Season's greetings - Otautahi Community Housing ...
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DECEMBER ISSUE 14
Tēnā koutou, Tēnā koutou, Tēnā koutou katoa — Greetings to you all
Season’s greetings
As 2020 comes to a close so too does my
tenure as Tenant Advisory Group chair.
It has been an
enjoyable and
fulfilling two years
and I make way
for two very
capable people.
Irmgaard van
Shouten and Noeline Monsef ŌCHT chairman Alex Skinner, Housing Minister Megan Woods, resident Aaron
Dave Wilson will Stevenson and ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney open Reg Stillwell Place.
act as joint chair, taking the lead of the group
for half a term each. No deputy is required The end of a year year. Welcome all our new tenants and
under these terms. I hope you have all settled in well and
unlike any other enjoying your new home.
Despite the time lost to Covid-19 I feel overall Welcome to the end of a year that
we have achieved several milestones, was far from normal for all of us. Building and maintenance during a
including the successful and ongoing Warm pandemic is only part of the story of the
and Dry initiative, and the social activities that We were all part of the team of 5 million past year. There was also the pre-
included bus trips to Kaikoura and high teas. that tackled Covid-19 and we’re still lockdown joy of celebrating all those
doing our bit to meet the challenge. wonderful gardens at the Garden
A highlight was the wonderful Art Exhibition, Awards – amazing work from so many
at which so many talented tenants were able Thanks so much for following the green fingers, and I hope we see more
to reach the general public through their art. advice from public health officials by of the same in 2021.
TAG manned the event, and was proud to staying home, social distancing and
promote it. keeping tabs on where you’ve been. Just as amazing was the Art Exhibition,
I do hope our contact with you, and the an absolute showcase of some of the
The new year brings with it many new information we shared, helped you get talent in the ŌCHT community. The
opportunities, including the always through those difficult times of creativity was truly inspiring. Some
competitive garden awards and the Housing lockdown and changing alert levels. pieces of art are proudly displayed in
Heroes, a TAG-led award. TAG is also our foyer, for all visitors to see.
working with an electricity bulk tender Lockdown could not slow the Warm
business on a pilot project to help tenants cut and Dry Initiative, with more than 2200 It really has been a BIG year. Thank
their power bills. There will be more about this heat pumps installed in your homes. It you for your efforts, for the support you
potentially very exciting development — also didn’t stop our service redesign, have shown, and for wonderful
including how to take part — early next year. which we hope makes it easier and contribution during an unusual time that
quicker for you to get the service you challenged us all.
You can read more about TAG, and how to need at ŌCHT. The annual Tenant
join the group on Page 2. We’d love to meet Satisfaction Survey gave a us I wish you a wonderful festive season,
new prospective members. snapshot of how this is working, but we from me and everyone here at ŌCHT.
would love your feedback as we work Take care.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday season. together.
Cate Kearney
Noeline Monsef We opened 59 new homes this year ŌCHT CEO
Tenant Advisory Group chairwoman and we intend providing 170 more next
OUR CHAT
DECEMBER ISSUE 14
Happy holidays! Garden Awards judges will visit you soon
The ŌCHT team hopes you’ll have a Summer’s a blooming beautiful time
safe and peaceful break. We’re sure for a garden competition!
you’ll want to unwind and recharge The ŌCHT Garden Awards are back
after what was a challenging 2020. for their fifth year and the judges will
soon be on the hunt for our
community’s greenest fingers.
Our holiday hours They’ll visit all summer gardens in
The ŌCHT office on Kilmore St closes your area in late January. You don’t
at 5pm on Wednesday, December 23. have to fill in an entry form – you just
have to enjoy growing a great garden.
Certificate winners celebrate their
We’ re open again on Dec 29 and We’ll let the best gardeners know success at last year’s Garden Awards.
Dec 30, from 8.30am to 5pm. On Dec they’ve made the cut before the
31, we’re open from 8.30am to 3pm. awards presentation in March.
gardens. They’ll look for healthy
We’re closed again on January 1-4. They’ll be in the running for plant growth; tidy presentation and
Normal hours restart from Jan 5. certificates and prizes. a lack of weeds; plant colour and, if
edible gardens are your thing, a
There’s always a lot of friendly rivalry
wealth of healthy vegetables.
For holiday-time emergencies, between ŌCHT communities. So
call us 24/7 on catch up with your neighbours, and ŌCHT employees will be with the
dig deep for the awards! judges when they visit. It’ll be a
0800 624 456 welcome highlight of the New Year!
Judges will look at all front and rear
Your Tenant Advisory Group: an important part of community life
You and your home are part of a
community – and a group of people is Joining the TAG team
working hard to enrich it. Download the application form at
The Tenant Advisory Group is a group of ocht.org.nz – you’ll find it on the
tenant volunteers who advise ŌCHT. Tenant Advisory Group page.
They raise things affecting tenants and drive Call ŌCHT on 0800 624 456 or email
projects that contribute to community life. admin@ocht.org.nz and we’ll send
Many will know about TAG from some of a form to you
the activities it has supported. It has Any questions?
organised bus trips out-of-town, and it has
even organised high teas in many Dave Wilson and Irmgaard van Contact TAG by visiting ocht.org.nz .
community lounges. Schouten will lead TAG next year. You can contact the group via the
Tenant Advisory Group page.
TAG is also very interested in the things that
move from concept to build, and it has input
last much longer than time with new friends.
into them. It is also part of the process when
Tenant health and wellbeing is an important ŌCHT develops policies that’ll affect keen and available to help, and able to
focus. TAG also advises ŌCHT on tenants. attend a monthly meeting.
maintenance and is kept up-to-date about
It’s a small group – there are about a dozen Irmgaard van Schouten and Dave Wilson
projects affecting residents, including
members at the moment – but any tenant will be TAG’s chair and deputy next year,
ŌCHT’s building projects.
can apply. You don’t have to be an expert and will switch roles through the next term.
