The Gift of Community
A legacy left by a local farmer has helped make new social housing in Kirikiriroa Hamilton a reality. Ben Mack reports that the gift of soft carpets and furniture, heat pumps and good insulation is a dream living situation for the new tenants.
A warm, sunny spring day in Kirikiriroa Hamilton was made even more special on 1 October, as The Salvation Army’s newest social housing (SASH) complex opened in the Nawton neighbourhood.
The complex on Grandview Road boasts 31 units in configurations of up to four bedrooms. Salvation Army Territorial Director of Social Housing and Property Greg Foster says these units are alongside 40 one-bedroom units built in the 1980s, making it a large community that’s also near a daycare centre and supermarket.
According to Greg, tenants are people and their whānau (families) on the social Housing Register. This is important, because there’s a high need for housing in Hamilton and across Aotearoa. There were 1458 applicants on the Housing Register in Hamilton City alone at the end of June 2024, the third highest of any district in New Zealand—behind only Auckland and Christchurch. There were also 261 applicants on the Housing Register in the neighbouring Waikato District at the end of June 2024.
Greg adds the complex is staffed by tenancy staff and chaplains, working with tenants to create a community feel. The community feel is also evident in other features of the complex. There’s plentiful parking, a playground and large community centre.
Leaving a lasting legacy
The community centre is named the Charles Hoy Community Centre after a local Hamilton farmer who left a large bequest that helped fund the development.
National Housing Operations Manager Fiona Matthews says Charles Hoy was born in November 1925 in the UK, and lost his mum at birth. He spent time in a boys’ institution before being raised by his uncle in Cornwall. Later, though he was just a teenager, Charles served in the Second World War as a cook in the British Merchant Navy. He emigrated to New Zealand after the war and worked as a farmer until he was well into his 80s.
‘He was a quiet, humble gentleman with a strong sense of wisdom and community, and he knew what it took to be part of one,’ said Fiona. ‘His character was generous every step of the way, giving people a leg up whenever he could. Charles’ good humour and kind generosity really is his lasting legacy.’
Greg highlights the impact that legacies and bequests can have in a community, as this generosity helps the work of The Salvation Army across the motu (land). Aside from Charles, the development was made in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Also helping were investors into the complex, including Simplicity KiwiSaver, the Westpac KiwiSaver Scheme, Harbour Asset Management, Trust Management and Clarity Funds Management.
Visitors speak at the opening
About 80 people attended the opening. Among those assembled were supporters, whānau, Hamilton City Councillor Sarah Thomson, media and Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Hon Tama Potaka.
Also in attendance was Salvation Army Chief Secretary Colonel Gerry Walker, who took part in a special tree planting to mark the opening. In a speech, he expressed hope that the new complex can be a place where whānau can live their best lives and thrive. ‘For the whānau living here, they have something warm, that is secure, that is affordable.’
He also said it speaks to the commitment of The Salvation Army to help people in need.
‘We have some major problems in this country, and The Salvation Army is doing our part to fix them.’
Hon Tama Potaka, additionally the MP for the Hamilton West electorate the new complex is located within, also spoke. Beginning his speech in te reo Māori, he thanked The Salvation Army for working to house people when so many are doing it tough.
Many of the speeches at the opening were in te reo. This included portions of a speech by Raymond Bishop, who spoke on behalf of whānau in the new community. He said it’s great residents in the complex can learn te reo, connect with their culture and live together in a purposeful, loving community. This, he added, makes it a wonderful environment.
Among the whānau living in the new complex are Sophia Frost, her husband Liva and their four-year-old daughter. A singer in her church choir, Sophie and her family emigrated to Aotearoa last year from Samoa. Standing in the kitchen with smooth stainless-steel countertops and new appliances, Sophia spoke of how wonderful it was to have such a nice place to live in. She was proud, she added, to show it to visitors.
Tenants come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, but what unites them is thankfulness for having a warm, safe place to live.
For more information about leaving a gift to The Salvation Army in your Will, visit salvationarmy.org.nz/wills or email sef@salvationarmy.org.nz
