(Picture caption: Brand new mattresses are being distributed to cyclone-affected communities in Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti. Photo: HB Civil Defence.)
Some Cyclone-affected aiga in the Hawke’s Bay region could enjoy a better night’s sleep thanks to donations from Big Save Furniture and Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.
Big Save Furniture has donated brand new super king-sized mattresses for some of our communities, which were hit by Cyclone Gabrielle in February this year.
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) is supporting efforts to distribute the mattresses to affected areas and our vulnerable communities in the Hawke’s Bay.
The week after the cyclone hit, Napier-headquarters Big Save Furniture donated hundreds of mattresses to the local relief effort.
Speaking to Newsroom in February, Big Save managing director Tom Mckimm says the company donated 350 or so mattresses towards the Hastings Civil Defence effort and had another 200 or 300 heading to Work & Income in Gisborne at cheap prices.
The mattresses, which don’t include bed bases, were secured through the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ (MPP) relationship with our Pacific communities and the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) Hawke’s Bay Regional Commissioner’s Office.
Regional Partnerships Director for Central Maureen Tukaroa-Betham says MPP is still working through logistics with Big Save around the delivery of these allocated mattresses.
“Through our relationship with the MSD Regional Commissioner office of Te Matau-a-Māui/Hawkes Bay the Ministry was informed about Te Whatu Ora Healthy Housing team donations from Big Save,” Maureen Tukaroa-Betham says.
“The Ministry for Pacific Peoples secured a small number for our Pacific communities in Wairoa and Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay, which includes two Pacific churches, a Pacific Hall, two Pacific trusts, a Pacific incorporated society and a Pacific provider.”
Visit the MPP website if you are seeking support following the weather events earlier this year.
