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Where are they now? 

We often get asked about voluntary groups and organisations that have featured prominently in the TrustPower Community Awards - either at a national or local level.  People ask us - What are they doing now?

Here is your chance to find out! 

If there is a past TrustPower Community Award winner that you would like to hear about let us know, by clicking here.

 

Newcomers Goes National - Thanks to Community Awards

 

In 2002 Ashburton women Evelien Huismans set up the Ashburton Newcomers Network as she felt there was a need in the community for a platform where all new residents could meet, make new friends and integrate in their community.

And Evelien was right – there was a need for such an initiative as within two years, more than 230 people had used the Network’s services.  In 2004 the Ashburton Newcomers Network won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Ashburton Community Awards and as a result represented the region at the TrustPower National Community Awards.

It was at the National Awards that the then Deputy Mayor of Nelson, Gail Collingwood, heard about the Newcomers phenomenon.  She also knew that a recent ‘Settling In Nelson Tasman’ report commissioned by the Family and Community Services, a service of Ministry of Social Development; had found that migrants new to the Nelson Tasman region were finding it hard to make friends.

Back in Nelson Gail spoke to the Nelson Multicultural Council about the Ashburton initiative.  The Nelson Multicultural Council made contact with the Ashburton network who gave them permission to establish a network.  Nelson Newcomers Network (NNN) was launched in June 2006 having been modelled on the Ashburton Network.

Claire Nichols was at that time the coordinator of the Nelson Multicultural Council.

“The beauty of the Ashburton Newcomers Network was that they shared their logo, pamphlets, posters – everything.  So we didn’t have to reinvent the wheel when we went about creating the Nelson network,” says Claire.

NNN is a not-profit organisation and is under the auspices of the Nelson Multicultural Council with support from Family and Community Services ‘Settling In’ project.  Most of NNN’s committee members have at some point been new to the Nelson region so understand the difficulties faced when moving there. NNN has been formed to support anyone new to Nelson; they do not have to be from overseas, if a person is new to Nelson from other parts of New Zealand they are welcome to join. 

And join is exactly what people have done.

“It was just unbelievable how quickly the Nelson Newcomers Network took off.  Out of one newspaper article people just started joining,” says Claire.

As the Settling In project was carried out around the country, Newcomers Networks started to be recommended as a way of assisting migrants new to a region to settle in.  Other people found out about the Newcomers initiative via the internet and contacted the Nelson group to come on board.

Today there are Newcomers Networks in 17 regions around New Zealand.  Claire Nichols is now employed by Settling In, Family and Community Services and part of her role is to coordinate the New Zealand Newcomers Network, which is still growing.

“I have another three networks on the radar,” says Claire.

None of these networks, however, would be successful without volunteers.

“Every activity that happens at a Newcomers Network there is a volunteer running it,” says Claire.

And it’s this huge volunteer commitment and initiative that was recognised way back in 2004, when the Ashburton Newcomers Network won their TrustPower Community Award – and which started the entire Newcomers story.

For more information about the New Zealand Newcomers Network or the Networks running around the country go to www.newcomers.co.nz or contact Claire Nichols on 03 539 0565.

 

 

MISSED LAST MONTH'S ARTICLE?  Here's a recap....

Last month TrustPower celebrated the 10th TrustPower National Community Awards, and we thought it was a fitting occasion to look back over the Supreme Winners from our previous National Awards and see what they are up to now.

 

To read the full article click here...

 

Previous Articles

Simply click on the headline to read past articles from the Where Are They Now page!

2010 Articles

Looking Back Over 10 Years of TrustPower National Community Awards

Volunteer Security Force Continues to Thrive

From country domain to international sporting venue - The Kihikihi Story

2009 Articles

Superkids Continues its Founder's Dream

Oparara Valley Project - A Community Initiative Benefitting a Whole District

Vintage Museum Continues to Delight

Team Xtreme Impact Palmerston North Youth

A New Hub for Nelson's Youth

Young Kiwis Make Waves On World Shakespeare Stage

A Medical Masterpiece - How a little town won the battle for a rural GP

Roxburgh's Multi-Award Winning Volunteers Go National Again

Double Community Award Winner Celebrates 10 Years of Success

2008 Articles

Triumphs and Trials for Wellington's WellTrust

Wonderful things happen behind that Blue Door...

Maungatautari Thriving Once More

Merivale Community Centre - Leaders in Community Development

Never Ending Job for Hospital Friends

Gibbston Community Association Celebrates for Second Time

Wearable Designz - A History of Success

Family Still A Priority for Rotorua Volunteers

2007 Articles

Award Winning Restoration Project Not Over Yet!

Youth Theatre Reaches Another Milestone!

The Lake that Volunteers Built - Lake Hood

Supergrans - Super Successful!


Remarkable Recycling Initiative Takes Off - Thanks to Volunteers!

Ranfurly Revived - Thanks to Volunteers!

Advocates Continue their Fight for our Future

TrustPower Awards Motivate Clutha Women

Malcam Trust Continues to Inspire Otago Youth

Marlborough Stadium - A Stunning Success Story

2006 Articles

Puzzles Provide the Answer in Timaru

Wetland Wonders!

Four years on - Wrinkly Merino's still going strong!

A Community Christmas

Turangi SAR still coming to the rescue

The Genius of GENESIS

A Quarry Transformed

Youth Trust continues to succeed

C.A.C.T.U.S continues to test Westland youth