Diane Wichman and her husband have moved to a warm, dry, and secure state home in Roskill, thanks to Kāinga Ora’s ‘Choice to Return’ programme.

Roskill has been home to Diane and her whānau for decades. She has lived in a state home on Freeland Avenue for close to 40 years. During this time, she has built strong relationships with neighbours, members of their church and through the schools their kids attended. They’ve also made many meaningful contributions to the community, to which Diane feels a strong connection. 

Her home is walking distance to her church, community amenities, and the op shop in which she works. Her children and grandchildren live close by, so it’s easy for the grandkids to visit often.

“Being part of the op shop, I’ve been involved with it now for 20 years, so I get to know people quite well,” says Diane. 

Diane’s old home holds many memories: kids playing on the lawn, conversations over tea and coffee, a friendly smile from over the fence – memories which she’ll treasure forever. But many of the state houses in the area, like Diane’s home, built during the middle of last century are past their best and are being replaced by warm, dry, healthy homes as part of the Roskill Development. When this process happens, clients are asked to relocate. 

Diane says she knew she’d have to move eventually, as she and her neighbours were kept in the loop about the redevelopment that was happening. “We could see all the houses around us getting demolished,” says Diane.

“It was heartbreaking at the time,” says Diane. “[My kids] all grew up [in that home] and went to the local schools, played sports locally, worked locally...” 

Through Kāinga Ora’s ‘Choice to Return’ programme, clients are given the option to stay in or return to their original communities once there are suitable homes available. 

This was very important to Diane. 

“Important reasons for me [to stay in Roskill] were that I don’t drive, I walk, I’m a volunteer at the local op shop, I attend the local church and I do the kindergarten accounts which is also on the church site.” She says the ability to have easy walking access to her work and community was crucial. 

In Diane’s case, Kāinga Ora had a home suitable for her to move into within Roskill, meaning she didn’t have to move away from the area in the interim. In fact, she remained on Freeland Avenue, moving just down the road to her new home.

“I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled [to be able to stay in the Roskill community].”

Seeing her new home for the first time was a special moment. 

“The day we walked in and I saw it, tears welled in my eyes and I thought ‘wow, this is something to behold.’”

Her new home is “light, it’s bright, it’s warm, it’s dry, it’s comfortable and we’ve got plenty of room,” Diane says. “We walk downstairs and open the blinds and there’s so much warmth coming in.”

While initially, Diane grieved the loss of her home of 40 years, she has now lived in her new house for two years and says, “it definitely does feel like home.”

The home is also fully fenced, which keeps her grandchildren safe from traffic. “It worked out well for us,” Diane says. 

Thanks to the ‘Choice to Return’ programme, Diane has been able to remain close to her community, and has become involved in new initiatives, like Haere Mai & Welcome. 

Haere Mai & Welcome, Diane says, “helps us be involved and informed.” It’s a community-led initiative designed to give new residents the information they need to find their feet in their new neighbourhood. 

As the community continues to evolve and grow, it’s long-term members of the community, like Diane, that helps it to thrive.