Improving the lifelong outcomes of young people
Whaanau
How it Works
Our Foundation
The Whaanau Strand was built through a co-designed process with the community to identify the services Kootuitui could provide to best meet local needs. This ensured programmes were shaped by whaanau voices, reflecting their priorities for wellbeing, education, and resilience.
Whaanau emphasised that Kootuitui services should be barrier-free and offered at low or no cost. This commitment promotes equity and inclusion, ensuring all whaanau can access and benefit from support regardless of financial circumstances.
To strengthen delivery, Kootuitui moved from a volunteer model to employing paid staff. This transition improved consistency, accountability, and capacity, enabling more effective responses to community needs and long-term sustainability.
Kootuitui ki Papakura -Making a Difference
The Situation
Many New Zealand homes, particularly in Papakura, remain cold and damp during winter, with average indoor temperatures around 16°C. When homes fall below this level, the risk of respiratory illness increases, especially for tamariki, kaumātua, and those with existing health conditions. Cold, damp environments also affect mental wellbeing, increasing stress and discomfort for whaanau.
These conditions are often caused by poor insulation, insufficient heating, and limited access to affordable energy solutions.
To address this, Kootuitui delivers the Warm Dry Homes Programme that includes:
- Education – Supporting whaanau with practical knowledge on keeping homes warm, dry, and energy efficient.
- House Assessments – Checking insulation, lighting, water temperature, and overall home efficiency.
- Installations – Installing energy-efficient solutions based on needs identified in the assessment.
- Minor Repairs – Completing small repairs to keep your home safe and warm.
This programme helps whaanau create warmer, healthier homes, reduce energy costs, and strengthen overall wellbeing and resilience.
Current Initiatives
Warm Dry Homes
The Kootuitui Warm Dry Homes Programme supports whaanau to create healthier, more energy efficient living environments. It focuses on practical, low cost solutions that make homes warmer, drier, and more comfortable.
Through home visits and education sessions, the programme provides hands on support such as installing draught stoppers, v-seal, water saving showerheads, and flow restrictors. Whaanau also receive guidance on ventilation, heating, and energy saving habits to reduce power costs and improve wellbeing.
Grounded in partnership with the community, the initiative ensures every household can access the tools and knowledge needed to maintain a warm, dry, and healthy home.
Energy Efficiency
Kootuitui delivers the EECA-funded energy efficiency initiative, reaching around 400 households. Through this partnership, homes may receive energy efficiency upgrades such as draught stoppers, v-seal, water saving showerheads, flow restrictors, full length thermal lined curtains, and curtain tracks.
The programme helps reduce energy costs, improve comfort, and support healthier living conditions for whaanau across the community.
Minor Repairs Programme
The Kootuitui Minor Repairs Programme provides practical support to whaanau by addressing small but important maintenance issues that affect home safety, warmth, and comfort.
The programme assists with tasks such as fixing leaking taps, repairing or replacing window and door latches, patching holes and paintwork, planing doors, and repairing gutters.
By providing these minor repairs, Kootuitui helps prevent larger problems from developing, supports healthier living conditions, and ensures homes remain safe and functional for whaanau.
Successes
Research shows that healthy homes reduce hospitalisations, GP visits, and pharmaceutical dispensing among participating families.
For around $1500 per house, we can raise the temperature from 12°C to 18°C.
Next Steps
Future proofing this service through collaboration with other like-minded and supportive organisations and groups, to ensure Kootuitui continues to deliver this service to whaanau in the community.
Projects
Whaanau Kōtuitui ki Papakura Trust getting ready to help bring south Auckland homes up to healthy standard after COVID-19 delays
It might be the middle of summer but in south Auckland, a private trust is getting ready for the middle of winter.
Whaanau Warm Dry Homes
Kootuitui ki Papakura has redeveloped and scaled up our warm, dry homes model. We are ready to start insulating houses and educating our community on staying warm and healthy throughout the winter. Increasing winter house temperature by 6°C will reduce energy costs, reduce preventable illness and improve quality of life.
Our Supporters
We benefit from the support of funders, partners and community organisations, and the commitment of the schools’ boards, leaders, teachers and staff.
