Posted 09-11-22
Supporting our Pacific neighbours
There are 60,000 Tongans in Aotearoa and 105,000 Tongans in Tonga. They are our people and our neighbours. Earlier this year, the devastating underwater eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and subsequent tsunami left many Tongan families displaced and without shelter. Earlier this year, Home collaborated with Home Foundation to partner with Habitat for Humanity New Zealand and the Tonga Institute of Science and Technology (TIST).
To kick off our Pacific partnership with Habitat for Humanity NZ, we sent a small team of staff and build partners to Tonga, to help build back storm-resilient homes as the Pacific heads into cyclone season.
Our team was incredibly moved by their time in Tonga. To share their experience, we have recorded a three part web-series to document the impact of Habitat and TIST’s incredible work.
The Home team brought a wealth of expertise in design, quantity surveying, building systems and processes which were absolutely critical to starting this rebuild project.
Lou Maea, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, Technical Manager
It was my first trip with Habitat for Humanity, and it felt like a privilege to be able to do something that will practically help people in Tonga to get back into homes.
Kyle Morris - Site Delivery Lead (South)