We have a new friendly face in the Oranga Information Centre; find out more about Oranga’s new Information Centre Manager, Wai! Pop in for a chat, we’re open Wednesday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm.

1. What does your role involve?

As the new Oranga Info Centre Manager, I’m someone the community can come and chat with about everything going on in the development, about the homes for sale and the financial help Kāinga Ora may be able to provide to first-home buyers. I may not have all the answers, but I’m here to connect people with our teams and help them find the information they need.

2. What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love meeting people and being able to help them face-to-face, it is the highlight of my role. I also love that I can help the community understand what financial products are available to them and talk them through the application process; it gives me great pleasure to be part of their exciting journey to home ownership.

3. What do you love most about the Oranga community?

The conversations I have with local residents are truly the best. We have such a diverse range of people in Oranga and across different areas of the development – it’s great to hear such passion for the Oranga community.

4. What were you doing previously?

I was an assistant at the Roskill Info Centre and Ōwairaka Info Cube. I learned so much being in the Roskill Development team, and I’m looking forward to bringing those skills over to help the Oranga community.

5. What do you like doing outside of the office?

I love singing kapahaka waiata (traditional Māori songs) around the house with my 7-year-old daughter, or while we’re in the car on our way to school. Gardening is another passion, though I’m very much an amateur, and I love the thought of growing my own kai for my whānau and me. Cooking, baking and op-shopping are some of the other things enjoy when I’m not working.