Wellington Anglicans have been holding "Nuku St Night Prayers" hosted by Ben Pringle of Strathmore Community Church to protest the Coalition Government's proposed sell-off of taxpayer-funded Kainga Ora housing land to private developers.

People attended the Nuku Night Prayers from Strathmore and across Wellington’s eastern suburbs last week, and gatherings will continue each Sunday ahead of 21 October, in an effort to halt the sale before its deadline, which is just weeks before the General Election. Protestors told RNZ there's little point in selling off the land so close to an election when no one knows who the next Minister of Housing will be.

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 to call for the "for sale" site's retention as part of the earlier 80-unit housing plan.

“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,” said 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 including the Wellington City Mission and partner church groups.

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 remade 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.

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The letter calling for Kainga Ora to retain the "For sale" site and the wider campaign are on the Strathmore Housing Action Facebook page here.

Nuku St Night Prayers continue this Sunday 18 October, and anyone who cares about the housing crisis is welcome to turn up and support.

For more information about Strathmore Community Church, visit strathmorecommunitychurch.co.nz.