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Ruapehu Whānau Transformation team celebrates second bithday

PRESS RELEASE

Ruapehu Whānau Transformation team celebrates their second birthday

Tuesday, 28 July 1015

For immediate distribution

The implementation phase of the Ruapehu Whānau Transformation Plan [RWT] continues to inspire positive, sustainable change for the Ruapehu communities of Raetihi, Ohākune and Waiouru.

Under a Ngāti Rangi led initiative, in July 2013 a number of broad ranging solutions were identified to help improve the wellbeing of the area.

Leading implementation, RWT Project Manager Erena Mikaere-Most has been inspired by the changes already seen across the focus areas of education, employment, housing, health and social wellbeing.

"Strategies are normally simply dust collectors on the shelf, but eight of our proposed solutions are already complete, twelve more are well underway and we are on schedule for full completion of the 23 within the next two years.

"It's rare for an iwi to lead such a broad project involving the wider community and including all whānau and families.

"This has opened the door not just for self-help but also greater agency assistance in the region."

Ngāti Rangi's Pou Arahi Andy Gowland-Douglas said the Trust was excited to work alongside RWT in reaching their two-year milestone.

"After a Rangatakapu hui in 2011 we started to explore ways iwi could not only grow itself but, also work with all our Ruapehu communities," she said.

"The issues that rural areas face are not specific to one demographic and regardless of the focus area, change had to be sustainable.

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"Broadening our reach has been one of the keys to the ongoing success of the RWT initiative and it's inspiring to see the changes already happening from this mahi.

"The Trust looks forward to continuing our support and commitment to doing something positive for the benefit of our entire rohe."

Some of the major projects already completed include the employment of a dedicated community work-broker and the formation of company Ruapehu Recruitment along with the development of a locally based Careers Expo.

Supported by a community Reference Group, Ms Mikaere-Most credits much of the team's success to their ongoing involvement and commitment to driving positive change.

"I think people thought the Plan wasn't going to work, yet even now we are seeing a real difference.

"Most of the RWT Reference Group have been here a long time and give a lot of input to the project, they sometimes turn the solutions into action more than we do.

"After the first careers expo we were able to count 38 new employment outcomes, we knew most of these people weren't in jobs and some of these jobs were newly created.

"This provides new income for families and the local economy, seeing some of those people they were a lot happier."

The living conditions of 101 houses have also been audited as part of an ongoing needs analysis and, a Property Warrant of Fitness [WoF] trial has just been completed.

Thirty-eight percent of the homes didn't have any form of insulation, 76 percent used a wood burner as the main source of heating and of these, 15 percent of whānau struggled to afford wood or have adequate dry storage available.

Having identified a real need, over the coming months 50 homes are going to be checked under the WoF initiative which includes free assessments of the warmth, soundness and electrical safety as well as repair and information about available grants and funding assistance.

Now facilitating the creation of a five-room technology hub and conference facility, Ms Mikaere-Most is planning on completing a number of solutions when the facility launches in December.

"We're planning to cater for the needs of the wider community whether you are 100-years- old or four years old.

"A big part of the all our solutions is education and life skills, RWT is about lifting our expectations and it's very humbling to see the foundations being laid for a sustainable future that is already positively impacting across all our communities."


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