Habitat News

Grant Cathro, chair of the Habitat board at the special ceremony. Photo courtesy of Samoan Observer.

HABITAT RECEIVE SPECIAL HONOUR FOR REBUILD WORK IN SAMOA

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.