When nine newly built homes were blessed in Rutherford Road, Napier recently, a very special guest turned up to welcome the families who were moving into the neighbourhood.

Zita has lived in the same Kāinga Ora home in Rutherford Road for the last 3‌2 years. Her home is one of a group of six flats. Many of her immediate neighbours have also lived there a long time, so looking after each other is a way of life.

“When I saw the new homes in the street were finished and new families were moving in, I wanted to awhi (support) them with love,” says Zita.

How do you feed a crowd?

Share with us your original go-to recipe for how you like to feed a crowd. Whether it’s for a family barbecue, potluck meal or a festive dessert, we want to see it. Do you have a family recipe with cultural significance, or one that’s been handed down through generations?

Share it with us via this form, include a photograph if you have one handy, and have a chance to win our major prize of an air fryer and a signed copy of Destitute Gourmet, along with geting your recipe published in our summer issue of Close to Home. Our readers will be able to enjoy your recipe ideas in time for Christmas. We’ll also award major prizes for best starter, salad or side, and best dessert.

A bright future for award-winning apprentice Braedyn

Growing up with the stability of a Kāinga Ora home has allowed 20-year-old Braedyn to put down roots and begin a promising career in the neighbourhood he calls home.

After attending local primary and secondary schools, Braedyn landed an apprenticeship just an eight-minute walk from home and enjoys his sense of independence.

Ruby a gem of the local community

Kāinga Ora customer Ruby is paddling away happily on a ‘waka of change’.

Ruby says she has turned her life around in the past five years since she moved from emergency housing into her Kāinga Ora home with her now 10-year-old and 17-year-old sons.

Start now to plan for Christmas

Help prevent dog bites

Did you know that tamariki aged 0-9 are most likely to be seriously injured by a dog bite? Most dog attacks on children are by the family pet or a friend’s dog, so dog owners can help to prevent dog bites by keeping their dogs under control at all times when children are around, even if the dog is usually friendly. Dogs should never be allowed to roam freely outside their property as this can increase the chances of an attack.

Spring gardening tips

Even the most gardening-averse can feel when spring is in the air! Blossoms and birds are accompanied by rapid growth of lawns and weeds.

Warmth-lovers like tomatoes, beans and pumpkins need to wait until the soil really warms up (after Labour Day) before planting them outside, but leafy greens like lettuce, peas, celery, silverbeet and cabbage can go in earlier.

New approach to tenancy management

We expect that everyone living in a Kāinga Ora home will be a good tenant and neighbour. We find most of our customers are responsible and treat their neighbours with respect.

But in some situations this doesn’t happen. It’s important you understand that we may end a tenancy and not offer another Kāinga Ora home if you act in a way that:

Get sore throats checked

Rheumatic fever starts with a sore throat that is known as ‘strep throat’. Most sore throats get better on their own after about four days. But if strep throat is not treated with antibiotics, it can cause rheumatic fever in at-risk children and young people.

All sore throats in Māori and Pacific children and young people (aged 4-19 years) need to be checked, especially if you live in Northland, Auckland, around Rotorua and Taupō, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and the East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, or Hutt Valley.

Disabled Customer Working Group pilot

– join the team

Want to make a difference for people with disabilities?

Our Disabled Customer Working Group will guide and strengthen the service we provide to our customers, and support people with disabilities to live well in our homes and communities. We’re currently taking expressions of interest for new members.

If you or someone in your household is living with a disability and you want to provide your input, we’d love to hear from you.

Tūhono mai – Join us

Visit our website for more information or apply by emailing DCWG@Kaingaora.govt.nz

Applications close: 5‌pm, Tuesday 15 October 20‌24

Need to contact the customer support team?

You can get in touch with our team about rent, property or other matters through our feedback and enquiry form; or if your matter is urgent you can phone 0800 801 601.

You can also log non-urgent maintenance requests, check rent balances, arrange payments, view your letters, update your information and heaps more through MyKāingaOra.