Te Ᾱhuru Mōwai and Mana College are building homes for local whānau while developing young talent

Te Ᾱhuru Mōwai and Mana College have formed a partnership to build new homes for local whānau, while also developing local Rangatahi and creating meaningful employment pathways.

Mana College in Porirua run a successful construction school, offering students practical and life changing skills in house construction. High quality houses are built, that were previously sold to the open market and generally moved out of the area.

The new partnership will see up to three houses being constructed each year and then turned into a Te Ᾱhuru Mōwai home, to support a local whānau. Te Ᾱhuru Mōwai will take the houses built on the College site and transport them to existing sections and turn them into a home. The partnership will see the local Rangatahi broaden their skills and experience as they participate in the process of turning a ‘house’ into a ‘home’.

“We are extremely proud of our Rangatahi and delighted that this partnership will broaden their skills and importantly see their mahi benefit a local whānau in their own neighborhood.” said John Murdoch, Principal.

Te Ᾱhuru Mōwai is a Ngāti Toa owned Community Housing Provider in Western Porirua, supporting over 920 tenant whānau and properties. Alongside the Iwi, it has ambitious plans for more and better housing within the Porirua neighbourhoods it serves. This will include new social, affordable as well as private homes.

“This Kaupapa with Mana College is about more homes, supporting local whānau, developing local Rangatahi and creating meaningful employment pathways. These Mana College students will I’m sure take great pride in seeing first-hand the difference their mahi can make for a local whānau, maybe even their own. We hope this practical experience opens many new doors and related employment pathways” said James Te Puni, Chief Executive, Te Ᾱhuru Mōwai.

Steve Haerewa, Programme Manager for the Mana College Construction school is a key part of this innovation. He said, “previously it has been difficult for young people, particularly Māori and Pasifika students to jump into apprenticeships. This programme aims to address this inequity. For example, 13 of the 15 Year 13 students who graduated from this programme, gained apprenticeships in the construction industry last year. We also need these young people developing management and business skills so they can own their own business one day. This course is designed to develop leaders in this industry.”

The partnership was formally agreed and signed on 28 September 2022 and the mahi will get underway immediately.