Tēnā koutou katoa
As I write this final message to you, the sun is shining brilliantly and there’s a real sense of summer just around the corner. It feels like the perfect moment to reflect on recent progress and the exciting developments ahead for Haumaru Housing.
I was in Wellington recently with The Selwyn Foundation CEO, Denise Cosgrove, continuing to champion the goals of the Aotearoa New Zealand National Forum for the Decade of Healthy Ageing and raise awareness of the vital role that having a safe, secure home plays in older people’s wellbeing. At an event held at Parliament, and attended by the Minister for Seniors Casey Costello, five pledges promoting initiatives to improve the lives of older people were launched. These include the importance of gathering more specific data about our older generations; ensuring suitable, affordable housing for older people; helping every person make a plan to thrive for life; expanding community wrap-around support, and introducing proactive health checks. You can read more about these at www.nzdecade.org.nz. I also had the pleasure of meeting Nicky McDonald, the new Director of the Office for Seniors. There are clearly significant, positive steps underway across the country to ensure our seniors are supported, valued and well looked after.
As I leave Haumaru Housing, I’m pleased to share news of two important milestones. First, we’ve secured a new piece of land in West Auckland, where we plan to develop 42 fully accessible homes by the end of next year – an essential project as the demand for affordable housing continues to grow. Second, our new subsidised rent model, where applicants pay 50% of market rent in some of our units, has been well received and most of these units are now tenanted. This option will continue alongside our rentals that qualify for the Income Related Rent Subsidy (IRRS).
I’m also pleased to confirm that David Kennedy commenced on 17 November as Interim Chief Executive. David will be with Haumaru until a permanent Chief Executive is appointed. He brings extensive leadership experience in property development, urban infrastructure and community housing, along with a strong track record in working within Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnerships.
I would like to thank you for your warmth, engagement and positive contribution to village life. To the Haumaru team, thank you for your commitment and dedication to providing a quality, responsive service to our tenants at all times. I wish you a glorious summer and a joyful end to the year. Remember to take some exercise, eat well, laugh often and look after yourselves.
Ngā manaakitanga
Gillian Schweizer,
Chief Executive Officer
A new Haumaru village is on its way
On 13 November, we took part in a blessing of the site of our new Godley Road development in Green Bay, together with members of the Miles Construction team who will deliver the new homes for us. The site, which is next door to our existing Godley Court village, will be the location of a two-storey complex offering 42 one-bedroom units, all of which will qualify for IRRS. Haumaru has purchased the land, and this will be the first property we will have commissioned and developed independently (our previous ‘new-builds’ were undertaken in partnership with Auckland Council and Kāinga Ora). With construction due to be completed towards the end of 2026, we look forward to being able to provide even more affordable, safe and secure homes for seniors in the future.
A fond farewell to Gillian
Haumaru Board members past and present, representatives of The Selwyn Foundation and Auckland Council and all the Haumaru team came together on 14 November to honour and farewell Gillian on her last day. Fitting tributes were paid, with personal reflections and acknowledgements of thanks and appreciation for Gillian’s leadership, collegiality, support and guidance over the last four years. In recognising and thanking each individual member of staff, Gillian read out a poem of gratitude that she had specially composed, with the final verse:
We have built a place where lives can thrive, Helping older people feel alive,
A home, a haven, a gentle hand,
Together we have contributed to something ‘grand’.
On behalf of everyone at Haumaru, we wish Gillian all the very best for the future.
Gillian with Haumaru Chief Operating Officer Paul Amaral and Community Services Operations Manager Mirela Sandu, and with the Haumaru team.
Spotlight on Torbay Village
Nestled on Auckland’s North Shore, Torbay is more than just a picturesque seaside suburb, but a place with deep roots. The land was part of the early settlement of Tāmaki Makaurau, with Māori occupation in this area stretching back to the 15th century and earlier. In those early days, the area known as Waiake (the wider Torbay stretch) was home to small whares, a meeting place and a spring believed to have restorative powers. With the arrival of European settlers, the zone changed dramatically – flax mills, saw mills, farming and tobacco experiments were all part of the story. The name ‘Torbay’ likely draws inspiration from the Devon region of England and, in fact, the iconic rock, The Tor, at the head of Waiake Beach gives the area its name.
Haumaru’s Torbay Village at 4 Wairere Road consists of 18 units and has well-kept gardens and now a brand-new pergola, thanks to the Haumaru Facility team’s commitment to enhancing our communal spaces. With the addition of the pergola, tenants now have a dedicated and welcoming space where they can relax, connect and enjoy village life – strengthening the sense of community that makes Torbay so special.
Torbay tenants sharing morning tea before the pergola was installed.
New Community Manager Jacquie
Congratulations to Jacquie Lindsay who’s been appointed Community Manager and will take over Mirela Sandu’s North Shore village portfolio on 1 December, following Mirela’s recent transition into the role of Community Services Operations Manager. With the introduction of our subsidised rental model, Jacquie had joined the Placement team a few months ago to help in working through the increased demand for our housing units. She says below:
Kia ora Haumaru Whānau
I’m excited to start my new role as a Community Manager for Haumaru Housing. People are the best part of life, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in the villages. Outside of work, I’m kept busy with my whānau and all the fun that family life brings. Sport and music take up any spare time I have, and I especially love the friendships I’ve made along the way.
Mauri ora, e mā te wā. Good life and see you all soon.
Jacquie
Thank you Mirela
On learning that Mirela was to move on from her Community Manager role, tenants of Dallington Court organised a surprise farewell party for her on 31 October. Chief party planner Val Sutcliffe is pictured here with Mirela, who was very touched by the occasion. She says: ‘
This farewell will stay with me for a long time. It reinforced how fortunate I am to work alongside such wonderful residents and to be part of their community, even for a short time. Although I am moving forward, I will always carry these memories and the warmth of Dallington Court with me.’
Enjoying community, connection and fun times together
Tenants at Greenslade Court in Northcote enjoyed some great winnings at their Melbourne Cup celebrations when it came to their fancy outfits! There were many winners on the day – from Bonnie and Clyde ‘lookalikes’ to ‘less is more’ and the ‘wackiest hat’.
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Greenslade tenants also enjoyed a Halloween-themed get-together, with the grim reaper and his witch dressing for the occasion!
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Birkdale and Lancaster Court tenants had fun on their minivan trip to the Botanic Gardens on 12 November.
Tenants of North Shore’s Shephards Park, Birkdale and Windsor Courts and Torbay Village came together for a Community Network gathering at Sunnynook Community Centre on 9 November. Over morning tea with St Johns Medical Alarm staff, everyone learned about the medical alarm service and its many benefits for seniors.