29 Bryant Road Te Rapa Hamilton Tel +64 7 849 0284 Fax +64 7 849 7715

Posted on: 8 November 2011

Posted on: 23 November 2010

Around 150 volunteers last week helped Habitat for Humanity win its battle to build the home on a vacant section of land at The Base in just five days for a family of nine.

Jack House Transit staff arrived at the build site late yesterday afternoon to prepare the house for its move, leaving shortly after 5am today to transport the house to its permanent address in Vernall Street, Nawton.

The house was expected to be lifted off the trailer and placed on jacks by about 9am. Work will continue into the early afternoon to establish the footings before the house is lowered into place.

Over the next few weeks the carpet and lino will be laid, the carport and deck built, and electricity and plumbing connected.

Upon its completion, the family will be presented with the keys and the house will be blessed during an official dedication ceremony. It is hoped the Cuthers family will be able to move into the home by Christmas.

Habitat for Humanity Central North Island General Manager, Nic Greene, said it was exciting to see the house go up so quickly last week.

“It’s amazing what can be achieved when you have such willing workers – many had never used a drop-saw, router, battery drill or nail gun, but after receiving instruction had the confidence to use these tools,” Mr Greene said.

“The house’s move from the build site to its final location today brings this family tantalisingly close to realising their dream of moving into their own home.

“They were on site during last week’s build, working alongside the volunteers and skilled staff, and you could not wipe the smiles from their faces.”

Anthony (Ants) and Poro Cuthers have a blended family of seven children, aged three to 18, and were selected from 60 families who registered an interest in becoming the owners of this home.

Ants Cuthers said it was humbling to have strangers join them on the build site to help with erecting and painting the house.

“We did not know most of these people and it has been overwhelming to think so many would give up their time to help make our dream of owning a home a reality,” Mr Cuthers said.

Among the volunteers were 12 soldiers from Linton’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron, trained as carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

The house build is the 84^th by Habitat for Humanity Central North Island and is supported by GrassRoots Trust, Mitre 10 MEGA Hamilton and MoreFM. Tainui Group Holdings allowed use of The Base site for the build.

At an end-of-build celebration last Friday evening (19 November), Hamilton’s Mitre 10 MEGA presented Nic Greene with a cheque for $2819. The money was donated over the past two months by Mitre 10 MEGA customers.

Members of the public wanting more information on Habitat for Humanity’s work should visit www.habitatcni.org.nzor the organisation’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/habitatnz.

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit Christian organisation working in partnership with people of goodwill and families in housing need, to eliminate sub-standard housing by building, renovating and selling simple, decent houses on an affordable basis. The organisation’s philosophy is to provide a “hand up not a hand out” to families into independence and self sufficiency.

Posted on: 15 November 2010

The materials have arrived on site and the troops are gearing up for battle. Their brief? To build a four bedroom house in just five days.

Building is due to get underway shortly after 8am today on the 84^th home to be erected by Habitat for Humanity Central North Island.

Close to 20 volunteers are due to arrive at The Base build site for the first shift, joining Habitat for Humanity staff and 12 soldiers from Linton’s Army Base.

It is a significant moment for a Hamilton family of nine, helping them to realise their dream of moving into their own home.

Anthony and Poro Cuthers have a blended family of seven children, aged three to 18, and were selected from 60 families who registered an interest in becoming the owners of this home.

The week has already gotten off to a momentous start for the family. Yesterday (Sunday 14 November) Anthony Cuthers was ordained as a Minister in the Elim Church, with the ordination followed by a hangi with friends and family to celebrate the occasion.

And there will be another celebration on Friday, when building on the home will be complete ahead of its move by Jack House Removals to its permanent location in Vernall Street, Nawton, in the early hours of next Tuesday (23 November).

It is expected the Cuthers will be able to move into their home by Christmas.

Habitat for Humanity Central North Island General Manager, Nic Greene, said the site would be buzzing with excitement and activity, no matter what the weather brings.

“This is the culmination of many months of planning and we expect it to be a great event, not only for the Cuthers, but also the wider community,” Mr Greene said.

“We’ve had a great response from Hamiltonians who have put their hands up to join in our battle against substandard housing. Throughout this week we have people of all ages and skill levels who will be working on site to make the dream of a house a reality for the Cuthers,” he said.

Anthony Cuthers welcomed the start of the build. “This week is hugely important, not just for my family but for the extended family as well. A lot of them know the hardships we have experienced.

