Neighbourhoods of Healthy Homes

The Neighbourhoods of Healthy Homes team has now made contact with all the homes in the first neighbourhood of Robinson St, Normanby St and 1-30 Grey St.   Every one of the 83 homes that want to be part of the programme has been visited and people are enjoying the opportunity to get to know each other better.

The Neighbourhoods of Healthy Homes is a new programme that began in May 2012 and is managed by Kawerau District Council with funding from Bay Trust, Eastern Bay Energy Trust and EECA.  The programme helps people to make positive change within their neighbourhoods by working together to make their houses healthy and warm, their streets safer and more vibrant and developing a strong sense of neighbourliness and concern for each other.

The programme is designed so that the community can play a leading role in deciding what things happen in their neighbourhood over the 3 year period of the programme and beyond.   The project team will work intensively with each neighbourhood for about a year and then move to the next neighbourhood so that at least 3 or more neighbourhoods  have been connected during the life of the project.

The Neighbourhoods of Healthy Homes team consists of Mary Hermanson, the Project Manager who has a background in local government, economic development and marketing.   Mike Godfery is the Building Supervisor and comes from an engineering and construction background. He is a long time resident of Kawerau.   Hannah Edwardson also a Kawerau resident is the Community Co-ordinator and has previously worked in a community development role with youth in Kawerau.

The initial work of the project team has been to ensure that all homes in this neighbourhood have taken advantage of the government insulation subsidies, heating programmes and local curtain banks.  About 25% of houses have been referred to Smart Energy for insulation.   There are also a number of houses that are having electrical inspections to check on the safety of their wiring.   Every home has had an energy and maintenance check and each household receives a report which is discussed with the team and together work on solutions for any issues there may be.

Early next year some DIY workshops on home maintenance will be held in the neighbourhood, a project is underway to repaint the alleyway connecting the streets and a Neighbourhood Support Group is being formed.  Social events have been held and a street garage sale is happening in November.

For more information contact:

Mary Hermanson Ph 027 517 7611

Mike Godfery Ph 027 703 8182

Hannah Edwardson Ph 027 703 7413