The chair of the board of Marist College in Auckland, Stephen Dallow, wrote on the school’s Facebook page on March 27 that he had “just received a personal call from our Prime Minister”.

“She wanted to pass on her best wishes to our community at this time. She knows you are all nervous and worried, but we will get through this. Her heart is very much with us at Marist.”

Mr Dallow added: “We live in a pretty special country when a Prime Minister, in the middle of a crisis, can still ring and discuss things directly.”

Earlier on March 27, the board chair had talked on a Facebook video post of hearing about a handful of students being out on the streets, mixing with others. He strongly emphasised that this could not happen. “We have to stay home,” he said, in order to stop the spread of the disease.

Before she sent her message to Mr Dallow, Ms Ardern had been questioned about the students during a press briefing. The Prime Minister made a plea to the students involved to take the restrictions seriously, especially so as not to put those whom they love at risk.

As of March 30, according to a Ministry of Health update, there were 47 confirmed and probable cases in the Marist College “cluster”.

Among those who had tested positive was principal Raechelle Taulu.

On March 27, Mr Dallow wrote on Facebook that “many are providing feedback that they are well or nearly back to full health. For a lot, the symptoms were mild. One case I reported as serious has come back negative, a reminder that there are normal change-of-season bugs out there as well.”

A letter from deputy principal–pastoral care Emma Coupar-Wanoa, posted on Facebook on March 27, stated that “the head girls will be launching a Marist College Student Instagram account as a way for our students to stay connected”.

“They will post messages, prayers, well-being tips, and fun activities to do while in self-isolation and lockdown. If students are under 13 years old, their parents can follow this account and share messages/information with their daughters.”

The letter noted that this would be a private account and would be overseen by the deputy principal-pastoral care. 

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The new building is made up of a spacious gym arena, weights room and three classrooms.

Principal Shane Tong said the centre offers a massive step change in supporting PE, health education and sport at the college.

“But importantly, it also means we can gather all our students together now for events and celebrations,” explained Mr Tong.

With bleacher seating capacity for more than 500, the college’s 850 students can now assemble together as one whānau.

“Marcellin Champagnat calls us to live with a family spirit, and we can finally share that charism for both the little and big moments in our college life,” Mr Tong added.

The students welcomed their guests with a powerful wero and haka.

Before blessing the facility, Bishop Lowe reminded the young men to rejoice in their physicality and to honour their bodies, while also nourishing their spiritual health.

A light-hearted Q&A session with Prime Minister Ardern followed, compered by the PM’s cousin and head of English at St John’s, Paul Ardern.

Students and guests were treated to a fun and relaxed session with the Prime Minister. Questions ranged from “favourite National MP” through to requests for a Valentine’s Day photo!

The college stated it is enormously grateful to the proprietor, Bishop Lowe, for his support. The Diocesan Schools Office led funding, planning and construction of the facility, with support from the Board of Trustees for the fit-out.

The bulk of the funding for construction of this project has come from the parent community supporting the proprietor through the payment of donations plus loans serviced from attendance dues.

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“I’m pleased that you’ve acknowledged transitional housing is not our aspiration. It is our here and now,” Ms Ardern said, as she noted how appropriate it was that the opening happened on World Homelessness
Day (October 10).

“You’ve future-proofed these units for public housing in the future. It’s an acknowledgement that, one day, we want to move on from transitional spaces to providing the stability of long-term public housing [and] long-term affordable housing,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the Government is dealing with the issue of homelessness and housing by infusing $54 million into keeping people in their homes.

“One of the issues we realised has to do with people at risk of losing their tenancy for a range of reasons and, actually, if we work more closely alongside those families at risk of losing their tenancy, we stop homelessness in the first place,” she said.

Monte Cecilia’s new $12 million facility is located in Windrush Close, Mangere. Around $8.6 million of the $12 million was funded by a loan from the Government, through the Housing and Urban Design ministry, which is payable over ten years. The Government leased the facility back from Monte Cecilia to help the transitional housing provider pay the loan.

Monte Cecilia CEO Bernie Smith offered the Prime Minister a deal to partner with community housing providers. He said every dollar the Government puts into community housing will be a dollar saved in terms of costs to physical and mental health, and education, as well as the prison system.

“The end game that we all want is they [homeless families] become self-sustainable, where they can stand tall in their culture, they can stand tall in their faith, they can stand tall as a family,” he said.

Mr Smith stressed that building new homes is not enough. “Yes, we need housing, but new homes that acknowledge culture, acknowledge family connectivity, that allow multi-generational families to be living in a single home, so families can care while others work, families with joint-incomes can save to build their own home, where grandparents can teach grandchildren their culture and where younger family members can
care for their elderly,” he said.

He also said that Government needs to move away from the Canadian/English model policy of children having to have their own bedrooms, because this is not the culture of the families that need housing. Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn was asked to bless the facility. In his blessing, he asked God “to watch over your people, especially those who have no homes to return to at the end of a long and weary day. Protect them from all harm and keep them from despair”.

Monte Cecilia trust board chairman Ken Brophy thanked those who persevered to make the dream a reality. He thanked most especially Jim and Mae Weir, who have not only donated their time, but also gave generously in terms of finance.

He also thanked Sr Mary Foy, RSM, who started Monte Cecilia Housing Trust 37 years ago.

The trust said donors that made the project possible included the Weir family: $870,000; an anonymous donor: $500,000; Auckland Catholic Caring Foundation: $200,000; SkyCity: $125,000; Ted Manson Trust: $60,000; anonymous family trust: $50,000; and David Levene Foundation: $15,000.

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