MEDIA RELEASE
10 August 2015

New lane name provides homes and inspiration to future generations

A new Housing New Zealand development in West Auckland has provided a unique opportunity to recognise the academic and professional success of two Kelston Boys High School old boys.

Last Friday (August 7), members of the Kelston community, family, students, Housing New Zealand staff and the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon. Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga, gathered for the unveiling of Tamatimu Lane. The lane, which is home to five new Housing New Zealand homes, is named after twins Citizen and Wellington Tamatimu. The brothers were raised in a state house nearby and attended Kelston Boys High School between 1999 and 2003.

The lane is part of a redevelopment project that has allowed Housing New Zealand to make better use of its land with 11 new homes built to meet local demand. When it became clear the redevelopment would require the creation of a new lane, Housing New Zealand approached Kelston Boys High School to seek suggestions for its name.

“We wanted to ensure the name held significance for the community as Housing New Zealand is very much a part of Kelston. It’s important to us that residents feel connected to and proud of the redevelopment and that it positively represents the people of Kelston, while showing our ongoing commitment to the area,” says Housing New Zealand Chief Executive Glen Sowry.

“When principal Brian Evans recommended we name the lane after high-achieving academic students Citizen and Wellington we were delighted, particularly as they themselves were raised in one of our homes for over 19 years, and continue to live in the West Auckland community.

“These men are an inspiration to the Kelston community and will continue to be so to the next generation, many of whom will be living in our new family homes.”

Recipients of the Chancellors Award for Top Scholars, the twin brothers went from Kelston Boys to the University of Auckland, where they graduated with conjunct degrees in Law and Commerce in 2008.

Principal Evans adds that while the school is well-known for its sporting achievements, students and staff wanted to acknowledge Citizen and Wellington’s academic accomplishments. “By formally recognising what these brothers have done, it highlights to other students and families that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.”

The brothers themselves were typically humble and expressed appreciation to the Kelston community and Housing New Zealand.

“We were provided with what we needed for a long time and I don’t take any of that for granted. Looking around, and being here again, makes me very thankful,” says Wellington.

In his address to the Kelston Boys High School students, Citizen added, “We are proud Samoans. While we struggled, we managed to achieve something with our lives. So can you.”

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