Tiny homes temporary fix for Wairoa flood relief

Gideon Porter Tiny homes tempory fix for Wairoa flood relief

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The first of 12 tiny homes have arrived in Wairoa on loan from the iwi housing consortium Toitu Tairawhiti Builtsmart to serve as temporary accommodation while flood-damaged properties are repaired.

Leon Symes, the chair of post-settlement entity Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, says the solar-powered pods are a godsend.

He says more than 70 percent of homes damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle were occupied by Māori.

Priority is being given to people still bedding down at local marae.

“Even though it may be a temporary option but at least they’re making it back to their own house and then they can start to plan for what’s coming ahead – which is winter’s just around the corner. So we want to get on to this quite quickly and smart, so whanau can get out of the marae, and get into something in a temporary accomodation , that’s going to be warm and dry for them,” Mr Symes says.

Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa is also keen to establish its own social housing scheme.

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