NewcomersNetworkNewsletter

Covering Nelson, Richmond, Motueka and wider Tasman Region December 2012-January 2013 • Issue 71

Greetings!Hello and welcome everybody! Christmas has come around once more closely followed by New Year celebrations. It is a season of great rejoicing. NNN sends you, one and all, its kindest thoughts and best wishes for the festive season.

Before saying goodbye to 2012, I would like to reflect on the highlights of the year and welcome 2013 with great optimism (see article below).

In this issue Mary Needham has kindly shared her story. We always love to read such successful stories and would like to publish at least one in each issue of our newsletter. If any of you have any interesting stories to share, we would love to include them in our upcoming issues.

If anyone is interested in organising any activities, please call me on 03 5390565 or email me at nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

once again I wish you all very enjoyable summer holidays, a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year with your near and dear ones.

We are here to help you extend your social connections so come along and participate in any activity that interests you. Share your strengths - your hobby, a favourite recipe, your story of being new to Nelson. It would be so appreciated.

Good luckwith settling in!

Chandra DahalCoordinator

Nelson Newcomers NetworkTel (03) 539 0565

email: nelson@newcomers.co.nzWebsite: www.newcomers.co.nz

Newcomers Networkis a Nelson Multicultural

Council projectwww.nelsonmulticultural.co.nz

Kia ora!

Highlights of the Year!!

As we wind up the year 2012, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the volunteers, the social committee members, the Multicultural Council and Settling In for their sincere efforts in making all the network’s activities such a great success.

Coffee mornings in Nelson and Richmond have gained popularity throughout the year and will remain as regular activities in the coming year. I am pleased to tell you that our Pub Evenings and Drop in Centre are gaining momen-tum with a good flow of newcomers.

The Newcomers Walking Group is a new activity Nor-ma has volunteered to organise. It is a fortnightly activ-ity which has captured the heart of many friends who are new to Nelson. Thanks to Rinske, Mike, Vanessa and Norma for your unconditional support, time and energy in hosting this wonderful activity.

The potluck dinners, mid-winter dinner, indoor games evening, Newcomers Zumba session, bike ride and pottery evening are our one off activities which have always been Turn to Page 2

Mid winter dinner

Pottery evening

Newcomers Network Newsletter • December 2012-January 2013 • Issue 71

Highlights From Page 1

hugely popular. Thanks to Evey, Ali, Angela and Richard for eve-rything, including volunteering to organise these events.

The Newcomers stall on Race Unity Day was a great publicity boost for NNN amongst Nelson’s

NNN walking group

Potluck at Fairfield

NNN stall on Race Unity day

The Walking GroupThe final walk for 2012 will be on Tuesday 11th Dec (Marina Walk 1- 1/2 hours), meeting at Millers Acre at 10am.

The first walk in the new year will take place on Tues 15th Jan (Wil-low Walk, 60 minutes). Meet 10am at Brook St playground, just beside the local dairy, north of the intersection with Seymour Ave.

Tues 29th Jan (Orphanage Creek, 60 minutes). Meet 10am at the entrance to Saxton Field on Saxton Rd East

Message to all NNN membersAs many of us will be away for Christmas and the New Year holidays, all NNN activities will be on hold for around two weeks. Here is an overview of our activities over the holiday period.

Last dates for 2012 Resuming dates in the new year

Coffee morning 19th December 9th January, 2013

Pub Evening 12th December 9th January, 2013

Richmond Coffee 20th December 17th January, 2013

Walking Group 11th Dec, 2012 15th January, 2013

Drop in Centre 1st December 2nd February, 2013

various ethnic communities. The NNN Social committee was

always there behind the scenes planning and organising these ac-tivities. Without the amazing com-mitment of the committee in shar-ing their expertise and attending regular planning sessions, our net-work could not have come to this stage.

I am personally grateful to Ritch-ie, Lois and Trish for helping me to produce the monthly newsletter particularly in layout and editing.

I thank each one of you for your tremendous efforts and I appreci-ate your contribution to our suc-cess this year and looking forward to work with you next year as well. Happy 2013 to you all.

End of yearPub evening

Diwali Potluck Dinner

December 2012-January 2013 • Issue 71 • Newcomers Network Newsletter

As you all know, our Pub Evenings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. The final one for the year is scheduled for Wednesday, 12th December and the Nelson Newcomers Network is glad to invite all interested friends of NNN to come along and enjoy this end of year get together.

At this special event NNN would like to gratefully acknowledge all the volunteers and facilitators of NNN”s activities for their tremendous efforts, time and contribution to the network.

Come along with a gift to exchange (Secret Santa) for about $5 or less. Please RSVP by December 7 as there are limited seats available. For those who do not drink alcohol there is tea and coffee available at the Prince Albert.

Time: 6.30 pm- 8.30 pm, Wednesday, 12th DecemberVenue: Prince Albert Hotel, 113 Nile Street, Nelson.

The Diwali Potluck Dinner, jointly organised by Newcomers Network and the Multicultural Council, at-tracted many people from around the world. There were people from Ireland, France, Brazil, Nepal, Bhu-tan, India, Singapore, Wales, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Aus-tralia and the Philippines, making the event very colourful and mul-ticultural! There were big smiles on everyone’s faces, getting to know each other, rocking with the music and dancing of all kinds.

Delicious food from all the ethnic groups attending the evening was laid out on the table to share with other new

friends. The sharing of food was followed by cultural en-tertainment. It was indeed a good opportunity for every-one to meet new people and learn more about Bhutanese Nepali culture, particularly the festival, Diwali. The cul-tural dance ‘Deusi and Bhaili’ and the ethnic food ‘Sel roti’ were the highlight of the evening.

