Tēnā koutou katoa
Meri Kirihimete, Merry Christmas! I’ve loved catching up with tenants over the last couple of weeks at the village Christmas parties and hearing about your plans for the summer. The Haumaru team ended the year with a fun game of mini golf – unfortunately, my skill was somewhat lacking, but it was so good to stop, have a laugh and connect.
It’s been another busy year with both rewards and challenges. I’ve recently attended the Community Housing Aotearoa national conference in Auckland where Haumaru gave a presentation about how we support tenants’ wellbeing through our various in-village and community initiatives. I also learned about some new innovations in housing, but was equally reassured that Haumaru is doing quality work on all levels.
The summer months are an ideal time for painting and roof repairs, so look out for news of forthcoming activity planned for your village.
This edition of our newsletter is devoted to all things Christmassy. I do hope everyone’s looking forward to the festive season. I wish all our tenants a peaceful, safe and happy holiday. Take care, wear sunblock and continue to look out for your neighbours as you so kindly do. Our team will be working through and the Helpdesk is answered 24/7 including on public holidays, so don't hesitate to call us if you need assistance. You’ll also continue to see Community Managers on site.
On behalf of us all at Haumaru Housing, wishing you Meri Kirihimete me te tau hou.
Ngā mihi nui
Gillian Schweizer,
Chief Executive Officer
Following their wonderful Christmas deliveries to tenants last year, members of Passion Church spent Saturday, 30 November, delivering Christmas cheer again to Westview and Harmony villagers in Glen Eden – in the form of a sausage sizzle and lovely gift boxes full of goodies. Harmony village tenants Pam, Shirley and Roger are pictured with Passion Church members Ana and Ben. The gift boxes are also shown stacked high in the Westview community house waiting to be delivered.
Debbie Fenton, volunteer coordinator at Albany’s C3 Church foodbank, organised a total of 167 jars of homemade plum jam and lime and orange marmalade to be gift-wrapped by church members and delivered to our North Shore tenants for their Christmas parties. Every week throughout the year, Debbie also provides food parcels for our tenants on the Shore and in South Auckland. Debbie’s pictured wrapping the gifts with some of her fellow volunteers.
The wonderful ladies of Mairangi Bay Community Church put on a lovely Christmas celebration for tenants of Cockayne, Stratford and Windsor Courts and seniors from the general Mairangi Bay area.
Massey’s Flagstaff Court Christmas party was made even merrier thanks to Henderson Budget Services providing a grocery bag for each tenant filled to the brim with treats! Two students from the local Hobsonville school handed out the gifts, and librarian Alola from Auckland Council also attended with her great selection of books for tenants to choose from.
As the Christmas carol goes - ‘Tis the season to be jolly’ – and that was certainly the case at the many Christmas parties held around the villages in early December. With a choice of a BBQ, a Christmas ham or a selection of tasty sandwiches provided courtesy of the Haumaru Housing team, tenants enjoyed getting together under sunny skies to celebrate the Christmas season. With Haumaru staff members on hand to help host the events, the new Haumaru Board Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper and CEO Gillian Schweizer also popped by to say ‘Hello’!