A wide range of initiatives to improve mental wellbeing, social connection and resilience will take place in Wānaka during the next few months with funding support from Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group.

They include a series of training events at the Wānaka Community Workshop; next Friday’s (July 14) Matariki celebration at the Wānaka waterfront; a free squash open day at the Wānaka Squash Club; a Dia de los Muertos celebration by the Wānaka Mexican Community; and more.

The events and initiatives are supported by Connecting Communities funding, which is administered by Te Hau Toka.

Te Hau Toka chair Adell Cox said the response has been “phenomenal” in this funding round.

It will also help fund a creative arts retreat for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

“We had a thirty-five percent increase in applications overall this time and we’ve funded as many initiatives as we could,” she said.

“It’s been really inspiring and heartwarming to see how hard our Southern Lakes communities are working to improve their collective wellbeing, celebrate diversity and be inclusive.”

A record 92 events or initiatives around the Southern Lakes have received funding of up to $1,000.

Others in Wānaka include a pride flag mural for Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College; a Hindu festival by the Wānaka Nepalese Society; a creative arts retreat for individuals with intellectual disabilities by M!NT Charitable Trust; equipment for the newly-formed Hāwea Tennis Club; and a community event ‘Party in the Park’ by the Albert Town Community Association.

Local squash and tennis clubs have also benefited from funding in this round. 

Te Hau Toka introduced the Connecting Communities fund in November 2021 as part of its efforts to combat the ongoing mental health impacts of Covid-19.  

Since then, there have been six funding rounds, 329 recipients and nearly $320K injected across Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, and Fiordland to help people improve mental wellbeing, social connection and resilience in their own communities.

The next Connecting Communities funding round dates are November 6-16, 2023, and April 8-18, 2024.

Find more information here.

PHOTOS: Supplied