Home in Place

Mikaere's Story

For Mikaere, his Tā moko is not just ink on skin, it’s a powerful symbol of personal transformation.

“It took a few years to really find myself,” he says.

“I had a past like everyone else, but violence was a big part of mine. I knew I needed a change.”

Mikaere’s life growing up was filled with violence. His father was a brutal and violent man.

“I never knew love without violence,” he admits. “I was too busy being beaten up to learn what love really was.”

Seeking stability, he joined the military in the 1980s.

“The military kept me on track, away from gangs and drugs. It gave me discipline, self-respect, and a way to protect my family.”

However, even in his adult life, the echoes of his childhood experiences of violence often resurfaced, making it hard to fully escape the past.

Mikaere reflects on how his upbringing and the influential women in his life shaped him. Their strength and guidance ultimately inspired him to take the step of applying for housing with Home in Place, despite the mistakes of his past, including losing his previous social housing.

“When the call came from Bec from Home in Place offering me a home, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a joke,” Mikaere admits.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get another chance at social housing.”

His Home in Place-managed Westlight apartment in Glen Eden has become his sanctuary, his “marae in the sky.”

“It’s my haven for healing. I wake up to the view of Glen Eden and I’m so grateful for it,” he says.

“I treat my home like a temepara (temple) – a place of reverence and respect. It’s a reflection of the new me, the person I want to be.”

Mikaere credits the Home in Place team for providing him with the safe and secure environment that has allowed him to heal.

“Home in Place staff really care about me and the other tenants, and it shows,” he says.

Mikaere also values the strong sense of community at Westlight.

“Even if we speak different languages, everyone shares a friendly word. I like to give fruit and vegetables to my neighbours. We support each other.”

“Being housed here has allowed me to leave behind a cycle of violence and manipulation. It’s given me the opportunity to reprogram myself, recharge and find peace. I’ve never been so calm in my life. If I hadn’t gotten this place, I can’t imagine where I would be.”

Mikaere is deeply grateful for the trust that Home in Place showed him.

“When Bec called me, I had a past, I had baggage. But she trusted me, and that trust gave me a chance to change.”

Mikaere proudly promotes the work of Home in Place to anyone who will listen.

“The work Home in Place is doing is important. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui – be strong, be courageous, and be steadfast.”

Mikaere’s story is a powerful reminder that home is not just about a physical space; it’s about the opportunity to heal, grow, and build a better future.

With a place to call his own, Mikaere is reclaiming his life, his culture, and his sense of self.

Mikaere's Mataora Journey

Mikaere’s healing journey has led him to a deeper connection with his Māori heritage.

“My mataora journey began when I came to the West, I knew it was where I needed to find the person I used to be,” he explains.

Mikaere found a mentor who helped him reconnect with his Māoritanga and ignited his desire to receive his Tā moko. Mikaere wanted to mark this new chapter in his life with something meaningful, but he wanted to do it in his own space, on his own terms.

"I went within to prepare myself spiritually,” Mikaere reflects.

“When the needle touches your skin for the first time, it’s all about the moment, the wairua (spirit), and the connection to your ancestors.”

Mikaere describes the experience as deeply moving and transformative, performed with a few close supporters and accompanied by karakia (prayers).

“I was in my whare with the door open, the wind blowing through. I was proud and honoured to receive my Tā moko in the presence of my tūpuna (ancestors).”