Iwi step up for whānau in Wairoa: Toitu Tairāwhiti delivers cabins for flood victims

In a swift response to the June flooding, the first of seven temporary accommodation cabins provided by Gisborne’s Toitu Tairāwhiti arrived in Wairoa last Friday. 

The remaining cabins were delivered the next day and families are expected to move in by the end of July. 

The self-contained units, complete with kitchen and bathroom, have been strategically placed next to flood-damaged homes, offering immediate relief to affected whānau. 

Last year, Toitu Tairāwhiti, a collective made up of four iwi in Tairāwhiti — Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki — delivered 14 cabins to Wairoa within four weeks of Cyclone Gabrielle as part of its iwi housing prototype in collaboration with the Government. 

“This initiative allows the iwi of Tairāwhiti to quickly allocate funding to meet the needs of the iwi,” a spokesman said.

“Although Wairoa is not part of the iwi group that owns Toitu Tairāwhiti, the organisation recognises the urgent need to support Te Wairoa due to longstanding relationships and kinship ties.” 

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa and Toitu Tairāwhiti have urgently requested 45 additional cabins from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. 

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa chief executive Lewis Ratapu discussed the need with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell during their recent visit to Wairoa. 

“When we mentioned Toitu Tairāwhiti and their building partner Builtsmart, the Prime Minister immediately recognised their programme. 

“The proposed camper vans and Kāinga Ora container homes are not suitable for our needs. We still have over 120 whānau in temporary accommodation from Gabrielle, with many expected to remain for another four to five months,” Ratapu said. 

“Adding another 120 only lengthens the time people will need accommodation while their homes are being repaired. The additional 120 homes, on top of the 150 from Gabrielle, mean we have a severe shortage of trades and escalating costs.” 

Ratapu further criticised the Temporary Accommodation Service provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 

“The agency applies a Hawke's Bay regional rental rate to people in Wairoa that does not recognise the increased associated costs of living here and the fact that people have to replace furniture and repair homes. 

“The process to apply for any reduction is difficult and many of our whānau have just given up. We have decided to set a rate that just covers our operating costs and is $65 less.” 

He emphasised the need for a comprehensive housing programme for Wairoa which incorporated the strategy developed by the council and iwi before Cyclone Gabrielle last year, addressed urgent housing needs after two severe weather events, and considered a long-term view around housing resilience and sustainability. 

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa has also requested 30 social homes be allocated to Wairoa from the 1700 announced in the May Budget. 

“We need permanent housing to ensure we can provide a continuum of housing options for whānau, so they don’t get stuck in short-term accommodation,” Ratapu said.