CNA Member Spotlight: Get to Know COLAB

Community Networks • March 16, 2023

Each month, we like to take the opportunity to put the spotlight on just one of our incredible member organisations – to take a deeper look at their missions, mahi, and impact they’re making in their communities. Today we’re spotlighting COLAB, the network working collaboratively to achieve a sustainable thriving, community in Te Puke. 

Who is COLAB and what do they do? 


COLAB was established late in 2017 to better enable its members to work collectively to support Te Puke. Te Puke is a town located 18 kilometres southeast of Tauranga in the Western Bay of Plenty of Aotearoa. The people of Te Puke get plenty of vitamin C, because the town is the hub of the kiwifruit growing industry! 


COLAB works with various charities and for purpose organisations to: 

  • Connect and network to make folks aware of all the resources that are available in their community. 
  • Collaborate and work together to achieve better outcomes for their community. 
  • Create initiatives to build a stronger community. 
  • Communicate for the community in a position of advocacy, particularly for those that are not heard. 


COLAB Initiatives: 

The key areas that COLAB focus on are: 



Housing:  

  • Establishment of the Te Puke Housing solutions and brokerage service 
  • Te Puke / Maketu based housing assessment and strategy 
  • Housing related workshops and educative programmes 


Community connection and cohesion: 

  • Supporting training and development opportunities for the people of Te Puke, such as Te Reo Māori classes, Women’s computer literacy courses and sustainability workshops. 
  • Supporting community led celebrations such as World Fest, Christmas in the Park and Matariki. 


Responding to local trends and opportunities:  

  • Community wellbeing and resilience projects 
  • Food security programme - supporting a range of Kai Security and sovernity projects across the community 
  • Youth development projects 
  • Local volunteering solutions 


Upcoming Events Supported by COLAB: 


Wilde Weeds Workshop in Conjunction with Neighbours Aotearoa – Saturday 18th March 

Linda-Mary Barrat teaches the community about the wonder of weeds, including how to identify and use common garden weeds both medicinally and as a food sources. 

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/730734225304156/?ref=newsfeed  


Neighbours Month – March 

An initiative to encourage whānau to meet up with their neighbours and enjoy morning tea, a potluck or a game of footy in the park. 

Event info: https://neighboursaotearoa.nz/register-your-idea?fbclid=IwAR2jnuy1u0jEdkj4cBOs4Ew5Fw1Cvq6pwQhTU-OyI5h9HIbzel_6coPqxdg  


Skate Fest – Saturday 18th March 

An epic Skate Fest hosted by Drop Deep Skateboarding. Held at Jubilee Park, Te Puke. 

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/168801082597572/?ref=newsfeed  

 

A huge shoutout to COLAB for all the awesome mahi they are supporting in their community. 

Want to learn more? Head over to www.colabcommunity.nz to see more marvellous mahi. 


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