The quiet strength of volunteers
One of the greatest privileges of being Mayor is witnessing the generosity and community spirit that exists throughout Hurunui.
Over the past few weeks, I have been reminded, time and again that our communities are strengthened not by grand gestures alone, but by the quiet everyday acts of kindness that happen behind the scenes.
Recently I attended the Hurunui Cancer Support fundraising breakfast hosted by the Amuri Ladies Golf club. It was an inspiring morning made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers and the generosity of local businesses who donated goods for the raffle. Every donation and every hour volunteered will help provide practical support for local people and families facing cancer, demonstrating the compassion that defines our district.
On the same morning, I was invited to join Leithfield School for the Matariki breakfast. It was heartening to see so many families contributing and helping to prepare the food and create a welcoming space where the school community could come together to celebrate Matariki, it wasn’t simply about sharing breakfast, it was about sharing culture, strengthening relationships and creating a sense of belonging for everyone who attended.
Our schools benefit enormously from this kind of support and whether its parents helping in classrooms, coaching sports teams or simply lending a hand these enrich the experiences and opportunities available to our young people every day. Principal Rob Cavanagh and teacher Andy Scott spoke of the importance of Manaakitanga – hospitality, kindness, generosity and support, this core concept is centred on showing respect, care and lifting the dignity or mana of others.
As a district we bring this concept of hospitability through the important connection to foster and strengthen our sister district relationship with Changping in Beijing to build the bridge of friendship through education and youth exchange. For the 3rd year in a row, we are hosting 30 students and 4 teachers to the district. The students will visit Amberley school given the strong historical and cultural link to Rewi Alley and will spend a day with each of our area schools Cheviot, Amuri and Hurunui college, which offers a time for personal learning, and unforgettable experiences.
