TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021
2 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu 07 870 1991
Missed Delivery? Ph 07 827 0005
It’s a real newspaper
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
Meeting the Covid challenge By Viv Posselt
As much as Covid-19 continues to negatively impact many in Te Awamutu, it is also making the community stronger, says Kainga Aroha Community House manager Kane Rangitonga. The pandemic brought to light various groups working independently within the community, he said, something that has created a foundation for moving forward in 2021. “We were an essential organisation during lockdown last year, but it was soon obvious there were pockets of people out there doing their bit to help. “So, while we had increasing numbers of people needing help, Covid also gave us an opportunity to identify those groups and find ways we can work together. It means we can reach more people in the future.” That is one
of the big takeaways from a very challenging 2020, he said. Another was a more caring approach between neighbours and the response from families who discovered a new appreciation for their children. “Parents were telling me that they really got to know their kids during lockdown. That’s a really positive outcome.” Early February saw Kane back on deck after helping run the annual school holiday camp for kids. Kainga Aroha offers a range of services and programmes to support the community, including family support, counselling, advocacy, budgeting and school camps. This time of year is always busy, he said, but the start of 2021 has seen even more families seek help, primarily through income loss. Covid-19 didn’t create new issues for Kainga Aroha, Kane said, it simply increased the numbers. During the early 2020 lockdown, Kane delivered medication packs and over 20 food parcels a day, all the while balancing the needs of his own extended whanau. It was a tough time, but he believes Waipā has fared better than many other New Zealand communities. “There are more families struggling financially than in previous years, for sure. We have seen that over the past few months as people have lost their jobs and found themselves homeless. “It’s not unusual for parents to have to balance a good Christmas for their families with the knowledge that the bills will be coming in January,” he added, “but the pandemic made that more pronounced. We gave out over 300 Christmas hampers in 2020 – until then, our highest number was around 200 distributed the previous year.” Continued on page 2
Kainga Aroha Community House manager Kane Rangitonga says more people need help as the fallout from Covid-19 continues to bite.
WHETHER YOUR NEEDS ARE MILKING MACHINES, WATER SERVICES OR STAINLESS FABRICATION
#MADEFORNZ
$480 SAVE$5,995
SUZUKI DR200SEL5 TROJAN INCL GST
EVERY DAY $600
RELIABLE
MINIMUM TRADE-IN ANY TRADE DEAD OR ALIVE
See instore for details
A no-nonsense farm bike that’s been designed for New Zealand conditions – day in and day out.
Call our qualified team of experts We have someone on call 365 days a year.
PROUD TO BE LOCAL – PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL SUZUKI DR200SE - $4,799 +GST Price excludes GST, savings including GST. Offer ends 31 March 2020.
2 Kihikihi Road, Te Awamutu P 07 871 3069 E info@wilkspenny.co.nz
809 Bond Road, Te Awamutu P 07 870 4011 E office@pml.co.nz W pml.co.nz