The Children of NZ Social Housing, The Children of Arlington

  

“When you come from nothing it births a spirit of resilience… When I think about all the individuals that I know that have come from Arlington, they do not have a limited mind set, they are very resilient, they have a really clear purpose about what they do, and why they do it. From poverty resilience is always born.” - Josie Nafatali
In the centre of Wellington, above the fast-paced city streets of Cuba and Lambton Quay, was Arlington - a social housing apartment complex designed in the 1970’s with the vision of a living environment diverse in both content and character. It served as public housing for lower income families, like Josie Nafatali’s, until just last year Wellington City Council announced that it would be further redeveloping the site. As Wellington Mayor Justin Lester put it in a 14 March 2019 article from Stuff “[Arlington] had become tired, dilapidated and unfit for purpose.” He added that, “The new Arlington development will be a high-quality mix of public and affordable housing, be close to the city centre and help address a shortage of accommodation for people on housing waiting lists and homeless people,” With their old stomping grounds on the verge of demolition, previous Arlington residents: Nafatali, 36, Liam Va’ai, 38, and Yannetta Hiko, 30, reflect on how their time in the complex shaped who they are today. Expressing how they were connected through the unique complex they shared, by the struggles they faced growing up in a low socio-economic environment, and how they as Children of Arlington hope to see the future redevelopment accomplished. “I think Arlington back in the 80’s and 90’s was a huge place for families that weren’t related or anything at all, but had this connection of just living in a small space together.” Said Hiko. “Family meant more than just your blood relatives, family meant that all the older kids were like your older brothers and sisters.” Largely made up of a Maori and Pasifika population, Arlington was a place with a strong sense of community togetherness according to Liam Va’ai, who also said “We’ve only looked after each other in A-Town, we’ve only ever looked out for each other in A-Town.” However, strength in community that there was, Arlington and it’s residents faced many issues associated with being in a lower socio economic environment. Mayor Justin Lester’s aforementioned living conditions being an example. “The only thing that separated the bricks to us was paint, there was no insulation or anything, and it was fucking cold. The walls would drip in winter and we would wipe them down” Va’ai added, “I couldn’t believe we survived that.” The apartments were plagued with issues typical of the poor standard of social housing that was built in the 1970’s. These terrible conditions to raise a family were challenging for many residents like Va’ai and was only one of the many problems of living in the complex. “One of the things I recall vividly was the domestic violence” Nafatali added, “,there was a lot of abuse in terms of drinking, substance abuse” “There were drugs around. There were people who would sell it right there and we’d be playing right there.” Said Hiko. Seeing this would have been frightening for anyone, but it would’ve been especially frightening for children like Hiko, Va’ai and Nafatali. Nafatali can remember many instances where as a kid she had to call the police to her neighbours home to prevent further abuse. It’s easy to look at Arlington from the surface level and blame issues like these upon the individual and “beneficiary bash”, but domestic violence and drug abuse in the complex seems to be a symptom of the poverty and hardship that was in the area at the time. Va’ai explained how violence and drug abuse in the community was normalised. “Domestic violence comes hand in hand with that kind of lifestyle. There’s nothing you can do to avoid that, because everyday is a constant reminder of what you don’t have.” Said Va’ai. Despite the hardships of the environment, the trio recall the community coming together. “If something happened to somebody, everybody knew about it, and everybody supported that family.” Said Hiko. Hiko remembers her father baking biscuits for her friends, and Nafatali recalls families sheltering victims of abuse in their homes. All three maintain the belief that “the struggle” has made them who they are for the better. Va’ai said, “It’s basically influenced me to be a good person, a good father, just a good human being. You sort of learn to appreciate what you have, I think those are the biggest things in my life." “I think about what I do and my life experience and I’m continually connecting those two things to help inform the perspectives when I'm at a decision making table.” Said Nafatali “A blessed era, really. Without it I don’t think a lot of us would have the abilities to move forward in life,” Said Hiko In particular, Nafatali mentions that her experience growing up in Arlington may have led her to her career in The Ministry of Social Development, and influenced her personal values - especially when it comes to her own family. “I will never create an environment like that for my kids,” Said Nafatali. Wellington city council is conscious of the flaws of the old Arlington. Councillor Brian Dawson, who holds the housing portfolio, says Te Māra (a completed section of the redevelopment) is built around a community space. “The units are also built to modern standards. They are properly heated and insulated and Te Māra will be a much better place to live than the previous complex.” (Wellington City Council, 2018). Upon reflecting on their experience, the trio voiced their concern for the future Arlington development, because undoubtedly they don’t want to see the failures of the old complex replicated. “I hope future design incorporates a sort of central hub where it’s a really safe clean space for kids or family members to go.” Said Nafatali. Hiko hopes to see some sort of activity area incorporated into the redevelopment. “I just think if they’re making a complex for families, low income and stuff, opportunities like that are helpful in those situations,” Despite these concerns, all three are optimistic about the Arlington redevelopment, while still remaining conscious of the pitfalls of social housing in NZ - informed by their own experience. It seems the new development should strive for a positive and healthy community that is facilitated by its environment, rather than one brought together by hardship and struggle. While it is inspiring to hear stories like Nafatali’s, Hiko’s and Va'ai’s, this should not be the story of the next Arlington generation.




Note: The Arlington story that is touched upon in this article is a taste of a feature length documentary me and a group of fellow first year Bachelor of Creative Media Production students have been putting together since the nationwide lockdown. This is a huge passion project for the four of us involved (Oscar Smit, Lewis Walker, William Grafton-Howe, Finn Mueller), and so if you lived in Arlington at any point, know of anybody who did, or just have some stories you’d wish to share about the complex. Feel free to contact me by email: ockysmit@gmail.com or by phone: 027 432 9092.


We’d love to hear what you could tell us. Thanks.    



Reference List:


Primary Sources:

  • Nafatali, J. (2020, July 17). Personal communication.

  • Va’ai, L. (2020, July 17). Personal communication.

  • Hiko, Y. (2020, July 16). Personal communication. 


Secondary Sources:

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