It was, in fact, Evey and the NNN committee’s idea to choose the theme ‘Diwali Potluck Dinner’ to highlight the festival of Diwali and to let the wider community know how it is celebrated. Thanks to NNN committee members, Evey and Govinda, for your initiative, time and effort in making the evening such a great success.

•Administer the Newcomers Facebook page •Host newcomers activities—either one off or on-

going •Promote the network and its activities

Please email Chandra Dahal at nelson@newcomers.co.nz

if you are interested.

Volunteers wanted to:

Do you have a hobby? A pastime? A special interest? NNN is looking for members who have a hobby they love doing and would like to share with other newcomers, for example, painting, kayaking, gardening, reading or dance. If you are interested in sharing your hobby with your new friends, please contact Chandra ph: 539 0565, nelson@newcomers.co.nz

Share your hobby

Newcomers Network Newsletter • December 2012-January 2013 • Issue 71

Calendar of the Events

NelsonTuesday • Newcomers walking group: Tuesday, 11th

December, 2012 and 15th January, 2013. Contact: Norma Laing normal@paradise.net.nz Ph 545 0720 or 027 652 5274 for other details.

Wednesday• Newcomers End of year Pub Evening: 12th

December @ 6.30 pm at the Prince Albert Hotel, 113 Nile Street, Nelson

• Nelson Coffee Morning: 10.30 - 11.30 am Deville Café, New St. Nelson. Contact Chandra ph 539 0565, nelson@newcomers.co.nz

Saturday• Newcomers Drop In Centre, Saturday,1st

December, 10am - 12 pm, Multicultural Centre, 2 Bridge Street, Nelson. Contact: Chandra ph 539 0565, nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

RichmondThursday• Richmond Coffee Mornings 20th December,

2012 and 17th January, 2013 at 10 am at Alchemy Café, Bateup Road. For information, contact Mike or Milli Greenavalt at 544 7906.

MotuekaWednesdays• Coffee at Muses Café 10.30 am High Street

Motueka. Come and have a coffee and meet other newcomers. Contact Brian 03 528 4580 brianrsavile@xtra.co.nz

Fridays• Drop In Centre, Community House Deck

Reserve, Wallace St. Motueka. Open every Friday morning 10am-12pm to welcome ‘Newcomers” to the district and provide an opportunity to meet others over a cup of coffee. Contact Heather 03 528 4332 mckenzies@watchdog.net.nz

Activities Coordinators

Nelson• Evey 539 0030 info@nelsonmulticultural.co.nz• Claire 547 251, lombokchilli@ts.co.nz• Richard Wilkins 03 545 0055• Ali Morton 539 4848, alisonj.morton@gmail.com• Norma Laing 545 0720 or 027 652 5274

normal@paradise.net.nz• Vanessa Page nesspage2000@yahoo.com

Richmond• Mike and Milli Greenawalt 544 7906

Motueka• Brian 03 528 4580 brianrsavile@xtra.co.nz• Heather 03 528 4332 mckenzies@watchdog.net.nz

Do you: •Wish to be removed from this email list? •Have an item of interest for the next update

or newsletter? Let me know!

Sharing SuccessfulStories

I was born and raised in Zim-babwe, by Irish parents. Two of my three remaining brothers live in America. Both our par-ents are deceased.

In 1995 I arrived in Auck-land, relieved to be away from the troubles of Africa, and the aftermath of the bushwar in Zimbabwe which traumatised my teenagehood. My hope was to provide a safe and healthy place for our two young children to grow up in.

This was a huge adventure because we had not been to New Zealand before, did not know anyone, nor did we have work. We had been granted Residency on the grounds of my Registered Nursing qualifi-cations.

We appreciated the many oppor-tunities we found here as a family. The two children thrived, and I had the luxury of taking up my nursing career full time, branching out into a field of treatment which is not well known in New Zealand, but which is most effective for people who suffer from pain. This is Therapeutic Laser-ing.

Masterton was our town of choice, and I lived there for 17 years until June of this year when I left to settle here in lovely Nelson with my partner.

I have lived in 37 different homes on 3 different continents. Moving and orientating to new places is what I am quite used to. I thrive on meeting new people, and feel delighted to be able to offer my unique treatment skills to others.

Mary Needham, originally from Zimbabwe, came to New Zealand in 1995 to find a safer place for her two children to grow up. She is a Therapeutic Nurse and loves to offer her unique treatment skills to others. Mary is used to moving and orientating to new places and likes meeting new people. Read her successful story about being new to the country, her childhood story and her journey from Zimbabwe to Nelson.

I arrived in Nelson in June, 2012. In my attempt to find ways to net-work in this lovely community, I came across a notification for all Nelson Newcomers to gather at the Deville Cafe each Wednesday morning, to meet and greet.

I went along, and found to my joy such a cheerful and helpful bunch of people, some of whom were not that “new to Nelson” any more, but who loved interacting and helping each person as they arrived.

My work and social life do take me out of the region from time to time, but when I am here I look forward be-ing part of the Wednesday morning group. It really is so lovely catching up with friends, having a laugh and exchanging valuable information. I appreciate the opportunity to do this.

—Mary Needham

As you know, there is a cost involved in running Nelson Newcomers Network. We welcome all donations – whether $5 or $500. We appreciate and value your contribution. If you wish to make a donation, our account number is 031355 0590251 03 at sBs Bank, Nelson