New arrivals to Central will be able to connect with others more easily because five women are reviving the Alexandra newcomers network.

The organising team, who are all relatively new to the district, use words like; “different”, “daunting”, “quiet” and “a cultural gap” when asked about their move to the district.

They’re setting out to help other newcomers find their feet in the community and make friends through the newcomers network.

Welcoming Communities officer Deborah Beange relocated from Texas with her family seven years ago.

“It was like going back in time a bit, in good ways and bad… the kids could walk everywhere which I loved…I found the lack of anonymity really hard [too],” Deborah said. 

Deborah was the only one of the five who attended newcomers meetings, and said they were a great way to make connections if you were new to an area. 

After leaving Bristol, Jennie Robertson settled in Alexandra with her Kiwi husband and seven-year-old son two years ago.

She said having “got through” the hardest part of moving here she wanted to help other people new to Central.

Tiri Connell, who has been here for nine months after leaving Wellington, works remotely as a contractor. She said making friend connections in a new town was a challenge when you work on your own. 

Resident for the past four years, Heather Harries said she hadn’t realised how significant the cultural gap would be both for her and her children.

There was no newcomers group running when she moved and there was a “real need” for it. 

The Central Otago newcomer survey conducted in March and April this year gauged the experiences of those who were new to the district.

A key finding was that the majority of respondents felt welcomed into the community, but there is room for improvement with accepting different cultures. 

Twenty eight per cent believed their community was accepting of different cultures and beliefs, 22 per cent believed their community was not accepting of different cultures and beliefs, and 48 per cent answered that they were unsure.

People of all ages are welcome at the first group meeting, to share tips on moving here and to shape the group’s future activities and social events.

The first meeting is on Monday September 19 at 6.30pm in the Haehaeata room at Industry Lane. 

Find more information on the Alexandra Newcomers Network Facebook page.