Meet GavinHi my name is Gavin Hapeta. I am 54 years old and have been at the Trust since the beginning, in 1995. A little about me: I like watching speedway racing and drag car racing. I like going to the speedway racing track in Blenheim and I like going to car shows. I sometimes like to watch car racing on TV on the weekends. I like working outdoors and sometimes help outside the Trust with local business men, like doing lawns in the community and at the trust. I like helping around the place. I am the current Board of Trustee Representative for the Residents at Papatūānuku Trust. I like living at the Trust because of the opportunities and experiences they have given me to live an independent life, to learn new skills and meet new friends.
OUR RESIDENTS
Currently, we have seven male and three female permanent Residents ranging in age from 22 to 72.
They are generally a happy group who get on well together and enjoy the opportunity to live in their home which keeps them secure, physically healthy, occupied, and emotionally well. They have varied amounts of contact with their families, though the opportunity is always there for Residents and family members to have as much involvement with each other as they wish.
Some of the Residents have part time jobs in the community (paid and unpaid), and they also participate in various sporting activities. Activities include, walking, lawn mowing, predator control, IHC volunteer programme, Te Reo lessons, selling kindling, dog walking, looking after their home farm animals and garden, playing in pool tournaments, bowls, ten pin bowling, golf, swimming and competing in Special Olympics events.
They are encouraged to be involved in local events wherever possible. The fact that three of the male Residents were part of the original group who attended the Carrington course is testament to their happiness in this environment. New Residents are mainly referred by Support Works. Respite care is also offered and presently there are people staying as they need, with the possibility of becoming long care Residents in the future.
KevinMy name is Kevin, I have been at Papatūānuku Trust for a few months and it has quickly become my home. I feel so relaxed here. Before I came to Papatūānuku I lived with my Dad in Picton, and I was his carer for the last few years of his life. I have settled in well at Papatūānuku and enjoy the family like atmosphere here with the staff looking after us very well. I am looking forward to working with my support worker in developing things for me to do. I enjoy riding my motorbike and working with my friend Margaret. I have known some of the other Residents for a few years before I came to Papatūānuku, and hope to see more of them. I live in a house by myself at the moment but look forward to having a flat mate very soon.
Meet JamesMy name is James, I am 39 years old, and I have been living at the Trust for 22 years. I love being at Papatūānuku and working with my support worker to help me live a better life. I share the Top House with Tamati and Gavin, and we like living up there. I like to go fishing , hunting, basketball, and anything outdoors. I also like to do cooking and enjoy making meals for the other residents in our man cave at the trust. I like the family atmosphere that is at the Trust, and I look at the other residents as my family. I like to be involved in all the chores around the trust but like doing the water blasting and lawn mowing. The basketball on a Wednesday night is a favourite activity of mine , I get to mix with other people and enjoy chatting to them. I don’t like gardening but love other things around the Trust.
Meet JazmineHi my name is Jazmine. I am 36 years old and have lived at Papatūānuku Trust for 7 years. I volunteer at St Vinnies Opp shop in Picton once a week and sometimes do baking for GBB who delivers baking around Blenheim and Picton. I like to go shopping and knit peggy squares to make blankets to sell for the Trust. I like helping around the house and being a good hostess for the team and the Manager Pete. I like spending time with my brother and sister-in-law in Auckland and sometimes hanging out with family and friends around Picton. I like listening to music, especially my dad’s music. I like living at the Trust because I like helping others and meeting new friends.
Meet JoshHello, my name is Josh. I am 21 years old and I am new to Papatūānuku Trust. I arrived here in March 2022 after finishing at Marlborough Boys College last year. I lived with my dad who drives diggers and trucks for a living. That’s when I started to like tractors and diggers because I would sometimes go to work with my dad and watch him. I like digging in the garden and helping staff outside. I like going for drives and exploring on walks. I like going fishing in my dad's boat, going swimming and playing on my computer.
Meet JadeHi my name is Jade. I just become part of the family at Papatūānuku Trust. I love arts and crafts and making things for people. I also love to go swimming, I’m very good at special olympics bowling and enjoy going with the rest of the guys at Papatūānuku. I love all music and my favourite pop star is Michael Jackson and I have a few pictures of him on my bedroom wall. I'm happy and bubbly and I love living at Papatūānuku I have a big supportive family and like to go on days out with them.
Meet SamHello my name is Sam. I am 59 years old I have been at Papatūānuku Trust since the beginning in 1995. A little about me: I love being outside in the garden. This year, The Marlborough District council donated some money to the trust to build a tunnel house in our vegetable garden. One of the things that I love about living at the Trust is that they give me the opportunity to let me do what I love to do. I currently do lawns and gardening in the community and around the Trust. I also like to play video games on my computer, watch westerns and have a love of model trains. I love trains. I like listening to music and hanging out with the guys playing pool and having a cold one.
Meet TamatiHello, my name is Tamati. I am 28 years old and have lived at Papatūānuku Trust for 7 years. A little about me: well, I like to play sports and that could be any sport whenever the opportunity arises. Cricket practice has just started up and I am back playing again this year. I like to create mixes on my DJ Mixer, play my electric guitar and currently learning to play the ukulele. I also go to Te Reo Maori classes held in Picton on Monday mornings. I love the outdoors and adventuring. I am one of five Special Olympics Leaders and this year I did a leadership course in wellington. Last year I went on an 8 day outward bound course, part of the Special Olympics Athletics Leader course.
