Community news and notices

Volunteer Awards 2022

"The winners of the Volunteer Awards 2022 were announced at the ceremony on Saturday, 24th of September (see attached pictures). About 70 people attended the ceremony, and incredibly inspiring stories about each finalist were shared.

Despite difficulties people are facing, the commitment to supporting community is strong, with volunteers from all walks of life continuing to put their hands up to support causes they are passionate about and the awards celebrated and shined a light on that passion and commitment to community and those around them.

The Volunteer Awards 2022 was sponsored by SBS Bank, Otago Community Trust, and run by Volunteer South.

For more details about finalists, please visit The Volunteers Awards 2022 website. 

Aotearoa New Zealand Trans and Non-Binary Health Survey

Counting Ourselves is an anonymous online survey about the health of trans and non-binary people living in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was designed by trans and non-binary people to collect information that they hope will improve the lives of people in our communities.

Counting Ourselves is a Kaupapa Māori informed research study.

You can take part in this survey if you are: Trans or non-binary and aged 14 years or older and currently living in Aotearoa New Zealand

It does not matter whether you use the specific terms ‘trans’ or ‘non-binary’ to describe yourself, whether you have transitioned or even plan to transition. This survey is for anyone whose gender is different from their sex assigned at birth, whatever term you use to describe your identity.

The more people who answer the survey, the stronger the evidence they will have to advocate for change.

To take part in the survey please go to the Counting Ourselves website.

Pavers available for ‘Totally Georgeous’ re-use

Dunedin community groups will soon have an opportunity to put old main street pavers to ‘Totally Georgeous’ re-use.

As part of the Dunedin City Council’s Retail Quarter upgrade underway, all the current pavers in George Street will be progressively replaced over the next two years.

DCC Central City Plan Project Director Dr Glen Hazelton says, “Rather than disposing of the old pavers, we’re keen to see as many of them as possible re-used, particularly in ways that will benefit the community and/or have positive environmental outcomes.”

The DCC has set up a page on its website at www.dunedin.govt.nz/totally-georgeous-pavers, where groups and residents can tell us how they could re-use the pavers.

“We’ll evaluate the submissions and prioritise those which have positive community and/or environmental impacts. This may include community groups re-selling the pavers as a fundraiser,” Dr Hazelton says.

Successful recipients must also be willing to pick up at least one pallet worth of pavers.

Most of the existing pavers on George Street were installed nearly 30 years ago and have reached the end of their useful life. It’s also inevitable that many (around half) of the pavers will be broken in the process of removing them.

“Nevertheless, the old pavers could be re-used in community projects including walkways, flower planters, water features, garden art and more,” Dr Hazelton says.

In total, there’s about 2300m2 of paving, or some 115,000 individual pavers on George Street to be replaced.

The first batch of paving to be removed, some 250m2 on George Street’s Farmers Block, is being re-used by DCC departments and contractors.

The second batch, some 1000m2 from George Street’s Golden Block, is expected to be available from around February 2023. Applications to receive pavers from this section are now open at www.dunedin.govt.nz/totally-georgeous-pavers and close on 23 October.

More information about the project is online at www.dunedin.govt.nz/totally-georgeous.

Dunedin Curtain Bank Annual street appeal

The Dunedin Curtain Bank up-cycles unwanted and unused curtains, lines them and distributes them to those in need. Curtains make a significant difference to the warmth of a home. A third of all heat loss in an uninsulated home occurs through the windows. Even double-glazed windows let out more heat than uninsulated walls.

There will be an annual street appeal on Friday, 7 October and the Dunedin Curtain Bank is in need of volunteers to collect donations for them.

Please see the flyer at the end of this section for contact details to help.

Final Dunedin Regional Events funding round

Dunedin events that appeal to out-of-town visitors, may be eligible for up to $100,000, in the third and final round of the Dunedin Regional Events Fund, which opens today Monday, 3 October 2022 and closes Friday 28 October 2022.

The fund specifically supports events that have the potential to attract domestic visitation and spending in the city.

For more information, please go to the Dunedin City Council website or to discuss an application please email events@dcc.govt.nz.

Careerforce vacancies

Careerforce is a business division within Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Limited and works within the health, aged care, disability, mental health, social services, cleaning and pest management sectors. Their purpose is to enable the workforce to enhance people’s health and wellbeing.

Careerforce is currently recruiting for two Apprenticeship Advisors in Otago / Southland. If you are an experienced health or social sector kaimahi specialising in aged care, disability, mental health and addiction, social services or youth work and you have workplace learning and assessment experience, they would love to hear from you!

Please go to the Seek website to apply, for Otago (Dunedin Based) or for Otago/Southland (Age Care).

Enquiries can be directed to: Sarah Orr, Regional Manager Employer Services Southern 021 294 9389.

Voting location options as election day approaches

Voters in Dunedin’s local body elections have options as election day approaches.

Dunedin’s bright orange special voting bins are still available at participating stores and other locations around the city.

Orange bins are available at the following locations:

• Any DCC service centre or library
• Participating supermarkets – New World and Pak n’ Save
• Otago Museum
• Toitῡ Otago Settlers Museum
• Otago University
• Otago Polytech

There are also boxes on the two book buses and the Middlemarch service centre where votes can be dropped off.

It is important to note these bins will be collected from 12 noon on Friday, 7 October 2022 (the day before voting closes at midday on Saturday, 8 October 2022).

This means anyone planning to return their votes via the orange bins needs to do so no later than midday on Friday (7 October).

After that, voters can still return their completed voting forms, or cast special votes, at the Civic Centre’s plaza conference and meeting rooms. Voting closes at 12 noon on Saturday (8 October).

Electoral officials will also be in the Octagon on Saturday morning (8 October) collecting completed voting papers. Traffic management will be in place.

All completed voting papers need to be in the electoral officer’s hands no later than 12 noon on Saturday (8 October).

The Civic Centre’s plaza meeting room will also be open until 7pm on Wednesday 28 September, Wednesday 5 October and Thursday 6 October, for voters wanting to return their voting papers or cast a special vote in the evenings.

Exact locations and dates for the travelling special voting booth (as well as other election information) is available at: www.dunedin.govt.nz/elections.

New Zealand's Next Census - Vacancies available

New Zealand’s next census will be in March 2023. To prepare for this national event Persolkelly are hiring Field Operations Team Leaders to manage, roster and support a team of Census Field Collectors.

There are also 321 full-time temporary positions available across Aotearoa from November 2022 to April 2023.

For more information, please go to the Persolkelly website or see the attachment a the end of this section.