The church leader who helped drive a $10 million affordable housing project is the Te Awamutu News person of the year for 2024, and speaks to senior writer Chris Gardner.
Zion Church pastor Phil Strong
Zion People church pastor Phil Strong possesses boundless energy where his community is concerned.
His response to the housing crisis was a prime example of that community mindedness.
Under Strong’s leadership, Zion People Church partnered with Habitat for Humanity central region chief executive Nic Greene in 2022 to lead a $10 million affordable housing project on the church’s former Racecourse Road site. Discussions began five years earlier.
Waipā District Council granted resource consent last year for 40 affordable homes on the one-hectare site and there was strong community interest in the development.
A change in Government and a softening housing market caused uncertainty for the project’s timeline this year and Habitat for Humanity’s central region sought funding. The Government had talked about supercharging the sector, enabling better outcomes for communities.
But Strong and Green remain positive the project will soon reap rewards for those in need.
“We are waiting for progress on housing policy,” Strong said. “It’s pleasing to see interest rates coming down.”
An artist’s impression of the affordable housing development scheme planned for Racecourse Rd.
Strong, fresh from the three-day free pop-up Christmas Tree Awamutu festival at the church’s new Churchill Street building, greeted news of being named Te Awamutu News Person of the Year for 2024 with a humble laugh.
“Seriously? I hope I get a party hat, I’m surprised,” he quipped before acknowledging the “whole bunch of people” he works alongside in the community.
Another community project, Kihikihi’s Alpha Community Centre, benefitted from the project, getting carpet, doors, kitchen units and toilet pans from the church’s former Racecourse Road property after a Koha changed hands.
A report from Purpose Fill director Paul Gerritsen, whose company cleared the church site in March, showed 365 tonnes of building materials were recycled from the two buildings, leaving 58 tonnes of general waste.
The building the church plans to use for its children’s church programme..
As a member of the Waipā Christian School board of proprietors, Strong is also involved in finding space to add secondary schooling for pupils.
The special Christian character school, in Chapel Drive, Te Awamutu, has been operating for more than 30 years and provides primary education for up to 104 Year 1 to 8 students. It has applied to the ministry to lift the roll to 154 pupils and add secondary schooling for Years 9 and 10.
“We are progressing that slowly,” Strong said. “We have got a potential location and had conversations with a few people.”
He expected to be able to make an announcement in February.
Shane Walsh
Te Awamutu Business Chamber chief executive Shane Walsh turned to Strong, and his team at Zion, to take on this year’s wooden Christmas Tree painting initiative supported by 18 schools in and around the town.
“This year we have managed to get so many from different groups in the community,” he said.
He also oversaw Tree Awamutu at church from Wednesday to Friday last week as businesses, community groups and families constructed trees that represents who they are and what Christmas means to them.
“For us, it’s really about being a community hub, a positive, hope-bringing centre,” Strong said.
“It puts a bit of love and life back into the community.”
“Our message is always we want to love people with no strings attached,” Strong said. “We hope one day they will ask why.”
Strong is also a regular contributor to our Faith in Waipā series.
Te Awamutu Person of the Year for 2024 Phil Strong at the Tree Awamutu pop-up Christmas Tree festival.
