We were in $76k debt. We turned that around and bought our whare

By Re: News in partnership with Westpac

“It was normal to be in debt for me, growing up I never had anything to save.” 

Partners, Mirihana Patu and Gloria Rehu, have purchased their first home in Inglewood Taranaki - back on Mirihana’s whenua and close to her parents.  

They share how getting out of debt and purchasing their first home through Ka Uruora, an Iwi-led housing scheme, impacted every part of their lives - like their health and wellness.  

“We honestly think that anything and everything is possible now. If we can do this, when we came from $76,000 of debt and then we’re in a place of now being able to save and living near our whānau, just anything’s possible.” 

In this new Re: News series, My First Whare, made in partnership with Westpac, we hear about how financial education changed the lives of five whānau, and how it helped them buy their first home. Watch the full series here on TVNZ+

All Episodes5

I was a renter all my life. Now I’ve bought my first home

Solo-dad Karlos Ruakere says his first house is more than just a home, as it’s for his mum and daugh

How financial education from our iwi helped us avoid bankruptcy

Crystal and Russell Hockley had so much debt they considered going bankrupt.

We were in $76k debt. We turned that around and bought our whare

Mirihana Patu and Gloria Rehu share how they managed to buy their first home after being in debt.

What it's like living next to your marae and iwi

Heneriata Paringatai and Josh Hurae share their experience of living in a modern day papakāinga.

‘It hits different cos it’s ours’: What owning our whare means to our whānau

CJ Gilbert and Kataraina Davis give a glimpse into what it’s like living on a modern-day papakāinga.