Healthy House Opening

Saturday 27 October 2001. Embargoed until delivery – 11 amSpeech Notes

Kia ora, kia orana, talofa lava, ni sa bula, taloha ni, fakaalofa lahi atu, malo e lelei and greetings to you all.

Firstly I would especially like to thank the tenants of this new large house, John and Ngametua Ruta and their children for allowing all of us to visit them this morning, and to welcome them to their new home.

I would like to acknowledge our guests here today, including my colleagues Associate Minister of Health and Housing Tariana Turia, and Ross Robertson, Pastor Vaipaoto and Pastor Tangianau, Manakau Councillor William S'ua, General Manager of Pacific Health for the Manakau District Health Board Debbie Sorenson, Dr Diana Lennon who is Professor of Community Paediatrics at South Auckland Health and kaumatua Sonny Wara.

I also welcome those representing Housing New Zealand – the board chair Roger Bonifant, board members Pat Snedden, Maryan Street and Lope Heath and chief executive Michael Lennon.

There are many others here today from a wide range of sectors - government agencies, architects and builders, all of whom have played an invaluable part in the project.

To mention all by name runs the risk of offending those I might inadvertently leave out. So instead I welcome you all and thank you for your attendance today at such an important event.

As you know we are here today to celebrate the completion of one of Otara’s first “Healthy Houses”.

This house is part of the government’s healthy housing programme focused here in South Auckland. “Health Housing” aims to reduce overcrowding, improve access to healthcare services and raise community awareness about health and housing issues. The objective is to prevent the spread of meningococcal and other infectious diseases.

Towards that end, Housing New Zealand Corporation is working in partnership with Counties-Manakau District Health Board and the Auckland District Health Board.

Meningococcal disease, rheumatic fever and tuberculosis are illnesses usually found in third world countries. But New Zealand, particularly South Auckland, has one of the worst meningococcal disease rates in the world. In some suburbs in South Auckland, one out of every 100 babies born to Pacific Island families are likely to contract this killer infectious disease.

Overcrowding and substandard housing has seen a surge in those afflicted. In 1990 there were around 50 meningococcal cases nationwide, rising to 613 in 1997. So far this year there have been 521 cases reported and 23 deaths. At the same time last year 387 cases and 16 deaths had been reported.

Decent affordable housing is crucial to the health and well-being of all families and communities. The Healthy Housing programme is a key part of that. Through this programme we are improving the health and housing conditions of South Auckland families.

Overall about 1000 households in Otara, Mangere and Onehunga will benefit by June next year when this pilot is completed. In total the government is spending $13.8 million on “Healthy Housing” this year.

The programme includes renovations such as this one to accommodate larger families. It also involves building new houses and improving the ventilation and insulation in existing homes. Currently 32 homes are being altered around South Auckland, and I visited some of these a few weeks ago.

One of the best features of the Healthy Housing project is the ability for us to provide quick responses. In January, the Ruta family become part of the programme. Only months later you can see the result before you. Whereas previously John and Ngametua Ruta and their seven children shared a total of three bedrooms they now have the six-bedroom property we see here today.

This property is an innovative design. The dividing wall between two three-bedroom double story units was demolished and the interior completely remodelled to create one six-bedroom property with a rumpus room, study, larger living areas and an extra bathroom.

So it will be a much larger house, a ‘healthy house’, far more suited to their needs that the Ruta family can enjoy from now on. I am proud to have been involved in making that possible.