In Aotearoa New Zealand in the winter 2016, Te Puea Memorial Marae (TPMM) came under the media spotlight when they independently opened their marae to anyone in desperate need of shelter and support.
Introduction
In Aotearoa New Zealand in the winter 2016, Te Puea Memorial Marae (TPMM) came under the media spotlight when they independently opened their marae to anyone in desperate need of shelter and support. In doing so, TPMM helped to shift the dominant political discourse that denied the existence of a critical housing shortage and poverty, by making visible the plight of homeless people, including large numbers of families. (Lee-Morgan & Hoskins, 2017; Espiner, 2016).
Following in the cultural tradition of manaakitanga (generosity) of the marae, and in the legacy of Princess Te Puea Hērangi, TPMM’s grassroots initiative was dubbed, ‘Manaaki Tāngata’. Since then the programme has continued and been refined, with a focus on supporting homeless whānau, to not only secure housing tenancy, but to support home-building, to heal, and achieve whānau ora (family well-being).
Understanding Indigenous Homelessness
For Māori as an Indigenous people, any analysis of homelessness begins with an understanding of the destructive processes of colonisation. Imposed on Indigenous peoples throughout the world, colonial invasions ensured the establishment of colonial power, the dispossession of land, and the exploitation of resources and people (Hutchings & Lee-Morgan, 2016).
In 2017, New Zealand was recorded as having the worst homelessness statistics in the OECD. YaleGlobal Online, stated that “more than 40,000 people live on the streets or in emergency housing or substandard shelters” – almost 1% of the entire population. Of these 41,000 people it is estimated that one-third are Māori, (Statistics New Zealand, 2013) who are in ‘severe housing stress’ – living in cars, tents and garages. Homelessness is the physical hard edge of poverty and must be understood in relation to colonialism and the broader social structures where power and resources are distributed (Hodgetts & Stolte, 2017).
For Māori as an Indigenous people, any analysis of homelessness begins with an understanding of the destructive processes of colonisation
The Manaaki Tāngata (MT) Programme
For homeless whānau, the Manaaki Tāngata (MT) programme at the Marae is quite a different proposition in the Transitional Housing Provider (THP) landscape. It is the embodiment of the legacy of Te Puea Herangi, by the people of the TPMM that is the nucleus upon which manaakitanga operates. This innate understanding has been pivotal in galvanising the response to homelessness in the form of the MT programme.
Within the culturally demarcated space of the marae, MT programme is a transformative Māori process, as whānau journey towards securing new homes and becoming independent and self-determining. The following story about Dana is one such example of transformation.
Dana’s Story
Life has not been easy for Dana and her children. The journey to homelessness has been characterised by drug abuse, violence, poverty and trauma. Being prosecuted for receiving the Sole Parent Benefit last year left her without any income from May to September 2017, and she was subsequently evicted from her Housing NZ home.
Prior to coming to TPMM, she spent six months living in motels. The last motel was a one bedroom unit in Ōtāhuhu (for two months) with her four young children. During this time she was heavily pregnant, and was required to attend weekly WINZ meetings and house viewings. Dana describes herself as feeling completely “stressed out”.
Staying at the marae was a critical turning point for her. She was pleased to be going to the marae, as a Māori place. She explains, “I’m Māori, and I can relate to them”.
She says, “TPMM just changed my life in so many different ways. They kept me focused on my priorities. I never lied to them, and they would keep me on track. Whitiao would keep me in line. For me it was good. She guided me – there is a difference between telling me what to do, and guiding me how to do it, in the right way. Like, putting my babies first instead of myself”.
In July 2018, Dana and her five children shifted into their brand new two-storey home.
Dana is deeply appreciative of the people of TPMM. Not only because they helped her to find and furnish her beautiful house, but for all of the support they have and continue to provide her to make a new start, and for the fact that they helped her to ‘change her life’.
Within the culturally demarcated space of the marae, MT programme is a transformative Māori process, as whānau journey towards securing new homes and becoming independent and self-determining.
Conclusion
Manaakitanga is not new; it is at the heart of every marae in Aotearoa. The MT programme seeks to heal, to stabilise and strengthen whānau to live in relation to their communities, and ultimately to become fully self-determining. The marae enables an Indigenous model that narrates an alternative cultural practice based on Māori beliefs, world views and aspirations for whānau Māori.
Associate Prof Jenny Lee-Morgan (Unitec, Auckland) is the Co-Principal Investigator of the research project based at Te Puea Memorial Marae. Whitiao Paul is the Lead Social Worker and Jenny Nuku is the Treasurer of Manaaki Tāngata, Te Puea Memorial Marae.
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