. Webb said that staff had been discussing for some time ways in which the school could be involved in hands-on learning opportunities that also enriched the lives of others. For Elim Christian College, Habitat’s Global Village trip to Fiji ticked all the right boxes.

Although the team could meet a very practical need through their help building a simple two-bedroom home, he believed there was certainly a lot to be gained by the students also. “The build is truly only a small part of the experience,” Mr. Webb said, “It is the people and the community that made the biggest impact. Team members were blown away by the local community’s hospitality and generosity despite having very little themselves.” One example given was where the parents of the daughter whose home they were building, gave up their modest home in Wailevu for the week so that the team could have a decent place to stay.

Mr. Webb also appreciated the many opportunities to get involved with community life that included a celebration with villagers at the build site, visiting a local school and handing out stationery and sports equipment that Elim students had brought along, and a moving dedication ceremony of the new family home. The college has already booked another Global Village trip to Fiji for October 2011. They are just one of a growing number of New Zealand high schools, including St. Kentigerns and Albany Senior High School, that recognise the rich learning experiences that can be gained from a Global Village trip.

Posted on: 24 August 2010

Posted on: 30 July 2010

Fifteen houses are to be built in partnership with the New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF), as part of the comprehensive Wymondley Rd development. The houses will be built progressively during 2010 and 2011. So far one has been completed and another two have the roofs on and windows in and the floor of the fourth house will soon be poured.

There are a large number of individuals and corporate teams already involved and more are needed for the next two years. To date we have had teams from Daimler Mercedes Financials, ANZ Bank, Tonkin Tools, Framework Trust,  IAG Insurance, AIC, Felton, Bluebird, Microsoft, St Cuthberts, Genesis, GHD Engineers, Jasmax, Albany Senior High, St Kentigerns,  Price Waterhouse Coopers plus many individuals.

Please contact us about coming on site as either a corporate team or an individual volunteer.

Posted on: 28 July 2010

Posted on: 27 July 2010

We arrived on time in Nadi and were greeted by the friendly habitat Fiji staff at the airport.  We then all got aboard a people mover/truck and headed to the other side of the island where we would be staying for a week. Our habitat host for the week was Sikele.  He was with us all of the time making sure that we had everything we needed and dealt with the locals regarding our home stay and the arrangement of getting food and water for our team.  We arrived in Wailevu where we stayed for the week. We stayed in the parent’s house of the daughter whose home we were building for.  They graciously gave up their house for a week for it to be invaded by all of these people. 

From there we drove 35 minutes every morning up to the build site which was a small village far up into the hill country.  The accommodations were simple but effective.  We all slept on the floor on foam mats and all shared one toilet and shower. Girls and guys had their own changing room and meals were prepared by the family members. The food was excellent. We were very well looked after. All water that we drank was bottled or boiled. One of the nights they arranged for us to stay up in the village where we were building the house. It was a very good experience. During the evening they had a festive ceremony of singing and dancing.  A true cultural experience.  We had a good deal of time to interact with the local village community.  Many of the students found this to be a very valuable experience. It was good to have other things to do besides just working on the house.  The build is truly only a small part of the experience it is the people and community that make the biggest impact.

On Sunday we were able to go to a Fijian church and then we dedicated the house to the family which was a very emotional and moving experience. The build went pretty well. The prep work that was done before we got there was minimal so we were basically starting from literally the ground up.  We managed to get three walls up and much of the painting done as well as a couple of big holes dug for the sewage system.

We were able to visit the school one afternoon which was another impacting experience.  We were able to give them workbooks, pencils and some sports equipment that we brought along with us.  We performed a few songs for them and they performed a few songs for us.  Later that afternoon we all played volleyball with the local villagers. It was quite a spectacle.

The final leg of our trip took us to a hotel just north of Nadi where we were able to unwind and process all that had gone on for the last week.  We basically had been living altogether along with the family for 24hrs straight for 7 days.  We had some good group meetings and discussions about what impacted them during their time on the build and talked about what they might feel upon returning home. One of the days was spent out on an island snorkelling and just spending time on the beach together as a team. The students really enjoyed getting to know each other better and just having some time to themselves. 

One of the things that stood out to many was the simpleness of village life and how the importance of family, community and spirituality really stood out.  Western culture is so cluttered with stuff and business that it takes us away from these simple qualities that are essential to life.  Food is grown to live and survive on not casually picked over in a supermarket culture. Health and safety was quite good during the trip. There was the occasional scratched knee that required a plaster and some ointment. The only medical issue was one student came down with an allergic reaction after swimming in the river.  She was taken to the local medical clinic and given stronger antihistamines  free of charge. Overall it was an amazing trip and awesome to see Gods hand of providence and protection over the whole thing.  I look forward to providing and organizing more opportunities like these for students to be a part of in the future.

