I welcome Habitat for Humanity’s new “100 Homes Campaign”, which will offer life-saving, storm-resistant, affordable housing to families in the Pacific, said Jenny Salesa, MP for Manukau East, who launched the campaign today.
“Habitat for Humanity’s ‘100 homes Campaign’ aims to build 100 cyclone-resistant homes for families across the Pacific by the end of this year.
“Habitat is hoping to recruit 100 volunteers and raise $100,000 to build the homes in Samoa, Fiji and, for the first time ever, Tonga.
“I am hugely impressed by the work that Habitat has been doing across the Pacific, where the repeated destruction of homes by cyclones is a persistent problem that needs an effective solution.
“Habitat has a fantastic track record building cyclone-resilient homes in Fiji and Samoa. It is notable that 899 of the 900 Habitat houses in Fiji withstood the battering from Tropical Cyclone Winston
“Cyclone Winston highlighted for me that getting Habitat for Humanity into Tonga to provide affordable, cyclone-resistant homes to ordinary people there, was imperative
“Earlier this year, I was delighted to broker a meeting between the Tongan Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Siaosi Sivaleni, and New Zealand Habitat for Humanity head Claire Szabo, which led to a signed agreement to start a building programme in Tonga.
“Habitat for Humanity homes are comparatively inexpensive, partly because families must contribute their labour to building their home and volunteers from New Zealand and elsewhere also help out.
“I congratulate Habitat for Humanity for this campaign and I strongly encourage everyone to donate money towards this vital project for housing in the Pacific and / or to join a volunteer team,” Jenny Salesa said.
Contact: Jenny Salesa 021 940 863
