Posted on: 6 December 2011

Go GV Team!

We were once again fortunate to host a Global Village team from the U.S. in Porirua in late November who gave Cathy Maher’s house a huge push towards completion.  The team of 10 included 2 married couples, a father and son and 4 singles.  They coped admirably with our unpredictable weather and started their first day on the build undeterred in the middle of a late spring storm.  Fortunately, the sun shone for most of their visit and by the time their last day arrived, they had attached and painted the exterior cladding through to the first top coat, installed all the windows and doors, completed a third of the baseboards, attached a 3m handrail to the retaining wall, continued the fencing and completed a retaining wall required to a neighbouring property.  They were reluctant to down tools at the finish of work on the last day, wanting to get as much done as possible.  Way to go guys!    (LNI supports the Global Village programme – there are many opportunities for you to travel overseas and build homes with Habitat just as this U.S. team has done – check out the Global Village section on the Habitat website!)

Posted on: 12 September 2011

RAISE THE ROOF

FUNDRAISING GOLF TOURNAMENT

Habitat for Humanity Lower North Island, invites your participation in this fun event
Friday 14 October 2011 at Manor Park Golf Club.
Registration opens at 9.45 am for 10.30 am tee off.
Improve your game! Golf Pro Mal Tongue will be on course all day to share golfing tips.
Ambrose format with shotgun start. On-course BBQ and refreshments. To be followed by
prize-giving, charity auction and refreshments. Team registration for 4 players is $250 per
team. Hole Sponsorship is $400

LET’S RAISE THE ROOF for another Habitat for Humanity family in need of a warm, healthy home.
For more information and team registration form contact: Tina Francis, Habitat for Humanity (Lower
North Island) P.O. Box 50-119 Porirua Ph: (04) 238 4251 email: tina.habitat@xtra.co.nz

Posted on: 1 July 2011

Tomorrow morning at about 5am a new house will roll through Porirua streets on its way to a final destination in Cannons Creek.

Over the past few months, patrons of McDonalds Restaurant Porirua have been served with more than a juicy burger:  the entertaining sight of a brand new house for charity Habitat for Humanity being built on the vacant site next door.
Starting with a convincing bang of a nail by Mayor Nick Leggett on 1 March, the house for Petronella Nyamangwanda and her daughters has arisen under the efforts of skilled Habitat staff and caring volunteers- both groups and individuals- from around Porirua and beyond. And they were treated to an even more exciting spectacle yesterday when the house was jacked up and lifted on to a truck in preparation for its important early morning journey to Cannons Creek.

This marks a special stage for Petronella along the path to gaining her own affordable home. Petronella left her country of birth, Zimbabwe, under difficult circumstances to give her two daughters a chance of a happy and safe place to grow up. She says “It’s awesome to see the house lifted onto a truck. I am excited that we are that much closer to living in it, which is a dream come true.”

Once on site, Petronella’s home will be completed, driveways and landscaping carried out and a separate home built for sole mother Cathy and her daughters on an adjoining section .  Both of these homes use A1 Homes kits.
The two-house project arose from a new venture designed to encourage local businesses to take part in a community project through volunteering, and help strengthen Porirua.  The “ Hands On Business”  venture, as it was named, is a collaboration between Volunteer Wellington, the Porirua City Council and the Porirua Chamber of Commerce. Habitat has been thrilled and grateful to work with some new supporters through this initiative. And the wonderful result is a new house for family to call home.

For more information about this project, or to offer support, please call the Habitat office ph 238 4251 or email info.habitat@xtra.co.nz

Posted on: 5 April 2011

Petronella Nyamangwanda escaped Zimbabwe for a better life but she has ended up living in a dingy Lower Hutt house, struggling to make ends meet for the past decade.

"I wanted to give my daughter an opportunity for a life which is safe and stable. We ended up in a house that is very damaged. It is damp and smelly."

