Department of Corrections and Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa are establishing a new kaupapa Māori supported accommodation service in Naenae, Lower Hutt that will be called Te Whare Whakaruruhau o Raumanuka.
The partners confirmed the decision to go ahead with the service in early November after several months of engagement with residents, community groups and local marae.
The first residents are scheduled to move into the residential community in March 2022.
Te Whare Whakaruruhau o Raumanuka will provide wrap-around support and transitional accommodation for up to twenty-six men to facilitate their reintegration back into the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington community.
The service will be delivered by a Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa service provider and will operate from three sites in close proximity to each other. It will prioritise men who whakapapa to or have close whānau ties within Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa, who are mana whenua in the area.
Residents will live at the service for between six to twelve months, but some may stay for up to eighteen months if they need further support to reintegrate into the community. They must be assessed as being willing and ready for the reintegration and pro-social support that the service will provide. They will have opted in to live at the service and will receive support to find employment or further their training or education while living there.
People who have sexual offences against children or adults or who have high and complex needs will not be eligible to live at the service.
Department of Corrections and Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa would like to thank the Naenae community for playing an active role during our community engagement.
To ensure that the community continues to be connected to the service we are setting up a Community Liaison Group. This will give residents and community leaders an opportunity to contribute to the successful delivery of the service.
Nominations for the Community Liaison Group close on 30 November 2021. If you would like to volunteer to be part of the group or would like more information please email engagelowernorth@corrections.govt.nz or phone Hayden Brodie on 027 202 5903.
Find out more
Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa have published information about the proposed service on their website that includes detailed answers to frequently asked questions.