Jason Webb
Elim Christian College

Jason Webb

Elim Christian College

Posted on: 20 July 2010

I have recently returned from Mongolia. I was fortunate enough to be the team leader for 10 amazing volunteers from various places in New Zealand. We spent 5 days constructing 2 brick houses between us including insulation and parts of the roof. What a fantastic experience. I would recommend this to anyone no matter what your circumstances are. Our team sure had diversity from Shane : an 18 year old student from Whangarei to Owen turning 76 from New Plymouth.

I suggest travelling singularly, as in a team environment you become friends very quickly and it is amazing the bond that you can form with your team members in just a few days. If you choose to travel with a companion this still is equally fulfilling as you can both share in the memories and make new friends together.

We have numerous overseas builds on the horizon for the rest of 2010 and 2011, so if you are interested please go to our website www.habitat.org.nzand see which one is for you.

You can fundraise online, if you need any tips, ideas or advice on how to do this please contact us. Shane managed to raise his full amount for Mongolia. Go Shane ...

I have now been to Samoa and Mongolia, each time I have had a real life changing experience, made great friends along the way and I truly can’t wait to venture on my next build. Here is the perfect way to unite our cultures and help change lives forever. Building homes, Building hope.

many Thanks,

Devie (Team Leader)

Posted on: 19 July 2010

‘A Brush with Kindness’ is a home preservation programme of Habitat for Humanity that utilises community organisations and individual volunteers who work with homeowners who are struggling to maintain their house. Homeowners help with the work as they are able through ‘Sweat Equity’ and pay for the work done on their property on an affordable-terms basis. Payments received from the homeowners are recycled into a ‘Fund for Kindness’ to enable more projects to be undertaken. Habitat will consider all projects up to a maximum of $20,000.

Posted on: 8 July 2010

A special Samoan ava and saofai’ ceremony, normally reserved for the likes of prime ministers and heads of state, was an unexpected and moving part of recent farewell celebrations for  Habitat for Humanity New Zealand and the charity’s rebuilding efforts in Samoa.

Representatives from the village of Lepa and the wider Aleipata region, an area that bore the full brunt of the September 2009 tsunami, bestowed the matai title Agaiotupu-olemalaetoto’amalemalaeolea’ava, or “chief master-carpenter”, to the surprise and delight of Habitat New Zealand Chairman, Grant Cathro.

“You will never be forgotten by our families or our village, and we are so thankful of the good efforts you have done for us,” said Auelua Samuelu Enari, a spokesperson and paramount chief for Lepa.

Habitat  was asked to delay it’s final closing celebration  to Tuesday, following Kiwi volunteer farewell celebrations on Sunday 26th June, so that the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, could also attend the special ceremony that included the drinking of kava. Mr. Cathro said he was both honoured and humbled to accept the title on behalf of so many Kiwis wanting to respond to the plight of the Samoan people following the tragedy.

An impressive eighty nine fales, traditional Samoan homes, have been built for surviving tsunami families and some community projects completed under the banner of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand. Mr. Cathro says this achievement simply wouldn’t have been possible without the support of both individual and organisation donors, and the tireless man power of more 600 Kiwi volunteers in partnership with Samoans from five of the worst-affected villages.

“I am overwhelmed yet extremely proud of what we have been able to achieve together in a relatively short period of time,” Mr. Cathro said, “Having adequate shelter is one of mankind’s fundamental needs and it is wonderful that, through Habitat, we are able to address this need in such a practical way.”
Mr. Cathro says that although initially shocked by the ferocity of the tsunami, Kiwis were “chomping at the bit” to respond to the plight of their Pacific neighbours. 
“Habitat for Humanity New Zealand was merely the catalyst for accommodating Kiwis wanting to accommodate Samoans,” he said.

Habitat New Zealand’s rebuilding efforts now shift to Fiji in the wake of Cyclone Tomas. Habitat NZ will partner with Habitat Fiji to build 50 new houses on the island of Vanua Levu in northern Fiji from September. New Zealanders interested in volunteering their services and supporting this work are encouraged to regularly visit www.habitat.org.nz for more details.

