Zita gifts taonga to welcome new neighbours

Zita has lived in the same Kāinga Ora home in Rutherford Road for the last 32 years. Her home is one of a group of six flats. Many of her immediate neighbours have also lived there a long time, so looking after each other is a way of life.

When I saw the new homes in the street were finished and new families were moving in, I wanted to awhi (support) them with love, says Zita.

“I wanted to make sure our new neighbours felt welcome and knew where to turn if they needed anything.”

As a tangible symbol of that welcoming and to symbolise a new start, the very handy Zita made a taonga (treasure); a kohatu or decorated stone embedded with aroha (love) to enhance the wairua (spirit) of each new home. A kohatu was placed on the bench of each home before whānau moved in.

“My aroha went out to the whānau, many who have come from living in motels and other places unsuitable places to raise their children. These whānau are on the start of a new journey and they will blossom now. It is a great feeling to have one of these beautiful warm places to call home and to start building new memories.”

Her awhi was shared straight after the new homes were blessed by local kaumatua and those attending shared whanaungatanga (getting to know each other).

I told them all that if they need a cup of sugar or anything else they know where to find me, says Zita.

“If they are short of food, they can get a hot meal at Trinity Church three days a week where my sister and I help with food preparation.”

Food preparation for Trinity Church meals is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to helping in her community.

We were brought up a farm outside of Wairoa, recalls Zita.

“We were isolated; nowhere near town, so we had to grow our own vegetables. We shared what we grew with others in our community. That was how we were brought up. It has stuck with me, my sisters and my children. We are all involved in giving back to our communities in some way.”

Zita worked in security at the Warehouse in Napier for 27 years where she became a popular staff member.

“The Warehouse were very supportive of the charity work I was involved in.”

As a long-standing Māori Warden, Zita also works at the district court 'looking after our people’. When she is not on Māori Warden duties she can be found cooking for her elderly neighbours, working with her sisters to making 2500 ‘Yuri Bears” for the children in Ukraine or crocheting blankets for babies in hospitals throughout the North Island.

The baby blankets are not just a casual hobby. In the 18 months since Cyclone Gabrielle Zita has crocheted 3500 baby blankets.

“Each one takes me about half a day or more to make. I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I crochet. One of my sisters has now come onboard to help me with this.”

It doesn’t look like Zita, or her sister will be putting their feet up anytime soon.

Some of the new homes on Rutherford Road Napier