Cabinet welcomes offer by Habitat for Humanity NZ

Two representatives from Habitat for Humanity New Zealand met with Cabinet yesterday (Thursday 11 March) to present their proposal to build new two bedroom homes to replace 72 of the 78 or so completely destroyed residences in Aitutaki.
Habitat for Humanity told Cabinet that they are working in partnership with New Zealand company Lockwood Homes which uses a modular pre-cut timber and materials for the project.
Habitat for Humanity are a charitable organisation which has a worldwide presence and have assisted in earthquake torn Haiti, tsunami hit Samoa and now they are offering to assist the Cook Islands.
They propose to provide all their own labour – on a purely voluntary basis from overseas – as well as all their own tools. They will also provide their own food but plan to employ a few local women to prepare their food during their time on the island.
Minister William Heather Jnr said the Habitat project will be for those where the damage is rated at category 4 (completed destroyed) with 78 or so homes in that rating. This means that the Government will be able to concentrate their efforts on the category1 (partial damage) and category2 homes (substantial roof damage) and category 3 (total loss of roof and needing rewiring etc).
Habitat have assured Cabinet they will be able to complete two or three homes per day made possible by using the Lockwood system. Cabinet has asked for modifications to the Lockwood system by using concrete flooring instead of timber, and louvre windows instead of shutter windows.
The assistance they need from Government is to cover the cost of the freight of the materials to the island of Aitutaki as well as to pay for the electrical wiring and plumbing. The community will be expected to chip in with their own labour to put any necessary finishing touches to the homes, if any.
The two representatives told Cabinet they were on their way to meet with the manager of Air New Zealand and of Air Rarotonga in order to try and negotiate good rates to bring in their volunteers.
If the project is given the green light, Habitat would like to start in June 2010. However, a glitch is that Cabinet is still trying to source the funds with which to commence their recovery and rebuilding of homes on the island of Aitutaki.
Finance Minister, Hon Wilke Rasmussen was in a meeting this morning and spoke to Minister Heather in lieu.