An unassuming old storage building in downtown Auckland has been given a surprising new role – a welcoming place for people experiencing homelessness.
The new space is called Manaaki Tangata, which means to show hospitality and care to people.
Manaaki Tangata is a collaboration between Auckland Council, Eke Panuku and Māori Wardens to respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness in our city centre.
Auckland Council’s Regional Partnerships Lead for Homelessness, Ron Suyker, explains the need for this facility.
“Our most vulnerable can come to Manaaki Tangata, have a shower and some food, store their belongings, and ultimately the hope is we can connect them to other services available to help them.”
“People experiencing homelessness tend to stick to quite a confined area, as they may be sick or have injuries, have no shoes or just not enough energy to travel far. So, providing a facility that is local to them is really important.
“Demand is also increasing for these kinds of services. The shifts that laundry and shower service Orange Sky run out of Auckland City Mission are the busiest in the country, with demand up by over 300 per cent in Tāmaki Makaurau when compared to last year.”
Māori Warden Matarora Smith is one of the coordinators of volunteers at Manaaki Tangata, welcoming those in need from 10am to 5pm every day.
Matarora explains the importance of spaces like Manaaki Tangata as a touch point for those in need.
“For some, it might be their first time on the street, they’ve done something to get themselves kicked out and they literally have nowhere to go. It’s a very scary reality having nowhere to go.”
Matarora says this is when they’re most at risk.
“Some of these people might not have a drinking or drug problem yet, but to survive on the street they end up with one, after being welcomed in by that group.”
“That’s where we come in. Before they can make the wrong choice, we can take them off the street, give them a hot meal, give them the chance to have a wash and then get them connected into the services on offer.”
“Sometimes just getting people that help, helps them to make that good decision.”
Matarora is passionate about protecting our most vulnerable, particularly wāhine, and says it comes from the way she was raised and just part of what it means to be Māori.
“I come from a family of 13 with eight sisters, and my mother also had a big family with eight sisters. We were raised to voice our opinions, to put our brothers in their place, to be strong and to also look after people. Our family's house was the place where nieces and nephews would come if they needed help.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s family or a stranger, I’ve been raised to look after those around me. It’s the way we are brought up as Māori. Our ancestors have done it, our kuia kaumātua have done it, you carry it on. It is just something you’re born with and it is in you. You go the extra mile.”
Ron Suyker further explains the role Auckland Council plays in tackling homelessness in Tāmaki Makaurau.
“Auckland Council’s role is to be a supporter of the sector. We are not front-line responders, social workers or housing providers; we are enablers of those who do this work, to do it better. We use a partnerships approach and support through funding and facilitating collaboration across organisations to make homelessness as rare, brief and non-re-occurring as possible.”
Local support in your area
Learn more about the housing providers in your area, and seek out foodbanks, budgeting services, community meal providers, and support groups and see how you can donate or volunteer, enabling them to better support our homeless and housing vulnerable community.
Read more about Auckland Council’s commitment to reducing homelessness.