Ms Nyamangwanda has wanted to buy a healthy home since moving to New Zealand in 2001, but she could never muster enough for a deposit.

But the solo mother's life is about to change this month when her Habitat for Humanity house is finished and moved on to a Cannons Creek section in Porirua.

"It makes us feel loved," she said.

Her daughters Grace Murape, 11, and Cheryl Bonga, 3, are excited about having their own pink and purple bedrooms and a vegetable garden.

Once Ms Nyamangwanda's home is finished, complete with heat pump, her future neighbour's house will be built and moved to the same section.

The neighbour was also a solo mother of two and her house would be the 16th built by the charity in Porirua since 1998, regional resource development manager Gill Burns said.

Twenty-five houses have been built by Habitat for Humanity in the lower North Island since 1997.

More Wellington houses are in the pipeline thanks to an anonymous couple donating their Mt Cook home last year.

Volunteers have renovated 41 Hankey St, which is now on the market and expected to fetch $600,000, with $200,000 going on the mortgage and the rest used to buy and develop eight Karori sections in conjunction with Te Whanau O Awahauhake Trust.

Half of the sections would be sold to fund the construction of four houses for young families yet to be picked, Mrs Burns said. Those chosen often lived in overcrowded, overpriced, "grotty" rentals and couldn't afford a house deposit.

Posted on: 24 March 2011

Posted on: 1 March 2011

Today on 1^st March the Habitat for Humanity house build was officially launched, when Mayor Nick Leggett formally “banged in the first nail”.  Representatives from this Hands on Business project, including Bunnings, BRANZ, BNZ, McDonald’s, Volunteer Porirua and Volunteer Wellington, were invited to celebrate the start of the project taking place on vacant land owned by McDonald’s next to their restaurant in central Porirua. 

The house is a 3-bedroom A1 Homes kitset and will become home to sole parent Petronella and her two daughters.  When enclosed, it will be moved to site in Cardiff Crescent in April.  This central Porirua site is a high-visibility, high-traffic area that will be observed by hundreds of people as construction progresses.  All Porirua businesses who support the project with significant resources or staff volunteer time, are invited to provide signage to be placed around the build project as a public gesture of support. 

Partner Family mother Petronella says: Being selected as recipients of a Habitat for Humanity home has already changed my life and that of my two daughters. Our current house is cold, damp and damaged. Habitat is giving us a new, warm, and affordable home. Being given a hand up to own a home is a great help as I could not raise the deposit required by banks. Participating in the building of the home is too wonderful for me and the girls, to see our dream coming true. 

If you would like to be involved, please contact staff in the Habitat office on  04 2384251 9am to 3pm.

Posted on: 14 November 2010

In October, Maree Joyce of Whitby traveled to Nepal with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village programme to help build homes for families in need.   This is her story.

Our destination was Lakuree village in Pokhara, about a 45 minute flight from Kathmandu.  My immediate impression on the journey to our hotel was one of chaos as we shared the road with animals, children walking goats, women washing their hair on the side of the road and men with bananas in baskets on their heads. 

I shared this trip with my friend Alice Wards and we joined 450 international and 200 local volunteers to assist in the building of 37 houses in the village.  Our team consisted of 6 Kiwis, 3 Aussies, 2 Germans and varying numbers of local people.  One of the Germans was a movie star and two of the locals were famous Nepalese comedians, which meant that local people regularly turned up with flowers to request autographs.

Some of the local volunteers were from the S.O.S. Children’s Village, an orphanage in Pokhara.  We visited the orphanage twice, firstly with trepidation as to what we would find, but it was a wonderful place, filled with love.

I found the opening ceremony a very humbling and emotional experience.  The local people had gone to a lot of trouble to welcome us with food and entertainment.

We travelled by bus from our hotel to the build site daily.  A typical day started at 8am and finished at 4.30pm with temperatures in the low thirties.  The houses were spread all over the hillside and I was assigned to house number four, 97 steps up the hillside. 

