Welcoming new Marlburians
Welcoming Week kicks off this September with everything covered to help new Marlburians navigate everything to help settle into their new home, from cultural sharing and morning tea's to Council service open day's and business breakfasts. Photo:Supplied/MDC
Moving somewhere new is a daunting decision for anyone to make, so this September Marlborough opens its arms to new residents for its inaugural Welcoming Week.
Welcoming Week – Te Wiki o Manaaki – is a nationwide event facilitated by Immigration New Zealand aiming to make the transition to New Zealand easier for those making the move.
Creating cross-cultural connections and building a deeper sense of understanding between new and long-time residents, the special week features 16 events.
From September 1 to 10 informative business breakfasts, movie nights and council service workshops will give newcomers plenty to enjoy. See more on what's going on HERE.
Marlborough District Council Welcoming Communities Coordinator Heather Barnes encourages Marlburians to roll out the welcome mat however they see fit with the week’s theme of ‘nau mai rā — glad you're here’.
“Welcoming Week is a national and international event, but it’s our first in Marlborough and the community support behind it has been wonderful”, says Heather.
“This week is the flagship event of our Welcoming Communities team, and a welcoming community starts with individual actions and making connections however they are formed.
“Many of the events that are going on throughout the week happen regularly here, however they’ll all have a Welcoming Week twist.
“We’ve also had community groups approach us to put on events for the week and invite anyone to come along, which has been wonderful to see.”
The 2018 census found that 17 per cent of Marlburians were born overseas, but the week of events is open to anyone in Marlborough whether they’re a newcomer or a long-term resident.
The community events include a spring multicultural evening sharing cultural food and performances to kick off the week on Friday September 1, morning teas in Blenheim and Picton, and a screening of “Making Marlborough – The Migrant Story”
“There’s such a range of events on over the week for people to engage in from business and council information sessions to preschool welcomes and movie nights, and it’s not just limited to new Marlburians because we aim to make genuine connections and help whoever needs it”, says Heather, an adoptive Marlburian herself by way of Canada.
“The Maataa Waka parakuihi, or morning tea, on Friday the 8th introduces Māori language, culture, and waiata in an educational environment for curious people that otherwise haven’t had an opportunity to engage with Māori customs.
“Also, the Conservation Kids Open Day will be interesting for the whole family because they focus heavily on our local natural environment in Marlborough that people may not have known about otherwise”.
Marlborough District Council is getting heavily involved, with a multi-language drop-in session and a Tuesday performance from the Waiata Group in Seymour Square.
“The Council services drop-in session on Monday the 4th will have Mandarin and Spanish interpreters, aiming to make what the Council does clearer on anything from bins and rates to dog registrations and building consents”.
However, Heather stresses that Welcoming Week is about much more than the week’s events.
“It doesn’t matter how people engage with Welcoming Week – something as simple as meeting neighbours and having them over for a cup of tea is an amazing example of ‘nau mai rā’”.
Check out all of the Welcoming Week events across Marlborough from September 1 to 10 at https://www.marlborough.govt.nz/our-community/welcoming-communities-te-waharoa-ki-nga-hapori/welcoming-week-2023