“Welcome to Marty” gets some Lions, Community Board work

Martinborough Lions Club has decided to step up its efforts to support the community’s new arrivals.

Following a recent article in The Star about “Welcoming Newcomers,” Martinborough Lions has decided to sponsor a section in The Star dedicated to promoting community activities. 

The initial article highlighted a common issue: many people are unaware of the activities available in our community unless they know someone involved. 

To bridge this gap, Lions are introducing the Community Activities Noticeboard in The

Star.

“We are thinking of the noticeboard having three parts,” Lions member Ashley Mudford said.

1. Directory of Community Groups and Initiatives: This will be an on-going list of community

groups, initiatives, and volunteer opportunities, along with their contact details. 

This will help people more easily connect with groups they are interested in.

2. Upcoming Local Events: This will feature a calendar of up-coming local events for the next few months, including events at the Marae, sports clubs, and the Christmas Parade.

Knowing about these activities in advance will encourage more participation and community involvement.

3. Donation Opportunities: Many community groups need financial or volunteer support for their

projects, but often, people are unaware of these needs. This section will provide a platform for

groups to promote their needs and the benefits of supporting them. 

“We envision this noticeboard to be a well-maintained and frequently used resource, available both online and in print,” he said. 

“It will be a valuable handout for new arrivals and a go-to guide for locals looking to stay engaged with our community.”

How to participate: If you are a member of a community group, or have an activity you’d like to

promote, provide your details to AshleyMudford.Lions@gmail.com

Details to include – the name of your group/activity, brief description, contact details, meeting or event dates and times. 

“We look forward to showcasing the events in our community,” he added.

A few facts:

* In 2018, Martinborough’s population 1,767 people _ an increase of 20% since 2013 and 33% since 2006. 

* In 2018 the breakdown was: Males 852 (48%); Females 915 (52%); European/Pakeha 1,500 (85%) Maori 327 (19%); Pasifika 64 (4%); Asian 65 (4%); Other 34 (2%).

* Age brackets: 0 – 15 years 288 (16%); 15 – 29 192 (11%); 30 – 64 840 (48%); 65+ 444 (25%).

At the same time, the Martinborough Community Board which carried out the initial research, has been working on a “Welcoming Plan,” which is expected to include some short-term, low-investment activities and some longer-term strategic activities to improve how new residents are integrated into the South’s communities. 

The board notes the plan is set to be finalised and approved by the senior leadership team shortly, and released on its website. 

It added that the “Welcoming Plan will be finalised and the implementation phase will begin by the end of March.”