Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Bond Tackles Invercargill Homelessness

24 JANUARY 2017

Bond Tackles Invercargill Homelessness

New Zealand First MP Ria Bond is rolling up her sleeves to renovate a room at the Salvation Army’s Invercargill Emergency Accommodation – a building she has a strong personal connection to.

Bond said she heard the Leven St emergency accommodation was re-opening but the Salvation Army did not have the funds to renovate the rooms. As a 13-year-old she stayed in the hostel with her family when they relocated from Christchurch.

“This organisation helped my family out when we really needed it. It’s really important to me that I give back.”

Bond said she spoke to Salvation Army leaders in Invercargill last week and offered to renovate one of the rooms herself.

On Thursday, she picked up a sledgehammer and began the job, knocking out walls.

“If I put my name behind something I get in overalls and all. I don’t stand back in my high-heels.”

She estimates the renovation will take about 40 hours to complete over the next three weeks.

The Salvation Army is providing a crucial service for people with nowhere else to go, she said.

“Some people think there’s no homelessness down here, but we need to take our blinkers off.

“Homelessness is a nationwide problem affecting not just individuals but families as well.

Bond said she was aware of families living in garages in Invercargill.

Combined Rotary clubs in Invercargill and the Breathing Space Trust are working on a longer-term plan around tackling homelessness in Invercargill, but there is a desperate need for short-term accommodation.

“This is an urgent and immediate issue which needs to be addressed. There is potential for other people and organisations to adopt a room at the hostel as well,” says Ms Bond.

Ria Bond will be working at the Salvation Army hostel at 110 Leven St in Invercargill from 10am-12noon on Tuesday 24 January.

ENDS


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.