Whānau together as one for first time in two years!

Our Region 10 Switched On Housing team and Switched On Building Solutions (SOBS) trades have gone above and beyond to house a very vulnerable whānau through our Te Mahi Ngātahi partnership with Kāinga Ora, just in time for Christmas.

The whānau have been living apart, with some in an emergency motel in and the others scattered with other family members. A home on the West Coast was found for them in mid-December, but it needed a lot of work to make it ready for the whānau to move in, bringing them together in one whare for the first time in more than two years!

General Manager Region 10 Hunter Morton says that getting this project across the line was an incredible show of festive spirit, collaboration and work ethic by the team.

“Our Switched On Housing kaimahi and Switched On Building Solutions trades really came together to support this family and make their Christmas wishes come true. We are well versed in working to tight timeframes, but the team really went above and beyond on this one, including stepping well outside their usual roles to house this family together for the holidays,” he says.

Grant Bowden of Switched On Building Solutions, who helped coordinate the project on a tight timeline.

SOBS Electrician Ricky Green, Carpenter Johann Le Roux and Carpenter Bevin Coleman, travelled over the weekend from Nelson to ensure this home could be ready for the whānau in time to celebrate and enjoy summer. Behind the scenes, Grant Bowden made sure that the team quickly planned and sourced all the building materials, including extras – just in case.

Electrician Ricky hired a lawn mower and did all the yard work himself on top of his electrical mahi. He also trimmed the trees, used all his own tools from home and took the waste away in his own trailer. Finally, our carpenters managed to complete all that was required in a very tight timeframe.

Thanking our trades for going above and beyond, with a BBQ.

When this whānau were offered the home, they were very emotional. Our Region 10 team have given this family the best Christmas present they could have ever wished for, and one they will never, ever forget.

Our Kāinga Ora partners highlighted our teams’ outstanding efforts, saying that they could not speak highly enough.

He waka eke noa – we are all in this together!