Because of the heat, it was important for us to keep up our food and fluid intake, supplemented with electrolytes.  We were fed well with Kiwi-style food and snacks at the food tent.  Any food not eaten was given to the local children.  This was a real treat for them and they went crazy for the apples! 

Our family of nine was living in a leaking and crumbling house right next to the one we were building for them.  We got to know and work with 58 year old Man Bahudar Sunar and his wife aged 54, their 2 adult sons, their wives and their 3 children aged 23 days, 2 years and 4 years.  I noticed how small and malnourished the children were and was told they had been sick a lot.  The family was expecting their health to improve in the new house which consisted of 3 rooms comprising a kitchen and 2 bedrooms which were also used as living areas during the day.  They had 4 cattle and a goat which appeared to be unproductive but were looked after very well.

The family really opened up their lives to us and working with them was a real privilege.  I shared photos of my family and my life in NZ with them through an interpreter.  Communication generally was reasonably okay as many of the locals spoke good English.  I learnt a few Nepalese words, mainly names of tools!  It was great fun and the family had a lot of laughs while I was practicing!

The women of the village fetched water to use for cooking, washing and making concrete, 97 steps up and down the hill, across the road and a long way to the river.  They also carried 50 kgs of cement on their backs.  Some of the Kiwi guys tried this and found it very difficult. 

The concrete slab of the house had already been laid and the bamboo framing erected.  Our first two days consisted of weaving thin bamboo strips in and out of the uprights between the main framing.  I could either do this myself or in a pair, one either side of the framing.  We would weave and then hammer the bamboo on the ends and compact it down so that it stacked up evenly.

On day three, we started working on the high parts.  We stood on 44 gallon drums with a step stool between them.  My job was to pass things up to a tall person working at the top.

On days 4 and 5 we started the concreting.  Handfuls of concrete were pushed into the woven bamboo.  This was quite tricky and was often left to the skilled locals.  I fetched and carried empty bowls of concrete.  The concrete was then smoothed off with a trowel and left to dry and the locals were very good at this.  We had to be careful not to bang our heads into the ends of the bamboo which would cause the concrete to fall out!

On day 6 we painted the hardened concrete with white undercoat, but were unable to completely finish the house in the time we were there.  We also built them a new squat toilet in a one metre square cubicle. 

In the evenings we were free to go out sightseeing and also discovered the delights of the wonderful local tourist shopping.

In the afternoon of day 6 the Nepalese President came to the closing ceremony.  Security was amazing, with more armed Police and Riot Squad than I’ve ever seen in my life.  Each team then went back to our own house for a quiet and very emotional dedication ceremony with the families.  Our family gave us a Hindu blessing and a ceremonial silk scarf and glass bangles for the women.

Before returning to NZ, Alice and I spent 6 days travelling. We visited Chitwan National Park, where we experienced elephant rides and let them give us a shower, which was so refreshing on a hot day!  We saw the sun rise over Mt Everest which we also later flew over.

I would like to thank everyone who helped me realise my dream to get to Nepal by supporting my fundraising and making donations.  I have come home keen to do another Habitat Global Village trip to a different destination sometime in the future.

Posted on: 28 October 2010

Several members of the Vodafone Wellington Lions Rugby Team are willing to try their talents in a new capacity by volunteering on the latest Habitat for Humanity project in Cannons Creek, Porirua. 

Taking to hammer and nails will be Adrian Barone, David TeMoana, Mark Reddish, Motu Matu'u, Serge Lilo, Jacob Ellison, Rodney So'oialo and Hayden Cripps. This is the second Lions team to work the house being constructed for the locally-based Jaboon family, as another team came in September- an effort greatly appreciated by Habitat for Humanity.

HFH Lower North Island Chairman Neil Macdonald commented that it was fantastic to welcome the Lions back for a second time, and clearly demonstrated their commitment to the community.