Posted on: 25 June 2010

A team of 10 New Zealanders from all over the country are getting together for an adventure of a lifetime.
The Team of 10 Kiwis are flying on Air China on Friday 25th June. Stopping over in Beijing for the night and then straight to Ulaanbaatar.
They are going to a ‘Special Event’ build where there will be 100 international and 100 national volunteers working together to build houses as part of the special event.
This is HFH Mongolia’s first ‘special build’ commemorating the 10th anniversary. They have built 1600 houses to date.
The six countries partaking in building 30 houses in 5 days are:
US x 30, NZ x 10, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Nepal.

Our New Zealand Team

Devie: Team Leader – Habitat for Humanity volunteer coordinator from Auckland.
Owen: Semi-retired engineer from New Plymouth.
Linda: Homemaker from Hastings.
Jacque: Shopping Centre Manager from Auckland
Shane: 18 years old Student from Whangarei
Lou:  Businesswoman from Rotorua
John: Driver (trucks and tractors) from Reporoa
James: Manager from Rotorua
Tania: Care Administrator/ Volunteer Ambulance Officer from New Plymouth
Dick: Paramedic/station manager from Tauranga


Some Mongolia Facts

Many Mongolians who  live in both cities and nomadic, live in the traditional Ger (tents) which are moveable. This is a round, cone-shaped tent. A ger has only one door and no windows. But it has a small opening at the top, called a 'toono'' which allows smoke to go out of the stove's chimney. It is made out of boards with a wool covering so that it is easy to put up and to take down.

The land is more than twice the size of big state of Texas, it is even bigger than Alaska. It is 1,6 million square kilometres which is four times of Japan and almost the size of whole eastern Europe. This makes Mongolia sixth largest country in Asia and nineteenth in the world. Pretty impressive.  But the population is only 2.9 million which makes Mongolia one of the least dense areas in Asia.

Almost another 40% of population are scattered all over Mongolia with their thirty plus millions herds of sheep, goats, cattle, horses and camels.

Mongolia has 21 provinces, called aimag. Each aimag has a central city or town and about 15-22 sub-provinces called soum.
More than 50% will say they adhere to Buddhism which is very much mixed with Shamanism, close to 10% will claim to be Christians of all forms and less than 6% follow Islam.

70% of Mongolia is under the age of 35. Gender ratio close to 1:1. Ethnicity: 84% Khalkha Mongols, 6% Kazakhs and 10% other ethnic groups.

The official language is Khalkha Mongol. English and Russian are widely understood but less spoken. If you speak one of the two you will survive. It is fun if you learn few phrases in Mongol before you come. Everybody will love you and try to understand you no matter how you say it.

For more information Click Here

Posted on: 4 June 2010

Everest Build 2010 has brought together hundreds of volunteers from all over the world to symbolically shine a light on the scourge of substandard housing and to physically demonstrate what can be accomplished when families, communities and nations come together in an effort to build a future where every man, woman and child has a decent place to live.

Everest Build 2010 will focus on completing at least 50 houses this week. Each 30 sq. meter “Everest Build” house will have a small bedroom, living room, kitchen and exterior toilet. Volunteers and home partners will be constructing houses made of prefabricated, treated bamboo with galvanized, corrugated-metal roofs.

Habitat for Humanity International – Nepal (HFHI-N) is a strong supporter of preserving the natural environment and actively promotes the development and use of the sustainable building materials that will be incorporated into all 50 houses.

Posted on: 20 April 2010

Habitat Greater Auckland offers volunteer opportunities - Wymondley Road, Otara

Eleven houses are to be built in partnership with the New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF), as part of the comprehensive Wymondley Rd development. Work has commenced on two houses and they will be built progressively during 2010 and 2011.

There are a large number of individuals and corporate teams already involved and more will be sought over the next two years. To date we have had teams from Daimler Mercedes Financials, ANZ Bank, Tonkin Tools, Framework Trust and IAG Insurance plus many individuals. Please contact us about coming on site as a volunteer.

Contact Jonathan Lane

Posted on: 20 April 2010

Habitat Greater Auckland offers volunteer opportunities

 Wymondley Road, Otara

Eleven houses are to be built in partnership with the New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF), as part of the comprehensive Wymondley Rd development. Work has commenced on two houses and they will be built progressively during 2010 and 2011.

There are a large number of individuals and corporate teams already involved and more will be sought over the next two years.  To date we have had teams from Daimler Mercedes Financials, ANZ Bank, Tonkin Tools, Framework Trust and IAG Insurance plus many individuals. Please contact us about coming on site as a volunteer.

