3 minute read
New Zealand
NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT
NEW ZEALAND
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What’s New with Neighbourhood Support NZ
The latest news and highlights from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand (NSNZ) National Office, Members and Supporters.
Encouraging Neighbourhoods to Work Together in Preparation for Omicron
With the possibility of many people self-isolating, Neighbourhood Support New Zealand (NSNZ) wanted to highlight a few key things that kiwis could do during this time to make sure they were best prepared at home and in their neighbourhoods, such as updating their home’s emergency kit, establishing a ‘check-in buddy’, and growing networks within their communities so that they are never short on someone to help them with errands outside the home, such as picking up groceries or walking the dog. Chief Executive, Tess Casey, explained that with the possibility of people’s usual support networks being unavailable due to self-isolation that a Neighbourhood Support group could come in handy and implored communities to think about establishing one for their neighbourhood if they have not done so already. NSNZ have collated an extensive range of resources to help communities and individuals in their preparations and planning, such as our ‘Kia Ora Neighbour’ flyer – a simple flyer that is able to be printed off, filled in, and popped into you neighbours’ letterboxes as a friendly reminder that you are available to help as needed. Neighbourhood Support NZ’s Kia Ora Neighbour flyer
Neighbourhood Support Mangere volunteer, Toni Helleur, nominated as an Awesome Aucklander
Toni not only volunteers with Neighbourhood Support Mangere, but she also runs her own charity, I Am Mangere, where she works every day to make a difference to the lives of the people in her community by helping connect them to what they need to live their best possible lives. During the extended Auckland lockdown, she noticed the toll it was taking on people and started a new initiative, Sparkle Joy, dedicated to delivering a little bit of ‘joy’ into people’s lives each Friday. They received thanks from hundreds of people who said these small gestures made a big difference to them in a truly tough time.
Newly appointed Neighbourhood Support Coordinator, Kelly Kerr
Kelly Kerr, who moved back to Northland last year, has recently been hired by the Kumarani Productions Trust to set up a Neighbourhood Support network to foster community support and connection. Kelly has an extensive background working for the community, including mental health roles, roles teaching numeracy and literacy, and roles in the prison system.
Eastern Southland Neighbourhood Support launch event
Eastern Southland Neighbourhood Support launched in mid-December. The event was held at the Calvin Community Church in Gore, and speakers included Otago Neighbourhood Support Coordinator, Joy Davis; Neighbourhood Support National Board Member, Lois ScottMuir of Dunedin; and Gore Deputy Mayor, Bronwyn Reid.
Omanu Neighbourhood Support Coordinator, Linda Thompson
BOP Neighbourhood Support says “Be a buddy”
Omanu Neighbourhood Support Coordinator, Linda Thompson, was in the Bay’s Sunlive news with her message to ‘be a buddy’. Linda had some helpful tips for caring for each other, explaining that creating your own buddy system to help people near you prepare for a community outbreak of Omicron is made easier by joining a local Neighbourhood Support group.
Demand for multicultural services increases in Timaru
Neighbourhood Support have been working in partnership with Multicultural Aoraki on an Initiative called Aoraki Connect. Many of the families the initiative work with are migrants who do not have a support network to help them with things such as moving house, or looking after older children when the mother was in hospital giving birth to a new baby. The initiative is set to help migrants participate in the community and navigate New Zealand systems such as Work and Income, Inland Revenue, court, social services, and health needs.