Already the house has had an interesting story, the A1 Homes kit first taking shape under the supervised efforts of carpentry and plumbing students at Whitireia Community Polytechnic who wanted real life practical building experience.  The completely enclosed and Gibb-lined house was transported to its current site for completion in mid –July this year, and is now a couple of weeks away from completion.

Each Habitat home is the result of many hours of volunteer community involvement, and this attractive home is another typical example. Each project can involve 500 volunteers. For the Jaboon family, who have worked alongside these volunteers, it will shortly become their place to live.

For more information on how you can volunteer on a Habitat affordable house project, please contact the HFH Lower North Island office. Ph 238 4251 or email info.habitat@xtra.co.nz

Posted on: 24 October 2010

Posted on: 23 October 2010

Posted on: 22 October 2010

Posted on: 21 October 2010

During September, we were delighted to welcome for the first time two teams from Dulux Head Office and TSL/Colour Services who volunteered at the Leicester Street house build.  Team members got the chance to see their product up close as they got stuck into painting the weatherboards.  Dulux very generously donates the exterior paint for all Habitat houses built in NZ and it was great to have some of the Dulux staff personally participating on site.  They enjoyed the experience and we are pleased to report that their painting passed supervisory inspection!  Thank you Dulux for your very valuable continued support.

Posted on: 23 August 2010

Take a break from the cooking!  Purchase a pizza (or several!) from Domino’s Porirua (Hagley Street) on Wednesday 22 September during Habitat Awareness Week, tell them you’re supporting Habitat and Domino’s will donate $1 per pizza.

Posted on: 22 August 2010

Many hands will make light work on LNI’s next new house build. The Porirua Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Business Group, Volunteer Porirua and Volunteer Wellington have chosen to partner with Habitat to highlight volunteering opportunities in Porirua. 

They will encourage staff teams from their networks to join in and provide resources to help with the house project.  To date offers of staff teams have come from Bunnings and BNZ, batts from BRANZ, storage from Storage Solutions, Gerrards Lighting, Plumbing World, ShowerDome and chocolate fundraising by Nyco Chocolates. 

Habitat is delighted to join with these organisations in recognising the importance of volunteering and the benefits to be gained from getting involved with local community projects.

Posted on: 21 August 2010

On 9 July hardworking carpentry and plumbing students farewelled a house they had been working on as part of their trade courses. The house was completed to gib-lining stage. This is the first joint venture between Habitat LNI and the Whitireia Community Polytechnic, and we hope there will be many more.

Student Pepe Obeda said “Being able to build a real live house is what made me really want to come to Whitireia’s course.  It’s pretty easy once you’ve learned the technique! I’m disappointed to have missed out on the main beginning bits, but I’m looking forward to building another house”.

 In a moving ceremony when we gathered with the students,  partner family dad Felix Jaboon spoke of “the joy to be receiving this palace, and the knowledge for the students that they had done something that counted”.

We welcome volunteers on site to help us complete the Jaboon home.  For more information contact the LNI office on (04) 238 4251 or email info.habitat@xtra.co.nz

Posted on: 21 August 2010

Posted on: 21 August 2010

Posted on: 21 August 2010

Cannons Creek resident Bev Yates was the most recent recipient of A Brush with Kindness.  Bev and her late husband Harry have been a part of the Cannons Creek community for many years; they have fostered more than 400 children and Bev still collects toys and clothing for children in need and passes them to the local Baptist church for distribution.  Serious health issues have made it very difficult for her to keep on top of home maintenance and on 17 May Habitat volunteer Stephen Holmes led a team of 20 keen to give Bev a hand, including members of the Freedom Church and the Rimutaka Prison Faith Unit.  Bev expressed her sincere gratitude and said she felt a great deal of relief after several years worrying about the state of her home.

Posted on: 21 August 2010

On 30 May volunteers gathered to celebrate the dedication of the Te Kira family home.  The weather outside was in contrast to the warm atmosphere inside the house as guest speaker MP for Mana Luamanuvao Winnie Laban acknowledged the commitment and support of the many volunteers who had played a role in helping to build the house. 

