Newcomers NetworkN e w s l e t t e r

A wArm welcome to all Newcomers. Finally, the anxiety and fever of rugby world Cup is over. with great sacrifices, the All Blacks have the rugby world Cup safely in their hands. All New Zealanders are proud of them. Now we can relax and get involved involve in other local events and activities in our regions.

Newcomers Drop-In centre and Pub evening were the two new events which were successfully organised last month. A huge thank you to the NNN social committee members for taking the initiative to bring the newcomers together and helping them to make new friends. Our other ongoing activities are the coffee mornings and the book club.

This month Katrin ropert has kindly shared her story. we always love to read such successful stories and would like to publish one in each issue of our newsletter. If any of you have any interesting stories to share, we would love to include them in our upcoming issues.

I am looking forward to attending the New Zealand Newcomers Hui in wellington on 16th and 17th November and meeting other newcomers coordinators from all around the country.

Our events diary is also available in on the recently launched New Zealand newcomers website. Please visit the Nelson page and join in the events that interest you.

If any of you are interested in organising any activities, please call me on 03 5390565 or email me on nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

Good luck with settling in!

Good luck with your settling in!Chandra Dahal

CoordinatorNelson Newcomers Network

Tel (03) 539 0565Email: nelson@newcomers.co.nzWebsite: www.newcomers.co.nz

Covering Nelson, Richmond, Motueka and wider Tasman Region November 2011 • Issue 59

Newcomers Networkis a Nelson Multicultural

Council projectwww.nelsonmulticultural.co.nz

Kia ora!Do something fun and creative that makes you smarter - learn to juggle! Hands on class - making juggling balls then learning how to juggle with 3 balls. Juggling helps develop the brain and is a form of meditation so helps with stress and problem-solving. I can teach any age (although it works best with children and adults over 8), any level of English. Give it a go! only $5 for three balls and a lesson - the money goes to Nelson Newcomers. See you there!

Where: Multicultural Meeting hall (upstairs), 2 Bridge Street, Nelson

When: 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, Saturday, 12th November

WE ran the drop-in centre for the first time on Saturday 1st oct. We were pleased to get to know several new people- a mix of New Zealanders from around the country and folk from overseas. This is a good opportunity to meet people informally for a chat. The next drop-in will be on Saturday 5th November in the multicultural centre from 10am - 12pm at No. 2 Bridge Street, Nelson.

Italian film festival begins on 2nd Novem-ber at the Suter Cinema on Bridge St. Pro-grammes now available at State Cinema 6 on Trafalgar Street, Nelson. Enjoy the fla-vour of Italian culture.

SuNDay 6th November 2011, 9am to 4 pm at Tahunanui Sports Venues and Burrell Park

a day for Tahunanui to show the region what it has to offer. a day for the whole fami-ly to enjoy and take part in which costs noth-ing. But offers a full day of “having a go” at many of the sports and activities available in Tahunanui and enjoying family entertain-ment in the afternoon at Burrell Park with prizes up for grabs for those who participate and enter the draw. For more information Email: pmduthie@xtra.co.nz, ph 03 548 6036

November 7 - December 2THE anne Frank travelling exhibition tells the story of anne Frank and the Holocaust to people who are not able to visit the anne Frank Museum in the Netherlands . The ex-hibition has come to New Zealand and start-ed a touring itinerary in February 2010 which will continue for three years. The exhibition reaches Nelson at the start of November for a period of 6 weeks only where it will be dis-played in the Education space at the Nelson Provincial Museum.

Juggling Workshop &Fundraiser (by Ali Morton)

Stepping Out In Tahunanui

So the very first Newcomers Pub Evening has been and gone and, if you missed it, well, you really missed out! an overcast Tuesday night made for an intimate and friendly gathering at the Prince albert Hotel on Nile St on october 11th. With a variety of different people from different countries and cultures attending, there was some-thing new and interesting to talk about with everyone, from the arts Festival and the Rugby World Cup to the similarities and differences between everybody’s migra-tion experiences. In fact, there was even a birthday!

So don’t worry if you missed out on the fun in october, because the Newcomers Pub Evening happens all over again on Tuesday November 8th, 7.30pm. So invite some friends and come along, because you do not want to miss the next one. It promises to be great! and remember, you don’t have to drink alcohol to enjoy the eve-ning as coffee, tea, and soft drinks are also available.

Next Event: Tuesday 8th November, 7.30 pm, Prince

albert Hotel, 113 Nile Street, Nelson

NewcomersPub Evening

Exhibition at the Nelson Provincial Museum

Italian Film Festival

The Drop-in Centre

Page 2 • November 2011 • Issue 59 Newcomers NetworkN e w s l e t t e r

Sharing Successful Stories

Katrin Ropert is originally from Germany. Since her childhood, she heard about New Zealand and had a dream to live here. She travelled to different countries and has decided to make New Zealand her new home. Though Katrin and her partner, Roland are very new to Nelson, they are members of NNN and have attended some of our activities. Katrin writes the story of their journey to New Zealand and shares their experiences about being new to this place.

