The Te Anau community are giving back this Matariki by delivering tasty gift hampers to older people in the town.

Anyone over 65 was able to be nominated to receive a gift hamper in celebration of the Māori new year, with 93 nominations received.  

The initiative was supported by Te Hau Toka Southern Wellbeing Group and Great South through their joint funded Fiordland Wellbeing Coordinator, Anna Star. 

“The idea behind the hamper is to help spread the message that everyone is valued and important in our community, to help with the feeling of and opportunities for community connection, and to give a boost of joy and wellbeing to our older people,” she says. 

Each hamper contained a meal cooked by the Fiordland Community Kai volunteer group, cakes and soap from local artisans, and Matariki cards or art made by local children, or a felted star made by a community member through the Fiordland Arts Hub community craft table. 

Local kindergarten children painted and decorated the hamper bags.

Also included was a timetable and directory of social connection opportunities in our Fiordland and information on accessing support for mental wellbeing. 

“It has been a lovely initiative to work on, with people from throughout the community coming together to provide this for our older people,” says Star.

“The community kai cooking sessions are always a wonderful spread of people from throughout the community; new Mums, people new the community, and those who have lived here long term. It is really nice to have had our younger children involved as well, with the decorations and craft, and for that to be able to reach into the homes of the older people in our community.”

Star says groups, individuals and businesses throughout the community have contributed to the initiative. 

The project was brought to Te Anau after have been run successful in Queenstown as an Easter hamper. 

“After such great feedback in Queenstown it was fantastic to be able to run it here for Fiordland people,” says Star. 

Te Hau Toka Southern Wellbeing Group will open round three of their Connecting Communities Fund next week. 

The fund is designed to support community-led activities and events across Te Anau, Fiordland, Queenstown, Wānaka and Cromwell that encourage wellbeing and community connection. 

Eligible not-for-profit organisations and groups can apply for up to $1,000 (GST inclusive) per round to assist with funding their activity or event. 

The last round of funding resulted in more the $50 000 being granted across the Southern Lakes region for mental wellbeing groups and activities.