'Forget the Bling-Bling: Do the Whanau Thing'
Friday 5 October 2007, 9:34AM
By New Plymouth District Council
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Local agencies are working together to help families prepare for a fun, low-cost Christmas.
‘Forget the Bling-Bling: Do the Whanau Thing’ is the theme for a series of events coordinated by New Plymouth District Council in partnership with the Marfell Community Centre, the Health Promotion Unit, Manaaki Oranga, The Women’s Centre, Budget Advice and Work and Income New Zealand.
“We want to get people starting to think about how to provide low-cost or no-cost Christmas presents this year, and how that can improve their family situation,” says NPDC Manager Community Development Bry Kopu.
The local events are part of the nationwide Anti-Poverty Week from 14 to 20 October.
Many people on low incomes come under pressure at Christmas time, so the local agencies are providing practical tips that will ease families through the festive period.
“By focusing on their families rather than how they can pay for pricey gifts, they’ll have a happier Christmas and, hopefully, will begin habits that will last a lifetime,” says Ms Kopu.
All of the events are being held for free, but people will need to book their place to take part.
At the Marfell Community Centre will be a series of workshops on flax weaving, beading and card/voucher making, plus how to make your dollar go further.
A series of supermarket tours will be in New Plymouth, Waitara and Hawera to show people how to get good value for their money instead of just shopping cheaply, including how to reduce vegetable wastage and how to shop in season.
People who register for any of the workshops will go in the draw for a $50 supermarket voucher, while those who register for a supermarket tour will have the chance to win a cook book.
Bookings for the workshops can be made through Jan Manu on 06-751 1908. The supermarket tours can be booked through the Health Promotion Unit at 06-753 7799 or email health.promotion@tdhb.org.nz.
The schedule of events is:
Monday 15 October, 10.00am-noon: Harakeke (flax weaving).
Monday 15 October, 10.00am: Pak n Save, New Plymouth.
Tuesday 16 October, 10.30am-11.30am: Budgeting tips: “Don’t let Christmas take you by surprise.”
Tuesday 16 October, 12.30pm-2.30pm: Beading.
Wednesday 17 October, 7.30pm: Pak n Save, New Plymouth.
Friday 19 October, 10.00am-noon: Cards/vouchers.
Saturday 20 October, 10.00am-noon: Harakeke.
Tuesday 23 October, 7.00pm: New World, Waitara.
Tuesday 23 October, 7.30pm: Pak n Save, Hawera.
Wednesday 24 October, 10.00am: Pak n Save, New Plymouth.
Wednesday 31 October, 7.30pm: Pak n Save, New Plymouth.