Jonathan Lane [Jonathanl@habitatga.org.nz]                   

Posted on: 11 September 2009

Fredarh’s cousin was building a HFH home in Tuakau earlier this year and Fredarh generously took herself 60kms for three Saturdays in a row to help with the build...AND SHE HAD FUN

Fredarh lives in a garage, with beds taking all the space with the tiniest bathroom attached at the back of her mother’s family property. She has lived there for nearly three years. This positive woman is grateful for the accommodation.

Fredarh works in Mangere and has three children Angela, 12 yrs, Vinnie, 9 yrs and Geana, 4 yrs who go to schools in Mt Roskill. The experience in Tuakau awakened the dream of providing her family with their own home. ‘Never would it have been possible before’ says Fredarh. And she was selected for the Women’s Air New Zealand Fashion Week Build.

Her home is being built at the Viaduct in conjunction with Air New Zealand Fashion week and is fronted by fashion designer and entrepreneur Trelise Cooper. The day after being selected Fredarh was thrown in the limelight meeting Trelise and being interviewed by Women’s Weekly. Fredarh will be a household name. She has courage. The house will be sited in Mangere and will be close to her work. Skychef are proud to support Fredarh where she has earned great respect working for them, first as a chef and now 10yrs later as a pricing clerk. With the strong support of  work and extended family, Fredarh can hardly sleep with excitement. For this quiet, hard working woman, life has taken her and her three children from obscurity to fame and most importantly from a garage to a home. 

We wish you all the best Fredarh, Angela, Vinnie and Geana.

Posted on: 23 April 2009

Dominion Road, Tuakau

Building has just got under way on Habitat Greater Aucklands' latest build at Dominion Road, Tuakau, Franklin.  Franklin was the birthplace of Habitat in New Zealand in 1992 and it's exciting to be working for families in this area once again.

Posted on: 28 July 2008

Six years ago, Liva Muliaga and his wife Evelina were struggling to raise their six children in a three-bedroom state house in Auckland’s Otara.  Liva was working for a trucking business, yet the cost of living meant the family could never save the deposit necessary for a bank loan.

“Your environment plays a big part in who you are,” says Liva. “In our old house there was no room for the children to have any privacy. No room for them to do their study and their homework. I didn’t want for their environment to affect them somewhere down the line.”  Liva read of Habitat’s work in his local paper and, encouraged by friends decided to apply. Today, the family has the security of their own home, with enough room for the children to flourish – and how they have!

The oldest children, 21-year-old twins Junior and Liz, will both graduate with Bachelors of Commerce next year from the University of Auckland. Jonathon, 17, has joined them at varsity to study law. If Liva’s dreams do come true, their younger siblings, Ifo (12), Paua (10) and John (8) will also one day be university students.“Having our own home has changed our life. It’s brought stability to my family,” says Liva.  “It’s given my kids a safe place to grow and it’s made facing difficulties easier.”

Sadly, Evelina died last year after battling leukaemia.  She was immensely proud of her children’s achievements, and of the home that they could call their own.“The whole family participated in the 500 hours of sweat equity*,” says Liva. “We loved it. It made the whole process more special. Everyone helped us – friends, family, volunteers, local businesses and churches. We’ve remained friends with a lot of those people.”

“It gave us the chance to achieve something for the family and to show the rest of the community what’s possible.”

Please help us once more show other families the limitless possibilities of what can be achieved. Donate Online today

Posted on: 1 January 1970

8 Ormiston Road East Tamaki Auckland Tel: +64 9 271 3357 Fax: +64 9 271 3359

Wymondley Road Development

Habitat Greater Auckland is moving through the consent process on the Wymondley Road Development. The development is to be a 6,600 sq. m, 16 house project by Habitat Greater Auckland and the New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF).  

Purchased from the Manukau City Council in September 2007, the site is typical of what the Greater Auckland affiliate is now looking for. While commercial developers may not see the potential of the area, Habitat believes that its efforts can help to improve both the housing situation of its selected partner families, as well as the community the new homes will be situated in.  

Habitat will build 11 of the houses in the development, and the NZHF the remaining five. We have great hopes of starting this development in the second half of 2009.

 

Building on Faith

Our Building on Faith house at Wymondley Road was completed and we were very excited about welcoming Shona Thompson and her family into their new home on Sunday 5 October. Shona’s family was the 68th partner family for Greater Auckland and 318th for New Zealand.

The 2008 Building on Faith house was an absolute dream project for Habitat Greater Auckland, with an outstanding level of enthusiasm and involvement from the seven churches of Remuera. The churches raised funds, and provided volunteers who spent many hours building the house in the carpark of St Aidan's Church. In total, the churches contributed close to $80,000 towards the construction costs - a new record for one of our Building on Faith projects.