Connected Murihiku

I am currently visiting communities all over the region to share our Connected Murihiku website. Lat week I headed to Te Anau. I was there on a busy day as the team from Te Hau Toka were putting together Matariki Seniors Hampers. They were supported by a team of volunteers who helped put the hampers together and deliver them to seniors in the community. Over 200 bags were delivered and each included a range of things including soup, treats and a letter from a student at the local school. What a treat!

This week I am heading to Gore Library 10-11am on Wednesday and Winton Library 11-12.30 on Thursday. Pop along and say hi and have a walk through the website with us. You can register to attend here or just pop by.

Since October we have been talking to people involved in community organisations right across the region. We are hearing that there are some areas where organisations would love more help, connection and support. These areas include governance training and board upskilling, how to attract and retain volunteers and help with navigating funding. Our website www.connectedmurihiku.co.nz is one of the ways we are trying to support these needs, but we know that there are other actions we can take to provide more impactful support.

By completing this survey you are helping us understand how we might do this in the future. If you have any other comments or would like to meet for a chat please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Project Lead Becs Amundsen becs.amundsen@connectedmurihiku.co.nz

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey and helping us find ways to best support you in the amazing work you do in our communities.

Complete the survey here

Last week I attended the Tiwai Community Forum. It was great to hear the fantastic news that Tiwai has secured a power deal for the next 20 years. This will mean the nearly 800 people employed by Tiwai keep their jobs and the associated work that generates another 1,200 ish jobs are also secure. According to the information presented Tiwai brings over $105 million into the Southland economy through jobs.

The Connected Murihiku Project came out of work done in 2022 when it was thought that Tiwai might be closing at the end of this year. Obviously a lot has changed over that couple of years but the need for a project like ours has not.

We have recently launched our website which is a foundation to build on for the community sector in the region. Over the coming weeks we will be inviting people to look through the website and let us know what they find useful and what we might need to add next. We are also keen to use it as a way to share stories from our community and the amazing work that happens in it. Do get in touch if you would like to know more and you will find a subscribe button at the bottom of the website to subscribe to our regular newsletter. You can visit our website at this link.

Community Trust South is partnering with Great South to deliver a Decarbonisation Workshop Series aimed at for Purpose (not-for-profit) community organisations.

The workshop series is the perfect place to start if your organisation is embarking on its low-emission journey. The workshop series is aimed at equipping your organisation with the knowledge, tools, and resources to support you in your emission-reduction journey. You’ll come away with a carbon baseline for your organisation and a customised emissions reduction plan and clear actions your organisation can take.

CTS is offering the opportunity for up to 7 organisations to participate free of charge in the Pilot Decarbonisation Workshop series. (A value of $1,500 per organisation).

Please note spaces are limited and registrations are on a first-in basis. You can register by clicking here. Registrations close at 5pm on 20 June 2024.

Your Commitment:

• 2 people from your organisation - ideally, people with access to data sources, decision-making authority within your organisation and/or who are leading the way for climate change action.
• Agree to taking part in all three workshops.
• A willingness to explore, learn and to provide feedback.

What’s involved?

• 3 workshops held at the Community Trust South Board Room. Each workshop runs for 4.5 hours (9.00am - 1:30pm) including a 30 minutes lunch break (kai provided).
  
  Workshop 1
  Friday 5th July
• Workshop 2
  Thursday 11th July
• Workshop 3
  Friday 12th July

Click here to register by 20 June 2024. Spaces are limited.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Ngā mihi

Jess Domigan (she/her)

Strategy, Policy and Insights Manager – Community Trust South

P O Box 1646, Invercargill 9840

62 Don Street, Invercargill

+64 3 218 2034 | 0800 500 185

jess.domigan@communitytrustsouth.nz | communitytrustsouth.nz

It's not often I get out to Tuatapere.

Last week, however, I headed out to meet with the local Community Support Worker, Keri, and one of the people on her committee, Ian. The role community workers like Keri play in these small communities is vital and the connections they provide people in the community undeniable. Ian himself, relatively new to the Tuatapere community, told me how an introduction Keri did for him, helped him settle quickly into the community and made it feel like home.

There are five community workers in rural Southland covering Otautau, Riverton, Winton, Lumsden and Tuatapere. They are people who know where to get support and help for those who need it and facilitate some much-needed activities in their communities to help where they can. Most importantly they are the people on the ground who know their communities and do what they can to make a difference.

If you are looking for guidance, inspiration, support and/or understanding about community-led development in Aotearoa then you can't go past Inspiring Communities. You can find their website here.

