For nearly 40 years, Temaruata Ruapuna opened her front door to family.

From early 1984, it would open for her eight children when they finished school. Three more generations would follow, stepping through that same doorway in Lavinia Crescent, Mangere, and into a place they called home.

It was filled with countless memories, but still the family embraced an opportunity to move into a new home when the time came for Lavinia Crescent to be transformed under Mangere Development.

Upgraded infrastructure and new warmer, healthier homes are on their way for the neighbourhood, but building them means older homes need to be replaced. At their request, the Ruapuna whānau were invited to watch as their former home was demolished in April.

Sadly, Temaruata was unable to join her family as they gathered for the final time in Lavinia Crescent. She passed away in March, aged 86.

More than 30 of her relatives arrived in her place and to honour the memories they created there together. From Kāinga Ora, whānau were gifted a framed photo – all of them at home together with Temaruata before she moved to a new Kāinga Ora property in Favona last year.

And along with the photo, they also received a small monument – a piece of the same door that opened to welcome a family home for nearly 40 years.