Hōkai Rangi

Hōkai Rangi represents a new strategic direction for the Department of Corrections to work alongside the community and whānau. It purposely takes advantage of good things that are already happening in the community and addresses the chronic housing needs of vulnerable prison populations.

The home of Hōkai Rangi and Housing First is the trusts community response to work with the Department of Corrections to safely transition Māori from prison back into their community of choice.

This initiative is designed to provide ongoing rehabilitative care in the community to avoid homelessness and reduce the risk of reoffending in the community. This could include, but is not limited to, programme planning, counselling, whānau reconnection and ongoing intervention that ensures a safe return to whānau eventually.

We learn from doing things together and most importantly, innovate to find new and alternative ways of doing things to achieve better outcomes with Māori and their whānau in the community.

We are attempting to blend the aims of Housing First and Hōkai Rangi into one programme to address chronic homelessness.

Any government ministry or community agency including Iwi can make a referral to Hōkai Rangi. The staff member who completes the referral will act as a referral advocate during the safety needs assessment process. Referrals may take up to 3 days.

Hōkai Rangi accommodation and support is 25% of your weekly income. For example, if your weekly income is $200 per week you pay $50.00 per week ($200/4). There are some additional costs for meals and linen; three daily meals cost $48.00 per week and weekly linen supply and washing costs $11.50 per week per person.

Who is involved?

A consortium of Tai Tokerau Māori and Iwi housing providers who have teamed up, including Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine Health & Social services (Mid North), Te Rūnanga O Whaingaroa and He Korowai Trust (Far North). They collaboratively work together to:
• Make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Northland; and
• Develop and improve the quality of life for those people experiencing homelessness.

WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED?
We know there are many reasons for chronic homelessness. Sadly, we all have whānau who will end up in unfortunate situations. We are all responsible for caring and looking after each other.