It is from here that we have adopted the community-led development principles for the Connected Murihiku project. They also have some useful reports and information about CLD including this recent one which I have enjoyed reading - Powering Up Communities to Deliver Local Wellbeing. You can read the report here. It is full of case studies of how communities and local government have worked together in different ways and on different types of projects. The community-led approach can be messy but also exciting and the outcomes can be better than anyone might have expected.

March is one of the busiest months of the year especially for opportunities to connect across the community. I really enjoy getting out and about to all the events happening in March.

I started the month getting to visit Murihiku Marae for the first time since it has been renovated as part of the opening for Heritage Month. A whole calendar of heritage events across the region is available here Heritage Month.

I also popped along to the A&P Show at Donovan Park in Invercargill.

Last weekend I attended the Bridging Culture workshop led by Inclusive Aotearoa Collective.

This weekend I am excited to head to the Multicultural Food Festival at the Stadium. And the following weekend will head to the Harvest Festival in Aparima.

A great place to find out what's happening across the region is the Great South events page. It is also a good place to list your event or activity - no matter how big or small. If you don't already use this tool, check it out here - Great South Events Page. Have a great time exploring the events and the region this March.

What you will find in this update:

Key themes we are hearing and an opportunity to give us feedback on these

• Links to the Connected Murihiku website and information about Volunteering
• Social Media Volunteer request
• Information about the in person hui on 29 April and opportunity to register
• Welcoming Kit request – ICC
• Information about the opportunity to become a mentor
• Update from Community Network Trust in Gore

It has been great connecting with people from a range from organisations around the region. I am excited to be having such rich conversations about what’s happening in our region, how organisations are doing and what areas the Connected Murihiku project might be able to provide support.

A highlight was attending the Southern Field Days at Waimumu. I had never been before and it was an awesome experience. It has also been fun and interesting to attend the Youth Network and Migrant Network hui. So many good things happening across the region! And while I have been able to meet with lots of people so far, there are still so many more or you I plan to catch up with.

There are a lot of strengths already evident in the community and social sector. There are strong networks already working hard to connect organisations within parts of the sector, as well as share information and find ways to collaborate.

There are also some common themes in the areas organisations could do with some support:

Finding ways to raise the profile of your work

• Being time poor
• Working with the changing face of volunteers and volunteering
• Support governance knowledge
• Health and Safety
• Finding, sharing, using quality data and research
• Improving organisations cultural competency
• The challenges of Murihiku Southland as a region – its location, isolation, perception, conservatism
• Concern about the uncertainty of times ahead – change in general, but also economically, politically (local, central and global) and the environment.

Give us feedback:

Are these things which you and your organization would find useful to have support with? Is there anything missing? We have this short form which you can use to indicate which if any of these are needs for you and if you have any additional thoughts. https://forms.office.com/r/iEefHmDhCM

We have an opportunity to pilot a Health and Safety training opportunity so if this is something your organization needs please indicate that on the form.

We would love to hear from you if you have or use any tools to support your work in these areas which can be shared with the wider sector.

Connected Murihiku Website & Volunteering

While we are developing our own website we are using Let’s Talk to share what’s happening for Connected Murihiku. You can find the page here: www.connectedmurihiku.co.nz In time this will become our website link.

This month we have focused on volunteering and included the link to the Volunteering NZ surveys. They do the State of Volunteering report every couple of years based on the results f these surveys which are useful and insightful. Having an increase in Murihiku feedback into the surveys would be good. The survey link is https://www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/vnz-surveys-2024/

Volunteer South – we have an opportunity to meet with Volunteer South and discuss the volunteer needs in Murihiku and what role Volunteer South could play in Murihiku. If you would like to be part of this conversation please indicate on the form https://forms.office.com/r/iEefHmDhCM

You can find out more about Volunteer South here Volunteer South | Volunteer South

Social Media

Speaking of volunteering, we are hearing that organisations are keen to connect with the community through social media but are not always sure how. If you know anyone interested in supporting organisations to set up social media and provide some basic help in running it then email me at becs@connectedmurihiku.co.nz

In person Hui 29 April

Part of our programme is to host 2 in person hui per year. The first one of these will be on Monday 29 April (note date change from previous email). It is being held at Murihiku Marae on Tramway Road. The focus for the hui is networking and connecting and also to grow people’s understanding about Te Tiriti and Te Ao Maori and to empower people to grow their organisations capability in honouring Te Tiriti. To register your interest in attending this hui please complete the form: https://forms.office.com/r/eR1AMRa0Gu

Welcoming Kit – Invercargill

Some of you will have been involved in conversations with Danielle Carson at Invercargill City Council about the development of a Welcoming Kit. Some information about this is below and Danielle would love to hear from you if you are keen to contribute.