“We want our young ones to know there’s hope, especially when you’re down and out and have lost everything. You can rebuild and own your own home.”

He said the family had been “fully involved” with the choices made about the house, from the colour schemes to its rotation on the Nawton site.

This week’s house build is supported by GrassRoots Trust, Mitre 10 MEGA Hamilton and MoreFM. Tainui Group Holdings has allowed use of the site for the build.

Members of the public wanting more information on the build should visit www.habitatcni.org.nzor call down to the site during this week. People can also monitor the build’s progress by visiting the Habitat’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/habitatnz.

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit Christian organisation working in partnership with people of goodwill and families in housing need, to eliminate sub-standard housing by building, renovating and selling simple, decent houses on an affordable basis. The organisation’s philosophy is to provide a “hand up not a hand out” to families into independence and self sufficiency.

Posted on: 10 November 2010

The build will occur on vacant land at The Base shopping centre in Hamilton’s north from Monday 15 to Friday 19 November, with volunteers working in teams of up to 20 on the build site.

Habitat for Humanity Central North Island General Manager, Nic Greene, welcomed the Army’s participation in the battle against sub-standard housing.

“Habitat has engaged with the Army in the past and it has been a positive experience. This partnership allows us to utilise the troops’ experience and in turn it gives them a practical application for their training,” Mr Greene said.

Commanding officer of the 25 Engineer Support Squadron, Major Terry McDonald, said the Linton team comprises plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.

"Some members of the team participating in this build are apprentices, so this work is contributing to their training,” Major McDonald said.

"Being part of building a house for Habitat makes the training real for the carpenters, plumbers and electricians, it is great feeling when the work we do goes back into the community.

"Engineers can expect to be deployed anywhere in the world for a range of tasks. Deploying to Hamilton may not seem far, but the planning is the same if we want to be successful. Being part of this build lets us test our ability to work in combined teams, just as we might in a coalition force or if we are sent to help with a natural disaster,” he said.

The four bedroom house will be trucked to its permanent Nawton address in the early hours of Monday 22 November. It is hoped the Cuthers Family, selected from 60 families who registered an interest in becoming the home’s owners, will be living in the house by Christmas.

The house build is supported by GrassRoots Trust, Mitre 10 MEGA Hamilton and MoreFM. Tainui Group Holdings has provided the site for the build at The Base shopping centre just off SH1.

Members of the public wanting more information on the build should visit www.habitatcni.org.nzor visit the site during the week of Monday 15 to Friday 19 November.

Posted on: 1 September 2010

Hamilton’s former air force base will become a ‘battleground’ in November as more than 200 people join forces on a special mission to build a family home in five days.

The house build is supported by Mitre 10 MEGA Hamilton, as well as Tainui Group Holdings, which has provided an area at The Base shopping centre just off SH1 in Hamilton’s north.

Habitat for Humanity’s Central North Island general manager, Nic Greene, said it was the first blitz build to occur in Hamilton for a couple of years and would engage more than 200 volunteers, working in teams of 20.

“We are looking for people able to spend just four hours, in the morning or afternoon, to help with the build. No special building skills are required, just a willingness to help a deserving family,” Mr Greene said.

“Previous blitz build houses have been trucked out of the city, but this home is being built for a local family and shoppers at The Base will be able to come along to see our teams at work.

“The Cuthers were selected from 60 families who registered an interest in becoming the owners of this home. The family has been through some hard times and we felt they would willingly partner with us in our ‘hand up not hand out’ philosophy because they are committed to giving back to the community in a positive way,” he said.

Anthony and Poro Cuthers have a blended family of seven children, aged three to 18, and moved from Auckland to Hamilton seven years ago.

Mr Cuthers said a “past of wrong choices” meant the opportunity for the family to own their own home was not possible. “A Habitat house provides the opportunity to dream again...(and) helps a family like my own know that no matter what happens, there is always hope.”

The build will occur between 8am and 5pm from Monday 15 to Friday 19 November. The house will be trucked to its permanent Nawton address on Monday 22 November.

Team and individual volunteer registrations close on Friday 15 October. People interested in volunteering are urged to phone (07) 849 0284 or complete a form online by visiting the Habitat for Humanity website, www. habitatcni.org.nz.

Mr Greene said Habitat’s special mission was to raise $20,000 to go towards the organisation’s work in the community. “The strategy is for each volunteer to raise $100 sponsorship from family and friends, with a reward for the one who comes out on top.”