My passion for New Zealand started when I was 15. My English teacher in Germany would talk about her trips to the Southern alps and I would find myself dreaming about the opportunity to live in this amazing country one day. Because of her, I applied for a high school year abroad when I was 16, but got accepted in the uSa instead. I lived with a wonder-ful family in Milwaukee Wisconsin and, in order to satisfy my curiosity for New Zea-land, I took part in an adventure Educa-tion class at school.

When I finished high school in Germany (back then it took 13 years) I decided to be-come a professional tourist. I studied tour-ism and marketing in Heide (north of Ham-burg) and one semester in Potchefstroom, South africa. During my semester breaks I worked in Spain, France and Switzerland and travelled to Brazil and Venezuela.

I wrote my Bachelor Thesis about “The chances and risks of adventure tourism in New Zealand” even though I had never been here, but planned to book a flight as soon as I finished university. My plans changed though and I got a job in online Marketing in Hamburg. I quit after 6 months in order to live in Chile, travel South america and improve my Spanish. I returned after 8 months (because the company I worked for went broke: believe me, it wasn’t my fault!)

In June 2010 I continued with online Mar-keting in Hamburg, but already planning to leave to go to New Zealand with my partner Roland. –

In May 2011 we finally got to Christ-church where we originally wanted to stay. We bought a van to sleep in and went north, travelling and dropping off Roland’s CV on the way. He is a dental technician and we thought once he has a job, I will find one too. It wasn’t easy because everyone just told us that there are only jobs in auckland at the moment where we didn’t want to go.

We just started working in a kiwi pack-house in Tauranga when Roland got a call from a dental laboratory in Nelson that needed him right away. one week later we were in Nelson and Roland started his job in august.

We were very lucky to get this call and love Nelson already. We try to make use of our weekends for trips to surrounding areas and are impressed by the variety the region offers. I am working casually. At first just for agencies: cleaning or hospitality jobs. I have some contacts to Marketing and web design businesses now that I might be able to work for casually as well.

I heard of NNN from a friend and I am very excited to get involved further. It is an excellent way to meet people, share experi-ences and spend time together!

NelsonSunday• November 6,13,20 and 27 Badminton-3:00-5:00pm.,

Stoke Hall, $3.00/adult & $1.00/child (7-15) Contact: Cristy 021-1651159, cristyaydon@xtra.co.nz

Monday• Newcomers Book Club: 14 November, 2011

Venue: Rutherford Hotel, 7:30pm. Contact Jan Cross Ph 035468730, jan.cross@xtra.co.nz

• Multicultural Fitness Class: Every Monday 11am -12pm, Venue:” Nelson athletics” building next to Pioneers Park on Hastings Street, opposite Spotlight. Cost: Gold Coin donation. Contact Evey ph: 5390030 info@nelsonmulticultural.co.nz

Tuesday• 1st November: NNN Social Committee meeting,

6.30 pm at the Nelson Newcomers Network meeting room upstairs at 2 Bridge Street, Nelson. Contact: Chandra ph: 5390565 nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

• November 1,8,15,22 and 29 - Tuesday, Multicultural Toddlers Group- 12:30-2:30pm., Nelson Library, Free, Cristy 021-1651159, cristyaydon@xtra.co.nz:

• Nelson Newcomers Network Monthly Pub Evening, Prince albert Hotel, 113 Nile Street, Nelson. Tuesday 8th November at 7.30pm. Contact: Chandra ph: 5390565, nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

Calendar of the Events Fridays • Drop In centre Community House Deck Reserve,

Wallace St. Motueka. open every Friday morning 10am-12pm to welcome ‘Newcomers” to the district and an opportunity to meet others over a cup of coffee. Contact Heather 03 5284332 mckenzies@watchdog.net.nz

Nelson• Evey—5390030,info@nelsonmulticultural.co.nz• Cristy—0211651159,cristyaydon@xtra.co.nz• Claire—5472511,lombokchilli@ts.co.nz• JulieSlade• RichardWilkins—035450055• AliMorton—5457217,0220914246, alisonj.morton@gmail.com• Becks—asknnn@hotmail.co.nz• RyanO’Byrne—elbuzzardo@gmail.com

Richmond• MikeandMilliGreenawalt—5447906

Motueka• Brian—035284580,brianrsavile@xtra.co.nz• Heather—035284332,mckenzies@watchdog.net.nz

Activities Coordinators

Wednesday• Nelson Coffee Morning: 10.30-11.30 am Deville Café,

New St. Nelson. Contact Chandra ph: 5390565, nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

Saturday• 5th November: Newcomers Drop in- 10 am to 12 pm

at the Nelson Multicultural Centre, 2 Bridge Street, Nelson. Contact Chandra ph: 5390565 nelson@newcomers.co.nz.

• 12th November: Juggling Workshop/ Fundraiser- 11am to 1pm at Multicultural meeting room (upstairs), 2 Bridge Street, Nelson. Contact ali Morton ph 5394848, alisonj.morton@gmail.com

RichmondThursday• Richmond Coffee Mornings. Every 1st and 3rd

Thursday morning 10.00am at Alchemy café on Bateup Road. For information, contact Mike or Milli Greenavalt at 5447906.

MotuekaWednesdays• Coffee @ Muses Café 10.30 am High Street

Motueka. Come and have a coffee and meet other newcomers. Contact Brian 035284580 brianrsavile@xtra.co.nz

Katrin Ropert in Chile

Roland and Katrin