TAG discusses new developments as they on anything in particular; you just need to be
They’d love to hear from you.
OUR CHAT
DECEMBER ISSUE 14
Bonding, support helping tenants find new jobs The annual tenant
Bas smiles when asked about what survey results are in
Job Club means to him. Thanks to everyone who completed
“I think it’s great, and my advice to this year’s satisfaction survey. Ten
people who want to get into work is to people each won a $100 Pak ’n Save
come to Job Club,” the job-seeking voucher for taking part.
ŌCHT tenant says. The survey helped us learn more
Job Club is part of ŌCHT’s about you and about ŌCHT’s work.
Employment Coach Service and is led We’ll publish more later, but here are
by Job Coach Tracie Palmer. some highlights:
Tracie meets job seeking tenants
every Monday. Job seekers share The results:
Job Club connects people with support
their thoughts and experiences, and
everyone learns from each other.
every Monday morning. Overall satisfaction
“I really enjoy seeing the Job Club clothes for interviews. 82% satisfied with the quality of
people bond over their common the tenancy service (meets target)
“Getting that confidence, feeling that
goals. The support there is just
magic,” Tracie says.
support, that’s what it’s all about,” 79% satisfiied with the condition of
Tracie says. their unit (it was 61% last year)
People who work in recruitment and
with temping agencies also share
Bas agrees: “It can feel a bit daunting Housing satisfaction
getting into work. But Job Club makes
their knowledge. it easier, I think it’s fantastic.” 93% satisfied with new heat pump
Tenants get help identifying their
skills, preparing CVs and even getting
Job Club meets 10am Mondays.
For more info call 0800 624 456 85% satisfied with maintenance
contractors service(up from 76%)
Heroes among us 84% agree their house is warm,
dry and weather tight (up from 59%)
Help us find your housing heroes!
We want to celebrate the people who 83% agree maintenance is
make our communities brighter. completed when necessary (it was
76% last time)
The Housing Hero Awards are
returning after the distruption caused 83% think the Warm and Dry
by Covid-19. initiative had a positive impact
Past winners have done everything
from helping others with their
80% agree the lawns and gardens
in communal areas are managed well
gardening to delivering food parcels
— even saving lives.
ŌCHT’s performance
You can nominate a tenant any There’s a new AED at Knightsbridge Lane.
time during the year by calling
ŌCHT on 0800 624 456.
92% thought ŌCHT’s lockdown
They’re available for emergency use response was good
by residents and the wider 84% satisfied with the call centre
AEDs in more places community.
84% agree they are kept well
There are more automated external The 111 call handler will say where
defibrilators (AEDs) at ŌCHT homes. the nearest AED. They have easy to informed
The St John Christchurch Area follow instructions. 81% satisfied with the overall
Committee donated AEDs for There are also AEDs at Haast Courts services provided over the past year
Knightsbridge Lane (Aranui),
Bridgewater Courts (South Brighton),
(Linwood), Harman Courts
(Addington), Mary McLean Place 77% agree that they are kept well
and Reg Stillwell Place (New (Woolston) and Jecks Place informed about plans for long term
Brighton). (Avonside). maintenance (up from 65%)
OUR CHAT
DECEMBER ISSUE 14
Warm and Dry Initiative
closes in on milestones
More than 2200
heat pumps have
been installed,
ventilation has been
improved and
insulation has been
blown in and
sprayed on homes
as the Warm and
The ribbon’s been cut Dry Initiative
at Reg Stillwell Place continues.
Spray in foam
It took just three-and-a-half months to insulation was
redevelop and it was opened last month installed at Veronica
with speeches, sandwiches and a few Place and Forfar
games of basketball. Courts, with more work to follow at more
ŌCHT communities by March.
Housing Minister Megan Woods helped cut
the ribbon at Reg Stillwell Place - a Draught stopping is on track to finish by
19-home development she called a fine April, before work to install thermal-backed
example of innovation and a can-do curtains is completed by June.
attitude. The Warm and Dry Initiative is a
ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney told partnership between Christchurch City
the crowd the trust’s second intentional Council and ŌCHT to meet the Healthy
family/whanau development helped boost Homes Standards by 2021.
to 75 the number of new homes the trust We’re working hard to make sure the
provided in the past two years. upgrades will be completed well ahead of
It includes 12 relocatable, refurbished when the legislation requires changes to
homes transported from Linwood Park . community rental homes.
The old community hall has been Thank you for allowing us into your homes
converted into a 3 bedroom home, and the and supporting the work of our team and
bedsits are now one bedroom units. contractors.
New look gardening thoroughly investigated by
Our new gardening our Health and Safety team,
contractor Recreational and they’re approved for
Services’ trucks now have use.
the ŌCHT logo on their
doors. They’ll be in your Discounted tidying
neighbourhood over Need help with the garden
summer, keeping the at your unit?
gardens tidy and spraying We’re offering a 25%
weeds. Don’t worry, the discount on all tidies and
sprays they use have been removals of tenant garden Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust
areas booked in December. Ground Floor, 61 Kilmore St, PO Box 54, Christchurch 8140
The discounted rates are FP 0800 624 456 LL 03 260 0058
$80 for a tidy, and $180 for admin@ocht.org.nz
removal. Call 0800 624 456 @otautahicommunityhousingtrust
if you’d like to know more. www.ocht.org.nz
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