Marae swamped by housing need

Kaanga Skipper, a direct descendant of Te Puea Herangi (L) and Hurimoana Dennis, chair of Te Puea Marae.Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley

Colleen Fakalogotoa, chief executive of Family Start Manukau, said her workers went to the marae today because there was no emergency accommodation available.

“They would have gone there because the other places were full or they wouldn’t have been able to find accommodation available in any of the usual places that they go to.”

The marae is already bursting at the seams.

They have been given $10,000 from Te Puni Kokiri, but Mr Dennis , chair of Te Puea Marae, said they really need the government to clear the red tape so they can process and house people more quickly.

“Give them a whare, let them settle and then all the admin and the paper work that needs to be done, which is very important, can be done.”

But he said what is happening now is that the paperwork all needs to be done up front.

And the marae itself needs help.

The marae has also been overwhelmed with donations and is looking for warehouse space nearby to manage the volume of goods and be able to distribute them more effectively.

See the Radio New Zealand report here.