You’ve probably heard by now that our three-month Community Shuttle Trial will launch on Wednesday, September 28.

Wānaka is a great place to live, but life here isn't always easy. It's a fine balance to pay for power, petrol, kai, and rent… all it takes is an unexpected medical, car, or school cost to make life unaffordable. That’s when a food parcel can take the pressure off living costs for a while. Food parcels are available to anyone locally in need of a little extra help to make ends meet.

This month, we’re reminding our community about Community Networks/LINK food parcels, which can help take the pressure off day-to-day living costs for a while.

Resilience is the ability to prepare for, withstand, and recover from a crisis or disruption – so a resilient food system is one that ensures food security - a sufficient supply of acceptable and accessible food for everyone who requires it, under any circumstances. This month, we’re sharing tips on building food resilience - both at home (read our last blog here) and in your community - by shopping local, growing and sharing produce.

This month, along with our Food Security Network colleagues, we have also thrown together a few tips on how you can build food resilience - both at home and in your community - by shopping local, growing and sharing produce.

Join the conversation at the next Community Networks/LINK Connection Café, ‘What’s happening for migrants in the Upper Clutha?’ on May 30th at 5:00pm at the Wānaka Community Hub. We’ll discuss the support services available in the Upper Clutha (financial, mental health, employment information) and the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Welcoming Communities initiative. 

We know that parenting can be a real challenge, especially in our community where many are without family support. If you’re a new parent or a parent of young children, there are many ways to get a little extra support. Just a few of the organisations available locally are highlighted here.

The Community Networks/LINK Family Support Programme is a voluntary service offering free support to parents of pre-school age children in Wanaka and the Upper Clutha.

If you are a keen gardener, looking to try something new, be sure to pop down to the Wānaka Recreation Centre this week to join one of these family-friendly community garden drop-in sessions. Whether it’s seed sowing and swapping, pot painting, bee hotel building or harvesting and composting with Dr Compost, Garden and Gather has something for everyone to earn new skills and make connections.

March 18-27 marks Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2022, an annual event encouraging community building across New Zealand by celebrating the connection that happens across the fence, down the street or over a cuppa.