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What we do and how we can help

Communities know what they need most. Community-led planning supports residents and local groups to identify priorities, develop a shared vision and turn ideas into action.

Projects can be as simple as installing a bike stand or establishing a community garden, through to developing a broader community plan with agreed actions, responsibilities and timeframes.

While community plans are not formally adopted by Council, they can help guide decision-making and provide a strong foundation for working with Council and other agencies.

Our role is to support, champion, enable and advocate for your community. We’re here to help turn good ideas into meaningful local projects that build community connection, identity and pride.

Have an idea or want to know how we can help?
Email community@hurunui.govt.nz

The following are some of the projects and opportunities we can currently support.

The Community Team enjoys strong relationships with a range external support agencies such as Department of Internal Affairs, Rātā Foundation, Ministry of Social Development and Enterprise North Canterbury (to name just a few).

Regular meetings occur throughout the year which helps to put the Hurunui in front of these national organisations. From this we've been supported by them with additional funding for projects, professional advice & support for our communities and event opportunities.

The Hurunui District Council is committed to the economic growth of our region and welcomes new business initiatives and commercial developments. We work closely with Enterprise North Canterbury to support our business community, whether it’s a new or established business.

Further Information: check out our Business Page

As part of our BAU (business as usual) work you will find our team taking the lead on council projects that require community feedback.

Projects we've been a part of include:

Positively Rotherham Case Story
Positively Rotherham Walkway Case Story

As a team we help facilitate a range council events for our communities. Past events include 'Brass on the Grass', 'Kia Ora' summer pool parties, Toot for Tucker, community cuppa's with Mayor Marie, funding workshops, Visa information updates with Immigration NZ, parent workshops and work ready seminars with the Ministry of Social Development.

To find out about these events keep an eye on your local community newsletters, community Facebook pages, the council Facebook page and the North Canterbury News. They will also be listed on the following page: Upcoming Council Events

Hello Summer Pool Party Case Story

Growing & Sharing Food

Community gardens and food forests provide spaces for communities to grow fresh food, share knowledge and build connections. Food forests take a longer-term, permaculture-inspired approach, with a mix of edible trees, plants and herbs.

Currently known in: Amberley, Waikari, Cheviot, Leithfield and Hanmer Springs.

Sharing Sheds provide a simple way for people to share surplus fruit, vegetables and other produce with their community, helping reduce food waste and increase access to fresh food.

Currently known in: Amberley, Leithfield, Hawarden and Waikari.

Foodbanks provide essential food support to individuals and whānau experiencing food insecurity. They are an important part of the local food security network, connecting people with food when they need it most.

Food Secure North Canterbury (FSNC) brings people and organisations together to strengthen local food security across North Canterbury. The network supports collaboration, knowledge-sharing and community-led initiatives such as food growing, food rescue, food access and food education.

Want to connect, get involved or find out where to start?

Contact:

Jacqui Rose
Community Development Facilitator
Phone: 021 296 5241

While we don't specifically write applications for groups we can provide the following:

  • guidance on what makes an ideal application
  • provide feedback on your application before you submit it
  • suggest external agencies that might be able to help your group

The Council also looks after a number of award and grant schemes that recognise special achievement or sponsor sporting and artistic endeavors, these are available at different times during the year. You should continue to keep coming back to our awards and funds page to see what is currently open.

Contact:

Vanessa Nelmes
Community Development Facilitator
Phone: 027 500 2562

The Hurunui District Council has the responsibility of:

Preparing the Hurunui community to respond as individuals and as a community to disasters by making detailed plans, conducting awareness programmes, training and exercising volunteers, and providing support coordination training for those community groups that will have roles in the event of a major disaster.

Contact:

Allan Grigg
Emergency Management Officer
Phone: 027 586 1733

The Community Team is here to help lead, support and encourage during the recovery phase after an emergency.

As a team we listen and respond to the needs of our communities so we can invigorate and enliven residents, visitors and businesses all while working closely with council departments, elected members and external agencies.

In 2021 Council were awarded funding from the Lotteries Community Fund to build a custom trailer and to outfit it with equipment suitable for events and youth activities with the goal of it becoming a transportable wellbeing hub for all of the community.

This hub is available for communities to hire $30 per day.

