Community Hub ready to roll

The government (note, small “g”) is coming to town in the form of a Community Services Hub which in Martinborough will be under the direction of Heartland Services. 

The Jellicoe Street unit which opens shortly funded by MSD (Ministry of Social Development) will be the 41st across the country “offering a range of (government) services tailored to local needs.” 

The facility, said manager Hana Makin “is an exciting new space for the Martinborough and rural South Wairarapa communities to come and connect with government and non-government services kanohi ki te kanohi: face to face.”

Most of the Heartland Services centres are located in rural communities which don’t have easy access to the range of government services located in bigger towns.

“I’m really looking forward to connecting more with local people and supporting them to access the support they need,” she said.

Martinborough Heartland Services will have two staff in-house, as well as REAP Wairarapa Adult and Community Education staff, Building Financial Capabilities, and Youth2Work Wairarapa team members. 

“We will be open five days a week. Planning for services is still under way, but at the minimum the centre will provide:

_email and phone facilities;

_access to government forms;

_access to technology (print-photocopy-scan)

_access to government and non-government service websites; 

access to face-to-face or virtual appointments with government and community services; 

_assistance in making government appointments, with the ability to direct the community to services they need.

A detailed “wish list” of services has been circulated for the community to indicate what it most needs from the new hub.  

“Heartland Services Hub differs from community to community. They are a friendly place to ask questions and get help from government agencies,” Makin noted. 

Darren Kerr, CEO of REAP Wairarapa, said he’s excited about the project. 

“This is a great opportunity for REAP Wairarapa to lead a project that will ensure people are able to connect with government services they have not previously had the opportunity to access.”