The keys to the house were presented by Jonathan Falloon on behalf of major sponsor AMP Foundation and Rev Sandy Williams presented bibles to the family on behalf of the NZ Bible Society.  Eldest daughter Crystal Te Kira was overseas at the time of the dedication, representing NZ at the international Waka Ama Championships. 

An estimated 300 volunteers and 47 businesses have contributed to this 5-bedroom home, the largest build by LNI affiliate to date. 

Posted on: 17 August 2010

Posted on: 17 August 2010

Posted on: 5 May 2010

Waitangirua residents Sam and Donna Tekira feel saddened by thieves breaking into their nearly-finished home to steal power tools and electrical equipment worth over $5500.  Hoping to receive the keys to their finished home by the end of May might take longer for the Tekiras to achieve now. If any businesses or individuals are in a position to help Habitat by donating either tools or funds to enable the work to continue, please call 238 4251, or email info.habitat@xtra.co.nz .  

This home has been built with large financial support from AMP.Not-for- profit charity Habitat for Humanity selects families in need of a simple decent affordable home to partner with, and the Tekira family is one of the two most recently selected in the Lower North Island.

Habitat for Humanity, together with the family and friends of Donna and Sam, and members of the community, built most of the family house on vacant  land next to McDonald’s in Kenepuru Drive, adjacent  to  the Titahi Bay Bridge. It is a community effort involving about 500 volunteers.

Two weeks ago the home was moved by truck for completion at its permanent location in Westmeath Street.  Donna described her feelings at the time as “ Absolutely unbelievable. It was an emotional time for me to see my dream come true on the back of a truck!”

Sometime during the dark hours of Tuesday night or Wednesday morning last week, two or more thieves tried unsuccessfully to enter the house under construction in Westmeath Street by the front door, but managed to prise open a rear bedroom window and gain access. Many power tools, including grinders, circular saws, air compressors, nail guns and cordless drills were taken, together with the electric jug and toaster. (The latter were later found discarded in the back garden.)

Site supervisor Bruce McLean arrived on the job on Wednesday morning and immediately noticed the damage to the front door latch, and some harm to the interior, together with the lack of tools. Police have been notified to seek out the tools, some of which are identifiable as they are marked with red paint.

Whilst recognizing that the loss of these essential tools will delay progress on site, even more so Donna and Sam feel very upset that their new home has been damaged now that it is in Waitangirua.   Other than a little graffiti the house was respected whilst next door to McDonalds. Donna is hopeful that  the tools will be returned, and  suggests there is an opportunity for restorative justice, ie the culprits would have an opportunity work alongside them to help finish off their house.

Habitat Resource Development Manager, Gill Burns, is frustrated that efforts to provide a deserving local family with a new home will be compromised by having to recover or replace the tools, all of which will take time and money. She said “We accumulated these tools with grants and donations from our supporters over recent years, and now we must start again. Insurance will cover some but not all of the loss. Teams of willing volunteers have had to be cancelled until we can get more tools”.

Posted on: 20 February 2010

Posted on: 17 September 2009

Habitat for Humanity is holding a national Awareness Week from 21-27 September, during which we will be undertaking 7 individual Brush with Kindness projects. Brush with Kindness is a way of helping more families outside the normal Habitat house building programme who already own their own homes, by undertaking exterior work such as minor repairs, fencing, painting and garden tidy up. A Brush with Kindness has not been introduced to NZ before and is being trialled by the Lower North Island affiliate during Awareness Week. If all goes well, it is possible that the programme will be introduced more widely in the Wellington region in the future.

Homeowners have been selected according to need and their inability, due to factors such as age, ill-health or low income, to get the work done themselves. Homeowners will help with the work where possible and make sure that the volunteer teams are well fed and watered.