Here's a closer look at the kaupapa we're focusing on, and the type of information we're seeking:

• Inclusivity and Diversity: Resources on cultural sensitivity training and events that celebrate our diverse communities.
• Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency: Opportunities for employment support and educational growth.
• Social Cohesion and Integration: Details on reo exchange programs and workshops to foster integration.
• Community Building and Collaboration: Information on community centers, meeting spaces, and volunteering.
• Equity and Access: Services that ensure accessibility and provide affordable housing solutions.
• Practical Information for Daily Living: From places of worship, kai sources, childcare, mahi opportunities, to legal aid, and beyond.

Your contributions will help make the Welcoming Kit a guiding light for newcomers, enriching their journey into our community.

Please share your insights or get in touch by Monday, March 04, 2024, and feel free to reach out if you have any pātai or wish to discuss further. Email Danielle Danielle.Carson@icc.govt.nz

Become a mentor

In 2023 Greenlight Innovation in conjunction with the Mentoring Foundation of NZ ran a highly successful mentoring program for those in the not for profit sector in Murihiku. We are aiming to run another such program starting mid 2024.

If you have leadership experience and would like to help others with their leadership development, then you might make a great mentor in our programme. Becoming a mentor in this programme is a powerful way to positively impact your community by supporting a leader to achieve their aspirations. build leadership skills, navigate challenges, and achieve their full potential. So why not become a catalyst for growth and transformation by becoming a leadership mentor and passing on your invaluable experience to those who seek it.

Contact Greenlight Innovations for more information.

Leon Hartnett, – greenlightinn@gmail.com. m: 021 0540 310

Community Networking Trust, Gore

Each month the Community Networking Trust in Gore publishes a column in the Ensign. Here is the February column for your information and inspiration.

Nau mai, haere mai and let’s go 2024! Our team is back on deck after a hard-earned break over the summer holidays and already well in to the mahi planned for this year. Local events are a-plenty in the next few weeks, including the popular Moonshine Trail at lovely Dolamore Park, celebrate our awa at On The Fly Mataura River Festival, Enchanting Baroque Voices classical music concert at St Andrews Church, Burning Horse Festival at the beautiful Montana Flat, Tulloch Takeover in Mataura during Parks Week, Cavalcade 2024 in Waikaia, and the annual Children’s Day free community event; so many activities!

Why not cycle the Pump Track in Mataura, stroll the walking tracks at Hamilton Park, visit the Eastern Southland Arts Gallery, check out the Hokonui Moonshine Museum, visit the Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre at Mandeville, burn off some energy at the epic playgrounds dotted around town, wander through the sweeping gardens of Maple Glen at Wyndham, or relax with a movie and popcorn at the SBS St James Theatre.

All these wonderful things belong to our community; the place where you live, the place you should be proud to be a part of. There is so much hard work put in to bringing these events to the Eastern Southland community. That hard work is done by passionate, dedicated people and organisations and groups who love where they live, who feel connected to their community. Research shows that community connections, reaching across place, interests, and identity, are largely untapped assets that can promote wellbeing and address social exclusion (David Morris FRSA and Alison Gilchrist, 2011). Have you noticed a new parent at the school gates this term? A new neighbour? Perhaps there is a new employee in your team? What better ice-breaker than to ask if they have visited the Public Gardens yet, or know about the mountain biking trails at Dolamore Park. Introduce yourself, and your community – be proud of what we have access to, be proud of our place, the interesting things available, and the identity of Eastern Southland.

Watch this space for 2024!

Final word:

Connected Murihiku is keen to share what’s happening in our community. If you have anything you need support with or would love to get the word out about, please send it through. This e-newsletter is being sent out monthly to a growing database of people in organisations across the region. You are welcome to share it to your networks and encourage people to get in touch to receive the newsletter. And don’t forget to check our website www.connectedmurihiku.co.nz which we will be using to share information, ideas and get feedback.

Ngā mihi nui

Becs Amundsen, Project Lead, Connected Murihiku

Volunteering NZ does regular surveying of the organisations who work with volunteers and volunteers themselves. It would be great to increase the voice of Murihiku Southland in the 2024 results. So here is the link to their 2024 surveys. Please fill them out and share if you can. https://www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/vnz-surveys-2024/

We are also keen to hear what organisations would find useful in working with volunteers - and we would love to hear what really works. Jump over to the Forum section on this page to add your thoughts.