Eliminating substandard housing will eliminate much unnecessary heartache

Dilapidated substandard housing poses a threat to numerous families in the Far North.

We have heard from reports that the house involved was substandard, with no power. I understand water was fetched from a nearby river. If this is accurate, it would be typical of how hundreds of families life in the Far North.

Habitat for Humanity exists to eliminate poverty housing from the world. We do this by using donations of materials, cash and volunteer labour. Families are selected by need and a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Each family invests 500 hours of their own time to help build the house, the house is then sold to them at no-profit ...

"We are concerned at the plight of this family and would seriously consider ways in which Habitat may be able to work with the local community to help this family," Dave Reyburn, Chairman, Whangarei Habitat for Humanity. Ph. 025 6222540 (will have on if not at home) or 09 4382769

Interviews can also be held with NZ and Asia Pacific Chairman, Ian Hay 025 942 821

For more information on Habitat for Humanity in NZ please visit our website www.habitatnz.co.nz or internationally www.habitat.org

If it was at all possible to put our website address on screen - that would be great - from there people can make donations to go toward housing programmes in the Far North.

In August we plan to build two homes in Kaitaia (one of which lost their mother to a house fire last year). The Prime Minister and Minster of Housing have committed to being involved and helping build these homes.

An example of a pilot project in NZ - that we hope to replicate in the Far North is that of Torere, East Cape:

20 houses are currently being built to eradicate substandard housing from this iwi. Joint venture between Habitat for Humanity / NgaiTai Iwi Authority - with an interest free loan from government.

Internationally 100,000 families have been housed in Habitat homes over the last 25years. That will be doubled within five years. The growth is exponential. In NZ over 100 homes have been build in nine years. 60 will be built this year. 100 next year. It is about people helping themselves - they partner with us, learn new skills (budgeting, home maintenance and home management) and they help build their home. They purchase the home at no-profit with an interest free loan. This is recycled to build more homes. It is sustainable and it works!!!

I am also happy to answer any questions: Diane Patrick 021 755 355

Thanks for your time.

"We have the know-how in the world to house everyone. We have the resources in the world to house everyone. All that's missing is the WILL do to it." Millard Fuller - Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity International. (In New Zealand in July).

"Because we all need a simple, decent place to live"

Diane Patrick, Resource Development Director, Habitat for Humanity, New Zealand 11 Marewa Rd, Greenlane, Auckland. Ph. 09 529 4111 Mob. 021 755 355

diane@habitatnz.co.nz www.habitatnz.co.nz www.habitat.org

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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