Profile – meet Shauna Kulatea

Shauna Kulatea is one of the friendly faces at the Mangere Development Information Centre

P ROFILE

Meet Shauna Kulatea

By Penny Lewis

Home and helping others have always been important to Shauna Kulatea.

The 21-year-old has lived in Mangere her whole life. She spent her first 12 years in a

Housing New Zealand home with her parents,

Martyn Kulatea and Cathleen Morris, and her older brother, Ethan. Martyn is originally from Niue and Cathleen was born in Mangere, in a state house “just down the road”.

Nine years ago, Martyn and Cathleen bought their first home. “Buying a house was a big accomplishment for them,” Shauna recalls. “It was a real success and

“I used to milestone – mum’s in retail think I was too young for and dad in manufacturing and they worked really hard to save. They were

KiwiSaver, working for a long time and but I have [the house they bought] wasn’t the best house in the started it street, but they owned it,” again so I can buy one day.” says Shauna, who adds that it’s the sort of milestone that everyone should have the chance to reach.

Working at the Information Centre allows

Shauna to show people that home ownership could be for them too. “There’s been a vast amount of people come in. Their faces light up when they realise maybe there is a chance that they can buy a home.” One sticking point in the path to buying a home can be the struggle to get a deposit together. Luckily that’s where Shauna and her colleagues at Mangere Development Information Centre can help, by explaining the buying process and letting people know what homeownership products can help them reach their goals. “I used to think I was too young for KiwiSaver, but I have started it again so I can buy one day.” Shauna is studying towards a Bachelor of Nursing Pacific at Manukau Institute of Technology. She has always wanted to work with people in the community, particularly with Māori and Pasifika people. She says Mangere is rich with Māori and Pasifika culture and that it’s important her people get the chance to put down roots here. “We’re full of culture in Mangere. Our market and our shops and our town centre are for our people – we’ve got our taro, our green bananas and our fish.” Shauna advises people to get their foot in the door by buying an apartment to start with. “Then just stay there for a while and build up your assets and then you can find your dream house. Put your mind to it. Don’t give up. Your dream can come true.”