Te Pū Harakeke—Community Collective Manawatū

15/05/2026

Rocking pink on pink shirt day!

Did you know how pink shirt day started? Back in 2007, a boy in Canada was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. His friends thought enough was enough, and started wearing pink shirts on specific days to stand in solidarity. This started a movement.

Korero mai korero atu! Speak up, speak out against bullying!

01/05/2026

The PNCC Community Development Small Grants Fund 2026 is now open!

This fund can provide for-purpose organisations up to $5000 for your operational costs, such as:

✅Audit fees and/or financial review costs
✅Communication costs
✅Energy costs
✅Insurance - public liability and assets
✅Rent and venue hire
✅Stationary - printing, postage, photocopying
✅Volunteer expenses - including training, supervision, travel

You can read more about the SGF and the eligibility criteria here: https://tepuharakeke.org.nz/what-we-do/funding

🎥If you’re confused, don’t worry! We’ve made a handy video explaining how to apply! https://tinyurl.com/47ppuyzw

The funding round is open until the end of May. Apply online at https://pncc.smartygrants.com.au/SGF26

16/04/2026

Book a room with us!

We know how hard it is to find affordable spaces in Palmerston North. If this resonates with you, have a look at our rooms at Hancock Community House. As a community venue, HCH provides individual room bookings for a fraction of the normal cost.

Whether you’re hosting a meeting, client sessions, training, or a work celebration, we’ve got you covered. We have four rooms, with the biggest one having a capacity of 40 people. They also come with free internet access and a video conference system for those who need it!

You can check out our rooms, make bookings and read our terms and conditions here: https://pncommunityhouse.weebly.com/meeting-rooms.html

Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions at [email protected].

25/02/2026

If something came up tomorrow, would you know what support is available in your community?
Stretching the Oily Rag isn’t about creating new services.
It’s about understanding what already exists, and making sure people can actually find it.
We’re gathering local knowledge to create a clear map of services across the region.
It only takes a few minutes, and your insight really matters.
👉 Add what you know here:
https://tinyurl.com/StorForm
📍 Stretching the Oily Rag — mapping what our communities already do best.
💚 This project has been funded by the Department of Internal Affairs and Whatunga Tūao Volunteer Central

24/02/2026

We’ve all done it.

💬 Asked a neighbour for advice.
🤝 Shared resources between groups.
💻 Spent time searching for the right support.
That’s what “stretching the oily rag” looks like in real life - making the most of what’s already around us.
Across Horowhenua, Tararua, Palmerston North and Manawatū, communities are already doing amazing work with limited resources.
Now we’re mapping what’s out there so we can make it work even better.
👉 Help us stretch the oily rag a little further by filling in the survey:
https://tinyurl.com/StorForm
📍 Stretching the Oily Rag — mapping what our communities already do best.
💚 This project has been funded by the Department of Internal Affairs and Whatunga Tūao Volunteer Central

23/12/2025

19/12/2025

Financial wellbeing is important to everyone. Time after time, we hear how someone’s mental health has deteriorated because of they can’t pay for food or rent.

What if I told you we had someone in this situation, and Moneywise Manawatū erased $100,000 worth of their debt through advocacy? That’s right. Those are somebody’s life savings. Now they can move forward and live with a sense of certainty and control.

Of course, asking our members to tell stories wasn't enough. We were cheeky and asked them to act it out! Kate deserves an oscar 🎭

Huge kapai to the Moneywise team!

18/12/2025

Community matters can literally be life or death.

A lady collapsed in her house. She was medically dead. When the paramedics came, they were racing against the clock, but miraculously, they were given a godsend — there was a St. John In Case of Emergency booklet on the fridge.

The booklet had all of her medical history and allergies inside. Armed with information, the maramedics knew exactly what to do, and the lady was BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE!

That's all pretty heavy. Here's a video of our members reinacting this important story in a light-hearted way. Extra points to Daniel for sounding like the Sims🟩

A huge ka pai to the team at Hato Hone St John!

Follow us for more good-news stories from around the community.

16/12/2025

Did you know that the World Health Organisation recognises Palmy as an age-friendly city?

The WHO's age-friendly approach focuses on eight domains that help people live well as they age — housing and transport, social connection, and civic participation. These domains are already woven into many of Council’s plans and strategies, including our Community Support Plan, Transport Plan and Urban Design Plan.

Ka pai, Palmy! A big thank you to PNCC, Age Friendly Palmerston North, and the Seniors’ Reference Group for all their hard work!

Follow us for more good news stories.

12/12/2025

Kay was in her late 40s, and she had to look for her first job. In the past, she chose not to work because of family commitments, but when MSD came knocking, her hand was forced. Kay had never made a CV before. Navigating job listings with things like TradeMe and Seek was completely foreign because she didn’t need to use them until now.

The team at Workbridge walked her through everything from writing a CV, applying online, and the interview. I can’t imagine any of this was easy for Kay. It must have felt like going bungee jumping at every step. It’s nothing short of turning your life around. After going through the process, Kay secured a job in retail — getting employed for the first time ever with her 50th birthday coming in a few years. She deserves to feel very proud of this amazing achievement.

Thank you to Workbridge for the amazing work you do. Keep following us for more good news stories around our community.