Flat Bush, South Auckland – After a month spent living in a van, and subsequent time in emergency housing, the Tuiletufuga family has moved into a new four-bedroom home as part of a 41-unit social housing development spearheaded by the Salvation Army. The expansion, opened Friday, adds to an existing 46-unit complex known as ‘Kaitiakitanga’, now housing over 200 people, more than half of whom are children.
Jonathan Tuiletufuga, his wife Tauline, and their four sons – ages one to 15, two of whom are autistic with one requiring high levels of care – arrived in New Zealand from Samoa a year ago. The family initially relied on the generosity of friends and family while seeking stable housing. The strain of accommodating a family with complex needs led them to temporarily live in their van, often parking in playgrounds overnight, before securing a place in transitional housing. “He’s very vocal, he makes a lot of noise at night, so all of us cramping into the van…,” Tuiletufuga explained, describing the challenges of finding suitable accommodation.
The new development, located on the corner of Chapel Road and Baverstock Road, represents a significant step towards addressing Auckland’s housing crisis. According to the Salvation Army, 19,500 people are currently on the waiting list for state housing. The organization has 18 social housing developments underway nationwide, with 400 homes funded through the 2025 Budget. However, Salvation Army national housing operations manager Greg Foster noted that the current funding round will support the construction of approximately 800 homes, a decrease from the 2000 homes funded the previous year (RNZ).
“You can always do more, not only the Salvation Army but also a lot of community housing providers can do more,” Foster stated. The Flat Bush site itself is an example of the potential for expansion, with the Salvation Army owning five acres of land intended for further development (Salvation Army NZFTS).
The Salvation Army’s approach extends beyond simply providing housing. Jasmine Herewini, who oversees national tenancies, emphasized the wraparound support offered to tenants transitioning from homelessness or temporary accommodation. “It is hard because we sit there and we listen to every story… coming from transitional housing or from their vehicles,” Herewini said. “We can’t save everyone, but what we can do is provide whare in a community where they can build on that.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended the opening, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting community housing providers through continued funding (RNZ).
For the Tuiletufuga family, the new home represents a chance to rebuild. Tuiletufuga has returned to school to gain qualifications while seeking employment. “It’s difficult right now but if we preserve tackling, if we keep putting one foot forward it’s upwards and onwards,” he said, adding that his wife is already enthusiastically welcoming neighbors to their new home.