In the Wellington region, Habitat for Humanity (Lower North Island) Ltd is partnering with 40 volunteers from Shell for a concerted effort on Friday 25^th September to help five homeowners in need located in Taita, Naenae, Porirua and Wilton make much needed repairs to their properties.

It’s going to be a full-on day with some great photo opportunities. In Taita, volunteers will repaint a retired woman’s small cottage in the morning and then move to Naenae to repaint an elderly couple’s entire fence line and weed and mulch the front garden.

In Porirua, volunteers will be working at the home of a man confined to a wheelchair as the result of a stroke. Work involves building a fence, adding a handrail and gate to the disabled access, repainting existing fencing and tidying the garden.

At a second Porirua home, another volunteer team will fix and repaint fencing and decking, reroof and repaint a small shed, for an elderly lady.

Meanwhile, over in Wilton, volunteers will be helping a much-loved member of the local community by removing material from a slipped bank behind her house, cutting steps into a clay bank and cleaning down the house ready for painting at a later stage.

While the Brush with Kindness programme is officially during Habitat Awareness Week 21-27 September, the first phase of work will have started sooner on another Wellington property at the home of Sharon Thorburn. Sharon is the founder of the award-winning Kotuku Music Academy Support Trust. Her work with the Trust has won recognition throughout the Wellington region for her efforts to mentor abused and at-risk children through music so that they have an outlet to help them move on with their lives and achieve their dreams. Sharon will shortly head off on a three month walk the length of NZ to draw awareness to child abuse in NZ. Habitat for Humanity will undertake work that Sharon has desperately wanted for 5 years to get done, involving rebuilding a retaining wall, filling and compacting and reinstating the concrete path to the front door. Wellington landscape gardener David Eastgate is giving his time and skills to Habitat for Humanity to lead other volunteers in this project, including a team from Rimutaka Prison Faith Unit. Inmates from the Faith Unit have been involved previously with Habitat for Humanity house builds and also routinely undertake community work, such as lawn mowing and gardening.

“Habitat for Humanity (Lower North Island) is really pleased that we are able to assist these homeowners in our community”, says Tina Francis, Resource Development Manager with Habitat. “We have received many requests for assistance and it is apparent that there is a great deal of need in the community, and also a great deal of appreciation from homeowners who had no idea how they would be able to get this work done without some help”.

“We are thrilled that Shell has partnered with Habitat on this initiative, providing both volunteers and funding for materials. Whilst Habitat is mainly engaged in the business of building new homes for families in need, A Brush with Kindness is a wonderful companion programme which we are keen to try and introduce more widely in the future.”

Posted on: 27 August 2009

Habitat house dedicated in Levin

Posted on: 10 August 2009

What's in it for us?

Gill Burns, HFH LNI, took the opportunity to speak to Sean O'Sullivan (Probono Partner) and Adam Holloway (Pro bono Coordinator) of DLA Phillips Fox about their valued probono legal service which is pivotal to the success of the Lower North Island affiliate.

Our relationship began in 2007 when we were undertaking the complex task of merging the 3 separate affiliates (Palmerston North, Porirua and Hutt Valley) into the new regional entity of HFH LNI Ltd. This involved agreeing and altering shareholding arrangements, property titles for all the houses and providing a vehicle for the merger to occur. Stemming from a previous long term business relationship, Gill approached DLA Phillips Fox at that time and was thrilled to learn that the firm had a commitment to providing probono legal support to community groups, and had in fact instituted a rigorous programme to ensure all staff had an opportunity to regularly work on a probono subject or project.

As Adam later explained, the probono client is viewed by the firm in exactly the same way as a paying client, the only difference being that the pro bono client pays no fees. Their work is programmed in as part of the schedule, and the hours measurable and accounted for. This means that our work doesn't occur when the busy law firm has an occasional spare hour or two, but rather that it takes place alongside other commitments. Adam feels that this sits comfortably with the firms commitment to society to act as a professional body, ensuring law isn't kept away from people who need it but can't afford it.

