For more than 70 years, Michelle’s* whānau home has been the centre of their lives. But by the time she moved back home to care for her father diagnosed with dementia, the house was so deteriorated that rain poured through the roof and ceiling, the bathroom floor had rotted through, and her children were starting to regularly get sick from black mould. With support from Te Puni Kōkiri and the 20 Degrees program, this whānau turned a near uninhabitable whare into a warm, dry, healthy home and discovered their own capacity to restore it.
A whare full of history
Michelle grew up in this three-bedroom Māori Affairs home, as one of eleven siblings raised within its walls. Every Christmas, every birthday, every gathering happened here.
But when her father began developing dementia, Michelle and her partner moved back home to support him and immediately realised how unsafe the home had become.
“Every time it rained, the water would fall through the ceiling… right in front of my dad, and there was nothing we could do.”
The ceiling sagged dangerously. The bathroom floor had collapsed to the point where you could see the ground beneath. The hot water cylinder was rusted and leaking. Windows were broken. Draughts were felt in most rooms. Black mould was making her children sick, especially her son with asthma.
“If I go back two years, I do not think this house would pass as safe. It was probably on the verge of being condemned.”
The whānau felt overwhelmed. They did not know where to start.
A major transformation begins
Te Puni Kōkiri started the journey with Michelle’s whānau back in 2021, addressing the most urgent structural issues. Their support included:
A full roof replacement with new guttering and downpipes
Complete electrical rewiring
A new hot water cylinder and rebuilt cupboard
Bathroom and toilet renovations
Laundry repairs
Fixing broken windows and rotten frames
Draught proofing
Kitchen upgrades
Smoke alarms and a new switchboard
This mahi stabilised the home, but the whānau needed extra support to make it capable of maintaining a healthy 20 degrees on a winter’s night.
Where 20 Degrees came in
When Sustainability Options visited through the 20 Degrees program after Te Puni Kōkiri completed their support, the focus shifted to the whānau’s health, wellbeing, and confidence.
We supported the whānau with:
Double lined curtains and new tracks to reduce heat loss
Education and practical guidance on running a warm, dry home
New gib on the ceiling, replacing areas damaged by years of leaks
Painting supplies and tools so the whānau could take charge of the next stage
And that is exactly what they did.
A transformation facilitated by whānau
Once the major repairs were done, Michelle’s whānau found the motivation they had been missing.
“There was so much wrong with the house, you do not know where to start. This gave us a starting point.”
Michelle and her partner have repainted the entire interior, including ceilings and walls. They have stripped wallpaper, repaired holes, replastered, and removed years of smoke and moisture stains. A rangatahi in the home was especially eager, picking up tools and getting stuck in.
Outside, they are in the process of water blasting, scraping, sanding, and preparing the cladding for repainting. They even bought their own electric sander to speed up the mahi.
“Now that we have seen what it looks like inside, you have motivated us to do the outside. We are stoked we have the resources to do that.”
Health restored, stress lifted
The impact was immediate.
“My dad was not getting sick so often. My son does not get sick as often anymore either.”
With the draughts sealed, the mould removed, and the home insulated by curtains and repairs, the whānau noticed fewer doctor visits, fewer hospital trips, and a warmer, more comfortable environment for their father.
“It just makes it more comfortable for us to exist here. It takes away the stress of worrying if the kids are going to get sick.”
A partnership built on consistency and care
One thing Michelle emphasised was the value of steady, reliable support.
“You were persistent and consistent with your contact. You always made sure we knew how you could support us.”
That relationship helped the whānau feel confident, capable, and not alone in the journey.
A home with a future
Today, the whare is no longer at risk of being condemned. It is warm, dry, and safe, and the whānau feel empowered to keep it that way.
“It gives us a platform to keep this home in the family for another 10 or 20 years at least.”
What began as a difficult situation has become a story of resilience and collaboration.
Do you, or someone you know, experience a cold, damp home?
We provide free home assessments for anyone interested, living in the Bay of Plenty. Whether a whānau rents, owns a home, or anything in between, we will take a journey with whānau to help whare reach a healthy 20°C on a cold winter’s night. If you would like to get in touch for a free home assessment, give us a call at 022 156 1027.
*A pseudonym has been used for privacy.
