A stable home helps Thomas focus on healing

For Gisborne man Thomas who spends 18 hours a week on a dialysis machine, managing his health is a matter of life and death. Until now, doing that without a safe and secure place to live has been an uphill battle.

After two years in emergency accommodation, Thomas is one of eleven whānau who have just moved into our brand-new homes in Tamarau, Gisborne. For Thomas, the change means he can finally start looking forward – not just to better health, but to reconnecting with his teenage son and working toward a brighter future.

“I’ve been in survival mode,” says Thomas. “Now, I feel like I can finally start to heal.”

The sunny, single-storey standalone homes were built to Full Universal Design standards, making them accessible and functional for people of all ages and abilities. With decks, lawns, and thoughtful design features, the new builds take full advantage of Gisborne’s sunshine and provide whānau with a fresh start. They adjoin 30 homes completed last year, making this the largest Kāinga Ora housing development in Gisborne in many years.

Just a few years ago, Thomas was working full-time operating heavy machinery at ports around the country.

“I didn’t drink, didn’t smoke – I was just working hard to get ahead,” he says. “Then I started getting breathless when I lay down. One day, I collapsed while working in a ship in Napier. That’s when I was diagnosed with kidney disease.”

From that moment, life changed rapidly. Within months, Thomas had to start dialysis – six hours a day, three times a week at Gisborne Hospital. He also became homeless, moving into a men’s boarding house, then more recently, moving four times in four months.

“Some of those places were cold and old. Shared living when you’re sick is really hard – you’re always worried about infections. It’s taken a toll, physically and mentally.”

The lack of stable housing also created a painful distance between Thomas and his 14-year-old son, who wasn’t able to stay with him.

“The stress of not having a home has been overwhelming. I’ve just been hoping and praying, wondering if I’d ever get a place because of my health situation.”

Now, things are turning around.

“This home really is a light at the end of a very long tunnel. I’m already feeling stronger. I was on my deathbed seven months ago – in and out of hospital with kidney and heart issues. But now, I’m starting to look ahead. I can focus on my health without worrying where I’ll be next week. I’m looking forward to having my son stay with me and being part of his life again.”

Thomas is on the transplant list and ready for the next chapter.

“My biggest goal is to get a new kidney and go back to work. I’m just waiting for that phone call.”

Graeme Broderick, Regional Director for East North Island, says the development is about more than just bricks and mortar.

“These homes represent a fresh start for people like Thomas. A warm, dry, and stable place to live can make all the difference – not just to someone’s health, but to their ability to plan for the future, to reconnect with whānau, and to live with dignity. That’s what these homes in Tamarau are about.”