Community whanau resumes monthly meetings

February 7th, 2010
By David Armstrong

Volunteer community workers resumed their information sharing gatherings last Wednesday with the first Community Whanau meeting for 2010, where the idea of a free community Christmas dinner was put forward.

These lunchtime get-togethers are hosted by the Community House in Decks Reserve. They're open to all people who are interesting in knowing what's going on in Motueka and networking with other community minded groups, and are held on the first Wednesday of each month.

Seventeen people attended last week, some as interested individuals but most representing groups ranging from Family Works, the Community Law Service and Abel Tasman Education Trust through to Volunteer Nelson, Nelson Tasman Settlement Support and Lower Moutere-based Whenua Iti Outdoors.

Each person told the group what they did and what plans their organisation had for the next few months. This enabled others to offer suggestions on co-operative help.

One item which generated much enthusiastic discussion and support was the idea by Nelson Community Law Service representative Tui Hammond to hold a free Motueka Christmas dinner this year.

Tui has been involved in the Nelson Christmas dinner event for the last 6 years. "Christmas is a time of joy, and I've had a dream of being able to set up a community Christmas dinner now in Motueka where people can think of others and help in all sorts of ways."

The Te Awhina Marae was suggested as one appropriate venue, and Tui invited anyone interested in developing the idea further to approach him. He provides free legal advice at the Community House on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Another new innovation introduced to the meeting was the imminent launch of a community website to provide free exchange of information and discussion about things happening in and around Motueka.

View meeting minutes here » (PDF)

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