NZ Community Board Conference - Information and inspiration

New Zealand Community Boards Conference 2017
Making 1+1=3        
I had the privilege of attending the New Zealand Community Board Conference in Methven a couple of weeks ago.  Probably doesn't sound to most like it would be a highly motivating and inspiring way to spend the weekend and I did have people concerned for my sanity when I said that I was really looking forward to attending.  Well, I can report that it was interesting, informative and inspiring.  The calibre of speakers in attendance was very high and I have come home with a renewed enthusiasm for my role in our community.

The current Cromwell Community Board
One of the things that became really clear as I met and talked to elected members from around the country is that Cromwell is very lucky to have a Board that is able to make decisions directly with and for the community that we represent.  Many Community Boards around New Zealand have no (or very limited) authority or budget areas delegated to them - which means they become an advisory or lobby group to the City or District Councils that sit above them in the local government structure.  This leaves many communities with little direct representation.

My key take-away points from the conference have strong links back to the Peter Kenyon community meeting held in Cromwell in March.  The message that we are working with community - we aren't doing things to our community.  The idea of community empowerment and getting people to drive the changes they want to see or the heritage they want retained and to have ownership and connection with community projects.

Sam Johnson of Student Volunteer Army fame (self dubbed as 'earthquake boy') talked about creating community movements by shifting from a hierarchy to a network that allows people to be connected and to 'get on with it.'  He has continued to be strongly connected to community and his current projects include making links between the elderly and youth in Christchurch and getting school children involved in community projects through a kit for schools that looks really exciting.

We Visit is one of Sam Johnson's current projects connecting young people and the elderly.  Click the link to visit the website https://www.wevisit.co.nz/
David Rutherford Chief Commissioner from the Human Rights Commission spoke about the importance of affordable, habitable homes and the role that housing has in a healthy community.  This is becoming a critical issue for Cromwell. We have many families and community members in rental accommodation who are feeling increasingly anxious about the long term security of tenure in the homes they currently live in.  David described the home, the people in the home and the community around it as the primary health provider.  Families living with worry about losing their home because it is sold or the rent is increased above their ability to pay alongside the lack of available rental/affordable housing in Cromwell are stresses being faced by many in our community.
One of the actions that I really want to take in response to the conference is to connect more with Cromwell Youth - I am the liaison from the Community Board on the Cromwell Youth Trust and I am keen to hear from our young people about what they see as Cromwell's strengths and about the challenges they face as Cromwell residents.  I want to explore with the Board and with the Youth Trust and College as to how we can empower our youth to have a voice in our community.

Methven Heritage Centre - Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, venue for the conference
I got to spend my time at the conference in the refurbished Mt Hutt Memorial Hall.  This building has utilised the original hall and supper room (which has been renamed a function room).  They have been extensively renovated and upgraded.  Much of the original exterior has also been retained - the supper/function room is now a light, bright space with one wall being glass, giving a view and a link to the outside.

Supper/function room at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall.  Set up for a presentation
The community in Methven opted for an upgrade that also included the i-site, a cafe, a small movie theatre and art gallery and museum space that has been name The Methven Heritage Centre.  The cafe is no longer operational and the visitor numbers to the Heritage Centre have not been as expected when this new part of the building was added as an attraction.

The interior of the hal
I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with people from the Methven community to find out about the process.  It was interesting seeing how another community has managed the upgrade and modernisation of their ageing Memorial Hall, what has worked and what has been less successful.  Methven certainly have a fantastic asset and I am sure that Cromwell will also end up with a hall to be proud of in the very near future.


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