“We pretty much made the decision right there and then, a decision about it being an unhealthy place.”
The house sat at the end of a long, rough driveway in Tauranga.
Wandering dogs. Washed out tracks. Dense trees blocking the light.
Even before stepping inside, it felt removed from support.
Inside the whare, mould clung to walls. Wiring was exposed. There was no heating, no insulation, no hot water. The bathroom barely functioned. Windows were cracked, their joinery rotting. With no gutters or downpipes, water continued to damage the home. Sunlight struggled to get in.
This is where the elderly couple Norman and Cherry are living. Norman has dementia, and Cherry was doing everything she could to keep them safe - holding onto the hope that their mokopuna could visit comfortably again.
Asking for help
The whānau heard about 20 Degrees’ free home assessments through their family member Jade. Making the call was not easy, but Cherry knew the home was more than uncomfortable; it was unsafe.
“I know there'll be families out there who are too shy to speak out. If you've got mokos to look after too, think about them, they'll motivate you,” Cherry said.
The home assessment
Phil, a home assessor and the co-founder of Sustainability Options, visited the whare in November 2024. As he walked through the home, the scale of the issues became clear.
The small 1960s two-bedroom whare had recently received a new roof, but little else supported healthy living.
“Phil had a plan, going through. We had to strip the whole house out,” Cherry explained.
Phil recommended four priorities to restore safety and wellbeing:
Ceiling and wall insulation
Re-lining walls and ceilings damaged by mould
Electrical repairs to make the home safe
Heating
Just as importantly, he emphasised that the mahi needed to be collaborative. Change lasts longest when whānau are involved and lead alongside it.
What the whānau were living with
Before work began, the home had:
No ceiling or wall insulation
No heating
Widespread mould from previous leaks
Exposed and unsafe wiring
No hot water
Cracked windows and rotting joinery
Broken window latches
No curtains
No gutters or downpipes
Bathroom floor damage
Dense tree cover blocking natural sunlight
A collaborative transformation
Since the assessment, the whānau have taken on the mahi with determination. They rallied wider family, coordinated work, and stayed deeply involved throughout the process.
Together, the following has been completed:
Ceiling insulation installed, including battens and strapping
Donated wall insulation installed
Walls and ceilings re-lined using donated gib
Electrical repairs completed
Bathroom floor re-lined
Interior plastering and painting completed
This work was made possible through the support of 20 Degrees funders, partners and the wider community, including:
A discounted infrared heater from Infracomfort
Ceiling insulation support from Greenside
Battens donated by Red Stag
Gib and screws donated by Winstone Wallboards
A donated hot water cylinder from Rheem
Charitable plumbing installation by Pipe Masters Plumbing, Gas & Drainage
A donated toilet from the public
Funding support towards electrical repairs, with the whānau contributing
Paint supplied by Resene
What has changed
The transformation is still underway, but the difference inside the whare is already clear.
“It was awful before, and now it’s bliss. When the sun shines in, in the afternoon, the home stays pretty warm now, it’s good,” Cherry said.
When asked what has kept her going, Cherry is clear: “To have a healthy home and have our grandkids to come back. So they can actually come up here, and be safe.”
The whānau reflects on the journey with gratitude.
“You know, it's like someone tapped you on the shoulder, going “your turn”. That's how it feels like,” Cherry said.
“If it wasn't for yous, a lot of these things would never happen, to be honest. And it's created a good environment for uncle now too, for him to roam around. My experience is beautiful. Working with Sustainability Options. You’ve got a good team together, that's for sure, the A team. A bunch of good people. It’s hard to come across genuine, good people, like yous these days,” Jade said.
What’s next
There is still more to do. A heat pump and lined curtains are next on the list, so the home is ready for future winters.
This journey would not have been possible without the collaboration of partners, funders and a whānau willing to ask for help and to do the mahi.
No need to be whakama
“Don't be shy to ask for help please. There is help out there,” Jade expressed.
If your whānau, or someone you know, is living in a cold or unhealthy home, 20 Degrees offers free home assessments.
Call the team on 022 156 1027.