Habitat turns out to be the largest probono client of the Wellington Office of DLA Phillips Fox! Apart from the merger, our requests for support to date have included Sale and Purchase agreements, rewriting of the HFH LNI Constitution, shareholding issues, preparation of Memoranda of Understanding for working with partners, preparing a standard Renovation Agreement (a potentially growing area of Habitat's work),and various subdivision and easement related matters.

And to DLA Phillips Fox, we offer a chance to work on a variety of projects larger than just the initial establishment of our charity. Though satisfied with our relationship so far, Sean hopes that involvement with Habitat will spread throughout the firm as widely as possible so that everyone has a sense of helping. We are keen to have teams from DLA Phillips Fox taking active part on our building projects (and not just writing agreements about them!) and fundraising events.

For Habitat, DLA Phillips Fox is a very friendly firm readily available to provide legal input at the time it is needed, and without hesitation. We couldn't achieve our aims without your very valuable input.

Posted on: 10 August 2009

Habitat house dedicated in Levin

On Saturday afternoon, 27 June, the second house built by Habitat for Humanity in the Horowhenua was dedicated at a ceremony held on site in Quinn Road, Levin. The house was built for the Gillespie family – Daniel, Monique, and their three children who, as a partner family with Habitat, are now enjoying the experience of occupying the first home that they soon can call their own.

The building of this four-bedroom home was the result of a unique partnership between the local Habitat Team (part of the Lower North Island Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity) and the Horowhenua Learning Centre. Under the supervision of builder Mr Phil Halliday, eight students of the Learning Centre were responsible for all building. The outcome is a comfortable home that has drawn favourable comment for its quality of workmanship and finishing.

Speakers at the Dedication included the Chairman of the Horowhenua Habitat Team, Dr Max Stevenson; the Deputy Mayor of Horowhenua, Mr David Colling; the Chairman of the Board of the Lower North Island Affiliate of Habitat, Mr Neil McDonald; the Chief Executive Officer of the Learning Centre, Mr Malcolm Russell; builder Mr Phil Halliday and Daniel family. All endorsed the benefits of the partnership – a fine building and a valuable learning experience for the students. Phil Halliday pointed out that the trainees had gone from a stage of getting measurements correct and having to extract misplaced nails, to doing excellent finishing work. He was very proud of their achievement. Mr Russell hoped that a major outcome will now be for the students to obtain jobs. Certificates marking their achievements were presented during the function as part of the handing over of the keys to Monique and Daniel.

Dr Stevenson reminded the gathering that the partnership with a Habitat family requires the input of at least 500 hours work by the family. Monique and Daniel far exceeded this requirement, contributing to a most cooperative experience between all parties. Dr Stevenson also warmly thanked all who had contributed to the building, including volunteers, suppliers, sub-contractors, and donors. Presentations to the family from sponsors and supporters were also made.

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based organisation. The Dedication included the singing of hymns, accompanied by the Levin Salvation Army Band, and a dedication prayer led by Levin Uniting Parish minister, the Reverend Phil Bettany, who also joined with the family in a private blessing of the home and its rooms at the conclusion of the function. Mr Merv Rive, representing the Bible Society, presented a family Bible to Daniel and Monique, and Bibles for each of the children, including one for the expected new addition.

Daniel Gillespie, in thanking everyone for their support, spoke movingly about what owning their own home meant to the family, and invited the gathering to view the family's new home. Afternoon tea at the Horowhenua Learning Centre concluded a very pleasant ending for the occasion.

