Tēnā koutou katoa
It was good to connect with the tenant advisory group this month and to hear about tenant initiatives in our villages. I know that even more activities are scheduled for the summer months, with villages also busy planning their Christmas parties. I hope to attend many of these over the next few weeks.
You may have seen the report featuring Haumaru on TV 1News recently. I’d like to thank all those involved in getting the message across that subsidised funding for rent is really valued by our tenants and can make a big difference to getting a warm and dry place to call home. We continue to work to find a solution to the rent subsidy cuts which will only impact some new (incoming) tenants – not our existing tenants.
I’d like to remind you that tenants need to apply to us in writing if they intend to be away from their unit for more than three months in any calendar year. Going away for longer than this without your landlord's written permission is a breach of your Tenancy Agreement and may put your tenancy in jeopardy. Please do provide us with written notice in advance, if you intend to be away for an extended period.
Due to updated Fire and Emergency New Zealand regulations, the smoke detectors in the units now need to be on the ceiling, not on the wall. Therefore, we’ll be checking each unit and moving the smoke detectors, as necessary. This work needs to be completed before Christmas for health and safety purposes, and we’ll let you know in advance when it’s planned for your village.
I wish to end with a wonderful quote on kindness/atawhai/Manaakitanga/atawhaitia, as this is the Haumaru value we’re focussing on this month: He aroha whakatõ, he aroha puta mai / If kindness is sown, then kindness you shall receive.
Ngā mihi nui
Gillian Schweizer,
Chief Executive Officer
The Māori translation of the Haumaru value of Kindness embraces several words: ‘atawhai’ (to show kindness), ‘Manaakitanga’ (hospitality, kindness and generosity) and ‘atawhaitia’ (to be shown kindness). We had a wonderful example of this in the office recently, when a staff member was ill and her colleagues supported her to get home safely and made sure she had food and any medication needed. At Haumaru, we encourage everyone to always connect with one another with kindness (and respect) and when engaging with our staff.
Many tenants may have already met our Placements team: Placement Manager Linda McKenzie and Placement Coordinators Simaima Paongo and Sharon Bessem are the first faces you see when applying for accommodation with Haumaru. This dedicated and dynamic team handles enquiries, interviews clients and connects prospective tenants with homes within our housing portfolio. Linda says: “We love meeting clients from all walks of life and listening to their stories. We deeply empathise with clients’ housing needs, and it’s our goal to not only find homes for them, but also to ensure they have everything they need to live independently in our villages. We work together to create solutions that truly make a difference.”
Early this month, we had the pleasure of hosting representatives from the Kawasaki City Council in Japan. During the two-day fact-finding visit, we shared a presentation about Haumaru and took part in a discussion highlighting the differences in how our two countries approach housing for older people. We also showed the group around Henderson’s Wilsher Village and Green Bay’s Godley Court. The delegation appreciated the opportunity to explore the villages and visit a couple of our units first hand, and our team very much enjoyed interacting with the visitors and found the exchange of ideas both insightful and inspiring.
New tenant Lewis Mercer has recently moved into Whitehaven Court, our multicultural village community in Papatoetoe which has 24 units. Lewis loves music, particularly the drums, and has been playing since he was a young boy growing up in the small North Waikato town of Tuakau. This passion led him to play two tours with Kiwi singing star, John Rowles, who’s best known for his 1968 song ‘If I only had time’ and ‘Cheryl Moana Marie’ from 1970. Lewis has many wonderful stories about his music career. Most days, he can be spotted sitting outside his unit, drumming on his practice pad and obviously enjoying the moment.
Did you know that one in four house fires start in the kitchen? Fire and Emergency New Zealand have provided the following advice on some simple things you can do to reduce the risk of a fire starting in your kitchen:
• Clean your stovetop after each use. This prevents spilled fats and burnt foods from building up.
• Don't drink and fry. Alcohol is involved in half of all fatal fires. Instead, pre-prepare a meal or use the microwave. Never drink alcohol or take medication that makes you sleepy when cooking.
• Don’t leave the room when cooking. If you have to, make sure you turn off the stove first. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires in New Zealand.
• Keep curtains, tea towels, oven mitts and any flammable items well away from the cooking area when you're cooking.
• If your fry pan or pot is on fire, place the lid or another large flat object (like a chopping board) over the pan to starve the fire of oxygen.
• If you have a fire in your oven, try to turn off the power or gas, either at the stove or at the mains.
• Call 111 from outside your house and do not attempt to go back inside if there are smoke or flames. Get out, stay out.
• Never throw water onto a fry pan or pot that's on fire.
• Never attempt to carry a burning fry pan or pot outside.
To learn more or for non-urgent help, please visit www.fireandemergency.nz
or call them on 0800 693 473.
Tenants and Community Managers attended the third annual Age-Friendly Auckland Symposium on 5 November at Western Springs Gardens Community Hall. Interactive presentations, discussions and cultural performances focused on building inclusive, resilient communities that uphold the wellbeing of older people in Tāmaki Makaurau. Our Tenancy Quality Manager Maxine Stiling is the Age-Friendly Auckland co-chair.
Pictured at the first ever Digital Seniors Tech Expo on 10 November at Eventfinda Stadium, Wairau Valley, are Gordon Court tenant Alice and Haumaru’s Maxine Stiling. Co-designed with seniors for seniors, the event included many stalls showcasing the latest digital innovations aimed at empowering older people and was an inspiring day of discovery and learning.
Community Managers Tony and Danielia represented Haumaru at the Positive Ageing Expo held in the Papakura library on 14 November. They’re pictured with Waimana Court tenant Sophie and friend who stopped by to say ‘Hello’.
Pakuranga’s Dale Court tenants got into the Christmas spirit when they visited Sylvia Park Shopping Centre on their bus trip with drivers Maggie and Della on 14 November.