Wesley Community Action

19/06/2026

Our Club Whānau Innovation Lead Lizzie Makalio recently took part in another Tuia - Valuing Communities session, providing insights into gang (club) whānau to recruits at the Police College in Porirua.

Lizzie (that's her peeping out of the back row) has been involved in the programme for almost two years.

The aim is to help police recruits get a better understanding of the diverse nature of our communities and give them an opportunity to interact with people from a range of cultures and communities.

At the Tuia sessions she and representatives from other communities such as the Rainbow community, Māori Wardens, and Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities sit down with the recruits to tell them their stories and answer questions.

It's a great opportunity for everyone and not surprisingly Lizzie always goes down well.

11/06/2026

Tapadh leat (thank you) to Hana Olds for her fascinating wānanga on the worldview and traditions of her Gàidheal (Gaelic) whakapapa this week.

There are many parallels between the way Gaelic-speaking Scots were treated in the 19th century and how Māori were treated here – including banning the use of Gaelic (pronounced Garlic) in schools.

In her recent Masters in Indigenous Studies Hana characterised colonisation as a disease that arrived here with 19th century British immigrants many of whom - particularly the Scots and the Irish - had been similarly colonised in their own countries. She gave us a lot to think about!

Thanks again Hana and we look forward to hearing from you in the future.

10/06/2026

What an amazing turnout for Ngahere Korowai's recent hui focused on the kaupapa of 'how to grow a forest'. More than 45 people came to the hui, held in partnership with Te Uru Rākau - NZ Forestry Service.

🌿 Our Ngahere Korowai Collective is growing - in people and in purpose! 🌿

Over the last few years we've been bringing our Porirua East community together to learn and connect with te taiao. Last week's hui, in partnership with Te Uru Rākau - NZ Forestry Service, focussed on the kaupapa of 'how to grow a forest'.

Our speakers shared about how landscapes evolve from bare ground to mature forests, and how biodiversity corridors can be created through community action.

We planned for 15-20 people...but had over 45 come through the door. More chairs were needed, more kai had to be fetched, and a room full of energy from across Porirua and the wider region.

We closed with a beautiful kōrero from Pania Solomon from Ngāti Toa, who grounded us in what this whenua meant to those that have been before us, and our responsibility for future generations.

The feedback has been amazing - there has been an overall sense of people feeling inspired by what happens when community lead the way.

🌿 Toitū te ngahere, toitū te whenua, toitū te tangata 🌿

04/06/2026

"Blown away" - that's the verdict from Hamish Jarvie, Methodist Alliance Coordinator, on the Warm Data Lab we hosted recently in Porirua.

"Conversations moved beyond policy language and organisational objectives into discussions about family, identity, community, and belonging," he writes in the latest edition of the Methodist newspaper, Touchstone .

Read Hamish's article about the Warm Data Lab here:
https://hail.to/methodist-church-of-new-zealand/publication/eVd3yd4/article/WDGy0Ys

04/06/2026

Putting down an umu - what a great way for the rangatahi involved with our Te Roopu Tiaki Rangatahi team to celebrate Samoan Language Week (Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa). Fun - and also tasty!

28/05/2026

Nau mai haere mai to our new Pou Tikanga, Quin Kingi. We welcomed Quin (Ngāti Awa) to the Wesley whānau this week.

Quin (pictured right with our director David Hanna) has been supporting the mahi in our Te Pae Urungi team so he already has some insight into what we do. We’re looking forward to working with him as we continue our journey to being a Kaupapa te Tiriti organisation.

Many thanks to our previous Pou Tikanga, Tāneora Ryall, for his thoughtful and well-informed contributions (and for his ace online reo lessons!)

21/05/2026

Solar panels are now being installed on the roof of the former Strand rest home at Wesley Rātā Village, Naenae as it continues its transformation into Pōhutukawa Apartments – 16 one- and two-bedroom affordable rental units.

The panels will provide power for many of the tenants at the village.

Many thanks to Hutt City Council and the Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa for providing funding to support this project which is part of our wider mission to reduce our carbon emissions.

We already have solar panels at Wesley House Cannons Creek - Te Hiko and we are slowly increasing our fleet of electric vehicles.

17/05/2026

Help us build a truly localised food system. Join Kai Ora Collective today to get fresh, affordable fruit and veges in your community every week while supporting local growers and regenerating our whenua.

It’s all about community power! Find out more in the video below -or visit the website: kaioracollective.nz/

10/05/2026

Plant at Matariki and harvest in the spring. Our Grow Me! vege-growing initiative is offering a one-off Matariki Box of high-quality vegetable seedlings for pick-up in late June.

For just $40 you’ll get a 10+ varieties including broad beans, spinach, beetroot, pak choi, pūhā and mizuna. Yum!

There’s also a wide range of pick-up locations – see the poster below.

Orders are due by May 31 – email [email protected]

07/05/2026

We're loving the new Kai Ora Collective billboard on Taranaki Street!

Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul did the honours with the ribbon to mark the official launch of the Collective – previously known as Wellington Region Fruit & Vege Co-ops.

We’re looking forward to more people joining the Collective to get fresh, affordable, local produce in their community every week.

The more people who start ordering through one of the Collective’s 10 packing hubs the cheaper the produce – and that’s got to be a win right now as prices keep rising.

Let’s celebrate the power of community, one apple and bunch of silverbeet at a time!

kaioracollective.nz: Fresh kai. Fair prices. Friendly faces.