Big team changes at Newtown Community Centre

There are some big team changes happening Te Whare Hapori o ngā Puna Waiora / Newtown Community Centre! 

Last month we bid farewell to Ellie and this month we are saying goodbye to Eryn too. Ellie and Eryn have been absolute pillars of the community, having put in the hard yards and contributed a huge amount over the past 7 and 10 years, respectively. We’re all very sad to see them go but are incredibly stoked for exciting new opportunities they both have ahead of them. Ellie has taken on a new role as Farm Manager at Kaicycle, an urban farming initiative in the heart of Newtown. And Eryn has had a long-time dream come true to move out to Whanganui, live more rurally with some friends and buy a paddock with some pigs and goats! She has also found some awesome new mahi out there with Kai Hub, a food rescue organisation in Whanganui. 

But not to fear, stepping into Ellie and Eryn’s shoes, we have Anna and Edie joining the team at Te Whare Hapori o ngā Puna Waiora. Anna (she/her) is a Greek immigrant to Aotearoa, a mother of two and partner to one, and has been living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on and off since 2005. Community organisations have been Anna's work and main interest for 15+ years, co-leading a busy inner city community centre in Athens, Greece, working for free legal advice organisations in Aotearoa and Greece and Community Networks Wellington - among other wonderful groups. Edie (she/they) is a writer and proud trans woman who lives in a cozy witch’s cottage with her two flatmates and their little black cat. She immigrated to Aotearoa from the UK with her whānau in the ‘90s and has lived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara since 2013. She comes from a background in management, volunteer coordination and community engagement and has joined us from InsideOUT Kōaro, a rainbow non-profit organisation.

"Anna and Edie have only been in their roles a few days, as I do my best to download years of context and mahi - but already it’s clear their experience and skills will further strengthen the organisation. The team and wider community will no doubt appreciate their capable and kind leadership. I leave with immense gratitude for Newtown - the Centre and its people - and deep confidence in its future, in the hands of renewed leadership and our amazing team and board."

- Eryn Gribble, Outgoing Kaiwhakahaere / Manager

On top of that, we’ve also had a renewal with our Board. Earlier this year, Jane Patterson took over as chair from our previous chair, Tom Law. Tom served on the board for an incredible 27 years and has been a huge asset to the Community Centre and all of Newtown over the years. Lately we have welcomed two new board members, Steph and Curtis and are already enjoying the benefits of their knowledge and experience. Te Whare Hapori o ngā Puna Waiora is experiencing a big period of renewal which is exciting and bittersweet with wonderful things to come.

"Yes, there is a lot of change happening at the moment, but it's all exciting and not alarming. We look forward to seeing what the next era will bring. Eryn and Ellie have been fantastic particularly with the trials of the community centre – such as the challenges of the building renovation and the Covid-19 pandemic. On behalf of the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre 2009 Trust, we thank them for their years of mahi."

- Jane Patterson, Board Chair

Eryn would love to say goodbye in person, please come along to Eryn's Last Free Soup Friday on the 25th of July. Or you can join her for a KaiHub film fundraiser on Wednesday the 23rd!