Watch Ryan and Belinda's story
After years of apprehension watching the housing market from the sideline, Belinda Holmes (Lepea, Vaiusu, Vailele - Samoa) and Ryan Martin (Ngāti Porou) took a leap of faith and joined the OWN IT programme.
Belinda Holmes & Ryan Martin
November 20, 2024
After years of apprehension watching the housing market from the sideline, Belinda Holmes (Lepea, Vaiusu, Vailele - Samoa) and Ryan Martin (Ngāti Porou) took a leap of faith and joined the OWN IT programme.
Today, they are happy owners of their very first home in Panmure.
Becoming a homeowner was a big deal for Belinda, having grown up not knowing what the pathway to home ownership looked like and believing it was something out of reach. She is the first person in her aiga to purchase a home and feels relieved to have housing stability for her growing family which has set them up for life.
“Not only has this opportunity through the OWN IT programme allowed us to have a place to call our own, it has been a stepping stone in being able to solidify our future and the future of our whānau.
We’re so happy now, knowing we’re secure here in our own home. We feel safe and comfortable and have been able to grow our family without the fear or worry about needing to pack up and move on elsewhere.”
The couple have a close connection to Glen Innes/Tāmaki where Belinda’s extended whānau have lived for decades, and her sister has also settled in the area with her own small aiga. Belinda works fulltime as a Hospital Play Specialist at Starship Hospital, and partner Ryan recently received certification as a fully qualified Roofer.
They are active figures in the Tāmaki community, having supported several local community projects like the Kai Collective Project, The Good Fale and Glen Innes Playcentre when Belinda’s nephews were young. Raising a family near whānau has always been their dream, but the journey to homeownership didn’t come without any barriers
“You build it up in your head, that it’s going to be too hard. Filling in paperwork can be difficult, and it can put you right off. But it was a relief to know we could lean on TRC during those stressful times. If they hadn’t encouraged us, the doubt probably would have taken over and we would have given up.
We hope our journey inspires other Māori and Pasifika whānau to engage in the programme, not only to keep Tāmaki as rich in culture as it has always been, but to solidify their place in our community for generations to come."
They also credit their success in the programme to Erin and Isaac Liava’a, who walked beside them throughout their housing journey. Erin applies her expertise from her previous role at the Housing Foundation, having joined the TRC team as a Household Advisor.
Today, the pair are passionate about encouraging other whānau who feel they are not quite ready, to “just sign up”, as the OWN IT team can help you look at ways to improve your financial situation.
Belinda says, “Erin and Isaac’s openness and honesty were a blessing, and we felt comfortable because there was no judgement. They helped us navigate lawyers, understand jargon around the mortgage process, learn about sales purchase – and so much more. They were our safety net, so we never felt alone or vulnerable. We feel so fortunate to have been supported by them.”
With their first baby on the way, Belinda has started nesting in their 2-bedroom terraced home to prepare for pepe’s arrival and Ryan is excited about the future. They are proud of the tight-knit relationships they’ve fostered with neighbours - a mix of private renters, homeowners and Tāmaki Housing tenants.
Belinda added, “Becoming homeowners created a momentous change for Ryan and I. To get on the property market, particularly here in Tāmaki, has meant our roots are further grounded in such a rich community allowing us to raise our children in a community that is reflective of us and our cultures.
It didn’t just provide us with a roof over our heads, it equipped us with the tools to communicate better with each other, especially about our finances.
But our favourite part is coming home at the end of the day. We love the wind-down and enjoying the security of our own space. Nothing beats the feeling of stability and being settled.”
