Mangere's Te Puea Marae has signed its first agreement to work alongside private sector companies to provide support for the marae's homeless whānau.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The marae made headlines around the world last year for taking in and supporting homeless people and whānau.
The agreement or kawenata, will see the marae work with Dempsey Wood Civil, Skills Update and Ernst and Young.
Te Puea Marae chairman Hurimoana Dennis said the colloboration would provide support for the marae's homeless whānau.
"We're just widening our opportunities to offer the families when they get to us."
Mr Dennis said the agreement would see their whānau have the chance to complete job training and work towards employment.
"We're anxious to bring in the support of these big orgnasiations but we don't want to waste anybody's time."
Ensuring the right support reached the right whānau was key, Mr Dennis said.
"You might say I need four pairs of socks and end up with 4000 socks all the wrong colour."
Mr Dennis said he expected more private sector companies to sign up to agreements with the marae later this year.