The Horowhenua Team now looks forward to planning their next build in the district. Contributions – financial, administrative, fundraising, and volunteer labour – are needed. People who feel they would like to join with the Horowhenua Team in this important work of providing a ‘Hand Up' to deserving families are invited to contact the team at Lower North Island office +64 4 238 4251

Posted on: 15 April 2009

The dedication of the Elia home took place on the 7^th March 2009. This was the eleventh house for the Porirua team lead by Dave Joyce and the second project for AMP Foundation in the Lower North Island region. We were greatly blessed by the weather that turned from rain in the morning to sunshine for the dedication and then back to rain again. The Reverend Terry Alve from St. Mary's Church in Whitby, where the building had its first six weeks, was master of ceremonies leading in Jonathan Fallon, Head of Public affairs, AMP Financial Services, Councillor, Sue Dow standing in for the Mayor of Porirua City, Jenny Brash, Bruce McLean, project Manager and Tumau & Sila Elia, partner family. Thanks guys.

We were entertained by the Wellington City Chorus which was a wonderful treat, icing on the fantastic proceedings.

We were once again spoiled for supporters with around 50 organisations helping, new supporters were Rimutaka prison faith based unit which a crew of about 6 guys there around 2 ~ 4 days per week for the entire build! To top it off Riaan Blignaut the officer in charge came and laid all the carpet and vinyl flooring on his day's off, what a star. Gold Coast Building removals did the job proud for the second time dropping the house on a beautifully levelled section manicured by Julian from Lifestyle Agricultural Services. Vicki from A1 Homes looked after our every need which keeps us coming back for more. Capital kitchens once again did a fantastic job constructing the kitchen from the units supplied by Hafaele Kitchens. On track were able to train their electrical apprentices on this project, a win, win for them and us under the control of Dave Allen and all the electrical gear was supplied by Advance Electrical. Mark McGlone from McGlone Plumbing also has seen the benefits in partnering by having his apprentices plan and plumb out the house. Dulux paint was once again appreciated especially by the Elia boys who had their rooms painted “Norths Rugby” blue. Fujitsu supplied the heat pump which is such a valuable asset for the family not only by the heat in winter but also the reduced heating costs. The Poly Palace under floor insulation will play a big part keeping the heat in along with the curtains made and supplied by Janet from Dory Fish Creations. I am very impressed with the Shower Dome supplied and installed by Stuart Cookson from Absolutely Maintenance Ltd. Marley supplied all the guttering. On Dman Interiors helped us again with a big push on the building when we needed it lead by Les Collier. A big thanks to the Whitby community, St. Mary's Church that hosted the first part of the build, Steve from the Long Orange Cafe that supplied so much food, New World Supermarket and all the supporters that just dropped in baking and came and helped. It is truly great to be the one that hands out all the goodies from Cerebos and the Bible Society to such a deserving family. The jobs not done until the paper works complete, thanks Tom from ProValue for the valuation and a special thank you to Mark, Adam and the whole team at DLA Philips Fox that do so much for us all year round.

We like to make friends with everyone and we love it when people want to help us out because building communities is such a big part of what we do and we want to do it with you no matter how much you want to help, so thank you for the past, present and future.

Posted on: 11 January 2009

Whitby build in progress..

Mayor Jenny Brash of Porirua City, hammers a nail at the opening ceremony.  Photo: Daniel McKnight

 

 

 

The house has now been transported 5kms by truck to its new site in Westmeath Street, Waitangirua, Porirua.  The house is now ready for plastering and painting with a final completion date expected in late January.

Leaving St Mary's church, Whitby.

AMP team on the build site

The construction site at Whitby. Photo: Daniel McKnight

AMP staff laying the floor. Photo: Daniel McKnight

Posted on: 11 December 2008

When moving house, most of us will call up our local moving company to help move our family's possessions. For the Elia family today it was a case of moving the actual house!

Habitat for Humanity Lower North Island started building the house in front of St Mary's Anglican Church in Whitby in mid October. Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash hammered in the first nail and work has progressed rapidly with the help of several groups of volunteers, including the key sponsor, AMP foundation. The house has now been transported 5kms by truck to its new site in Westmeath Street, Waitangirua, Porirua.  The house is now ready for plastering and painting with a final completion date expected in late January.