Night prayers on Nuku Street
As the sun set over Strathmore on Sunday 4 October, around 15 people gathered on the Kāinga Ora site on Nuku Street to pray for justice and hope.
The evening was the first of the Nuku St Night Prayers, hosted by Ben Pringle of Strathmore Community Church. People came from Strathmore and from across Wellington’s eastern suburbs, and the gatherings will continue each Sunday ahead of 21 October, the deadline for the site’s proposed sale.
In 2023, Kāinga Ora announced plans to redevelop two large sites in Strathmore, on Ngatiapa Street and Nuku Street, and build more than 80 homes. Those plans have since been significantly reduced. The Nuku Street site is now slated for sale, and 25% fewer homes are proposed for Ngatiapa Street.
As conversations continue about the future of both sites, Strathmore Community Church has partnered with Strathmore Housing Action.
“Together, we felt it was timely and appropriate for the church to respond in a prophetic, prayerful and peaceful way,” says Ben.
Strathmore has had public housing for many years, and Kāinga Ora homes line many of its streets.
“We believe public land should remain available for public homes, and we recognise the real need for more public housing in Strathmore and across Wellington,” says Lizzie Pringle.
“With more than 600 households on the register across Wellington, it makes sense to us that the Nuku Street site should remain public housing land.”
Strathmore Community Action has penned an open letter to Kainga Ora CE Tracy Taylor with support from Wellington based social service agencies and church groups. View the letter and support the campaign by visiting their Facebook page here or look for Strathmore Housing Action.
Strathmore Community Church is part of the Peninsula Parish. The congregation meets fortnightly at the Strathmore Community Centre, with small groups gathering on the alternate weeks. Lizzie and Ben lead the church and have been part of the Strathmore community for the past six years.
Among the prayers offered on the site were:
Loving God, we pray for justice for this place. We pray for the 600 households who are on the housing register in Wellington, waiting for a place to call home. We pray for the miracle of this land being used for homes for those who most need them.
We pray for those who are tired, lonely, hungry, sick and abandoned. We pray for your prophetic imagination for how this site could be transformed into a place that offers freedom, wholeness and hope.
We pray for healing over this whenua. Where there has been pain, suffering and darkness, we pray for renewal.
Jesus, we pray for community to be re-made here: for this to be a safe place, a joyous place, a place of refuge.
We pray for those who hold power and are charged with making important decisions about public housing. Give them wisdom, courage, and compassion in their decision-making.
We pray for the people who will one day call this site on Nuku Street their home. May they find belonging and connection in this place.
Lord, hear our prayers. Āmine.
Nuku St Night Prayers continue this Sunday 18 October, and everyone is welcome. For more information about Strathmore Community Church, visit strathmorecommunitychurch.co.nz.
