Liz

An example of how Dwell works in partnership – this time with another housing provider.
The first thing Liz Love brought into her new home was a picture of her tīpuna and Te Āti Awa Chief, Wī Tako Ngātata.

His portrait was held close as she signed the tenancy contract and officially started life in her new home. She says

“He's in all of our homes. I'm just trying to figure out, if he's the first thing you see when you walk in, or the last thing you see when you sit down. He always goes up
first."

As a descendant of the original inhabitants of Te Aro Pā, Liz has followed the developments of Te Aro Pā Trust closely. Te Aro Pā had wished for when they decided to build homes on the land. They hope that each of the tenants will be set on a path toward home ownership. In the words of Taku Parai, Descendant, owner and Advisory
Trustee,

“When visions become a reality people become confident and trustworthy. I believe through the collective the future looks great. These apartments will inspire and lift
all those who will live in them."

“Looking back on the processes that have taken place for these homes to be here today, it‟s extremely overwhelming and its a blessing, not only for my family for our iwi and our people. ...”

The idea of raising her two sons on whenua connected to her tīpuna and surrounded by whānau is the icing on the cake. In fact, it was Liz‟s youngest son who overheard her talking about the papakāinga in Evans Bay and encouraged her to apply for a tenancy. Soon after, and with support from Ngāti Kahungungu Community Services, she was able to break her fixed-term tenancy and move into a Te Aro Pā home. Giving whānau like Liz‟s a helping hand is exactly what the Trustees of

Our thanks for Te Tumu Paeroa for permission to use this text and photograph.