COMMUNITY PROJECT #410 - WHARE ORA RETROFIT SQUADS
Mission Statement:
To transform cold, damp houses into healthy homes through local, whānau-led retrofit squads, treating the home as a vital health intervention to combat preventable diseases.
The Needs Assessment:
Substandard housing in Te Tai Tokerau is a catastrophic "thermodynamic leak". Damp and poorly insulated homes are the primary cause of rheumatic fever and chronic respiratory issues among our tamariki. The current "Static Bureaucracy" manages these deficits through hospital admissions rather than solving the root cause at the front door.
Core Objectives:
Retrofit 20 high-priority homes with high-grade insulation and efficient heating in the first 90 days.
Recruit and train 10 local youth as "Universal Constructors," providing them with basic trade skills in carpentry and energy auditing.
Achieve a measurable +2 "Mauri Ora" health rating for every home serviced.
Establish a "Whare Ora" certification that identifies homes that are dry, warm, and energy-efficient.
Stakeholder Map:
Whānau Tenants/Owners: Living in priority-need housing.
Local Tradespeople: Providing technical training and oversight for the squads.
Health Providers: Referring whānau who are at risk of rheumatic fever or respiratory illness.
Building Suppliers: Partnering for high-quality, sustainable insulation and materials.
The "Impact" Model:
This project treats the home as a "Quantum Vacuum" of potentiality—by clearing the dampness (entropy), we allow health (negentropy) to emerge. It is a "preventative maintenance" model that saves the health system millions while building the "Universal Constructor" capability of our youth
Engagement Strategy:
We will work directly with Māori health providers to identify at-risk whānau. The "Retrofit Squads" will be presented as a "Special Ops" team for community health, making the mahi aspirational for local youth.
Resource Requirements:
Supplies of high-quality bulk insulation and heat pumps.
Vans and tools for the "Retrofit Squads."
Moisture and temperature sensors for pre- and post-retrofit auditing.
Funding via health-intervention grants or community-saver investment.
Timeline of Action:
Week 1: Identify the first 5 "priority-need" homes through health referrals.
Week 2: Recruit 10 local youth and begin technical "Whare Ora" training.
Week 3: Conduct home audits and order materials for the first batch of retrofits.
Week 4: Kickoff of the first official "Whare Ora" retrofit in the community.
Mauri Assessment
Te Taiao (Environment): +2 — Improves home energy efficiency and uses sustainable building materials.
Te Ahurea (Culture): +1 — Strengthens the concept of the whare as a place of safety and mana.
Te Tangata (Social): +2 — Directly reduces the incidence of rheumatic fever and respiratory illness in tamariki.
Te Pūtea (Economic): +2 — Lowers medical costs for whānau and provides high-value trade training for local youth.
