We were recently thrilled to announce the opening of a vibrant new hub in Ōtepoti, Dunedin, where Plunket all began over a century ago.
With the doors having opened on November 7, we’ve now had nearly six months of bouncing babies, toddling tamariki and precious little people filling the space with their caregivers for core checks, playgroups and everything in between at Kotahitaka. The name means unity of togetherness – symbolising the support this centre is able to provide children and their whānau. It’s really allowing us to cater to the region’s needs.
There are Car Seat Clinics for help with proper installation; Giggles Playgroup every Monday in the Jean Nelson Room, which was named after a generous bequest donor; Counting Cubs numeracy playgroup, a Tongan Community playgroup and a Rainbow Families Playgroup on weekends, to name just a few. There are also other likeminded organisations who use the space to help whānau too, like ACC who are running a Trauma Sensitive course, or Shama Supporting Ethnic Women – Let's Talk Kids Workshop, which helps parents learn how to talk with their tamariki about keeping safe from sexual harm. And the community garden beds near the hub’s carpark is well on its way to supplying veggies to families who need them, thanks to two green-thumb volunteers!
“Our vision was always that Kotahitaka would be a community hub rather than just for Plunket and that is certainly coming to fruition,” says Catherine Caley, Community Services Manager for Otago and Southland region. “The groups using the space are varied across many sectors of the wider community and filling needs including social connection and child and adult education. We are looking forward to working with our community to develop the Hub in ways that work for them.”
This hub has enabled us to provide support for Dunedin’s families in lots of different and new ways, taking current issues in society into consideration. And ultimately, the hub means that people are gathering under one roof for the health and wellbeing of their tamariki, but also to seek the support they so need as caregivers of young children. Donating during our recent appeal, which was all about the power of playgroups, has certainly helped us continue this important mahi. Thank you again.