From 1st May 2024, Mahi Pai Foundation will be the new name for local Bay of Plenty registered housing charity previously known as Habitat for Humanity EBOP Limited.
They will retain the same dedicated strategic focus on building homes for families in genuine need in the Bay of Plenty region, however it will no longer be associated with Habitat for Humanity New Zealand.
“The affiliate has operated in the Eastern Bay of Plenty since 1999. Over that time, their team of volunteers and staff have built 30 homes, housing around 150 whānau in the community who otherwise would not have had a warm, dry, safe home to live,” says Alan Thorp, Group Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand.
“Many hundreds of volunteers have selflessly provided their time while many local organisations have provided funding and support. We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank them for their long service and significant contribution.
“In particular we want to thank the long standing board members, Jim and Ann Dowman, Rachell Mio, Te Aruhe Mio and Joff Staunton who have passionately and tirelessly worked to achieve positive housing outcomes for their Bay of Plenty whānau over the past 25 years. We wish them all the best as they continue to do great work in the community,” says Mr Thorp.
“The directors of Mahi Pai Foundation did not make the decision to leave the Habitat group lightly. A lot of long, emotional, internal and external discussions were held before deciding that exiting the group was the best fit for the future of whānau we are here for,” explains General Manager, Joff Staunton
The Mahi Pai Foundation will continue to work hard for their whānau in the Bay of Plenty as well as international whānau , with two of the directors, Jim and Ann Dowman, currently working on housing projects in Madagascar.
The transition to the new name will be seamless as Habitat EBOP company ownership, directors and staff will simply operate under the new name, Mahi Pai Foundation. Additionally, all current home recipients will continue to be serviced and supported under the new organisation.
The Mahi Pai team will communicate with their whanau and contractors around the details of the transfer to the new organisation name. We want to assure whanau, that they will experience very little day-to-day changes to how they are supported by the team.
Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is part of Habitat for Humanity International. It has operated in New Zealand since 1993 and has seven regional offices across the country from Invercargill to Northland.