If you want to book the hub trailer email: community@hurunui.govt.nz

Read our Community Hub Case Story

‘Mayoral Taskforce For Jobs’ is a Ministry of Social Development funded programme that connects local businesses with young people, creating sustainable employment opportunities. The Community Employment Programme has been running since 2019 and continues to make a real impact in our district.

Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Working Group Case Story

To find out what older people are feeling about aging in Hurunui – both the good and the bad, a research project titled Hurunui Age-Friendly Communities was completed in 2019 to provide Council and other organisations with a direct link to the lived experience of older people in the district. The report made several recommendations to increase our district’s age-friendliness.

In 2024 a revised Hurunui Age Friendly Survey was undertaken and on 17 July 2025 the Hurunui Age Friendly Action Plan was approved by the Strategy & Community Committee.

Want to know more about what is happening in this space? Feel free to get in touch.

Contact:

Vanessa Nelmes
Community Development Facilitator
Phone: 027 500 2562

Hurunui Age Friendly Case Story
Hurunui Age Friendly Survey Case Story

The Hurunui Road Safety Programme works in partnership with New Zealand Police, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and local authorities across Canterbury to improve road safety throughout the district. Together, we aim to promote safe road user behaviour and reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Hurunui roads and across the wider Canterbury region.

The programme delivers a range of education, engagement, and community-based initiatives that target identified road safety issues within the Hurunui District. These activities are designed to encourage safer choices, behaviours and improve the skill level of road users.

We currently support initiatives in the following areas:

  • Rail safety
  • Young road users’ education
  • Fatigue Stops
  • Hurunui Community Mentor Driver Programme
  • Motorcycle initiatives
  • Staying Safe, Older Driver Education
  • Cycle and Scooter Education
  • Driver Licencing

Contact:

Emma Feathery
Safer Roads Facilitator
Phone: 027 808 4563

The Hurunui Youth Programme offers recreational activity, development programmes and leadership opportunities for taiohi aged 12-24 years across the Hurunui District. These are offered throughout the year in school, outside of school and during school holidays.

The Hurunui Youth Council (aged 14 ½ - 24 years) forms each year to provide voice to things that matter for young people. It is a great way to collaborate with other taiohi and develop leadership and be a part of the wider council decision making.

We look to create positive opportunities for our taiohi that will offer ways to connect with others, build relationships, explore self development and seek out what’s needed to achieve your best self.

If you are aged 12-24 years and want to get involved or have ideas on how we can improve the Hurunui for you and other taiohi, get in touch.

SEED is a Hurunui course supporting 15-24 year olds with pathway to employment or study. Funded by Snowgrass Charitable Trust.

We work in conjunction with Mayors Taskforce for Jobs supporting young people with work experience, driver license support and other ways to get on track.

If you are a community member who wants to support youth programmes or provide opportunities for our rangatahi, let’s collaborate!

Contact:

Kim Spencer
Youth Development Officer
Email: hyp@hurunui.govt.nz
Call or Text: 027 1800 2929
Follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram

Hurunui Youth Case Stories

Together Hurunui is a non-statutory network of social services operating in the Hurunui District and includes community groups, schools and health centres, NGO agencies, local council and central government.

Together Hurunui endeavours to identify gaps in service provision and advocate for the right services to fill these through regular network events, targeted projects and stakeholder hui's.

Contact:

Natalie Paterson
Together Hurunui Facilitator
Phone: 027 1800 2773
Follow us on Facebook

MainPower Pantry Case Story
Slice of Wellbeing Case Story
Next Steps Website Case Story

Welcoming Communities is a programme led by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Ethnic Communities and the Human Rights Commission. Welcoming Communities works towards healthier, happier and more productive communities by welcoming newcomers into the local community.

The Welcoming Communities initiative brings together local government councils and communities to make the places we love more welcoming for everyone.

Hurunui is with community to ensure Hurunui is putting out the welcome mat to newcomers including recent migrants, former refugees and international students.

The Welcoming Plan was agreed in 2026.

Contact:

Natalie Paterson
Welcoming Communities Facilitator
Phone: 027 1800 2773

2026 Newcomers Guide
Hurunui Welcoming Plan
2026 Action Plan
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