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National | Homeless

Manurewa Marae to shelter family of six

Manurewa Marae is providing shelter for a family of six who had to leave a local property where 20 people were staying.

Toi Katipa told our reporter Mānia Clarke that their stay is temporary until they move into an affordable rental.

For approximately six years, Toi Katipa has been the caretaker of Manurewa Marae.

Now the ancestral house Mātukurua is taking care of him and his family.

Toi and the family had been staying in a cabin on the rental property of his mother-in-law for the last three months, but they were kicked out two weeks ago.

“The landlord didn't know we were at our mother's place,” says Katipa, “They saw us and told us to remove the cabin and go.”

For the eight weeks, Manurewa Marae has been preparing to assist Te Puea Marae in sheltering the homeless, which included temporary portacoms and approximately $50,000 worth of needed repairs to the kitchen.

The last three portacoms will arrive by Thursday. Then the plumbing will be installed, ready for the families.

Toi and his family hope to move into their new rental property within two weeks.