| | Kia ora (Māori) | Talofa (Samoan) | Mālō e lelei (Tongan) | Bula (Fijian) | Namaste (Hindi/Fijian Indian) | Ni hao (Mandarin Chinese) | Asalaamu alaikum (Arabic) | Ayubowan (Sinhala) | Olá (Portuguese) | Hola (Spanish) Bonjour (French) | Guten Tag (German) | Hello! (English)
What a month it’s been!
I have to start with a huge thank you to our incredible Head and Deputy Head Students from Taieri College, along with the many community groups and local businesses rallying behind our 4th Annual Taieri Rangatahi Youth Hui, 9th April. The energy, creativity, and generosity going into this event has been amazing to see — it really does take a village, and ours is showing up in the best way.
In the youth space, we’ve got something new and exciting on the horizon — a Taieri Youth Advisory Panel! This is a chance for our rangatahi to have a real voice in what’s happening locally. Applications are open now for Year 9–13 students, see more information below.
We’re also right at the beginning of dreaming up a community-wide Matariki celebration with Taieri College. It’s early days, but there’s a real buzz around creating something meaningful, reflective, and fun for everyone — watch this space!
And yes… it might feel early… but we’re already on the lookout for people keen to be part of a Christmas planning group! If you love a bit of festive cheer and community magic, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected] or call Jean on 022 121 3325.
We’re also excited to be starting a weekly Women's English Conversation Group here at Taieri Network on Mondays at 12pm from April 20th. A great chance to connect, build confidence, and share a cuppa while practising English — we'd love to see you there!
Taieri Network will also be hosting a drop-in session at Blend Café in Outram on April 21st, 10–11am — we always love these opportunities to connect in different centres of our community, so come and say hello if you’re nearby!
You’ll also see us, amongst very good company, at the Festival of Ageing on April 22nd at the Mosgiel Senior Citizens Hall, 5A Hartstonge Ave, Mosgiel — 10am-2pm.
And there is still so much more to keep you up to date on!
A quick heads up that the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board will be holding their next meeting at the West Taieri Rugby Club on April 1st, with a new format — a "Meet the Board" from 3pm, followed by the official meeting from 4pm. A great chance to connect and stay informed.
The Ride and Stride Silverstream School fundraiser was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended — and even better, it sounds like this will become an annual event. A big thank you from the school for the incredible support received through student sponsorships, business sponsorships, and the many stalls on the day. What a fantastic example of community backing in action.
Mosgiel Central Kindergarten would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported their recent Colour Run. The teachers are so grateful for the extra funds to spend on their beautiful tamariki — a wonderful show of community care and generosity.
The Saddle Hill Hike, run by Rotary Mosgiel and K9 Medical Detection, was another highlight — well attended, raising around $5,000, and blessed with a great pause in the weather. And of course, those views never disappoint!
The Community Carnival — WOW! What a showstopper! Brought together by an amazing collective of local churches — East Taieri, Saddle Hill Foundation Trust, Mosgiel and Mosgiel North Presbyterian, Equippers, and CYC Waihola — with support from Goodman Fielder. We are so lucky to have groups like this offering such a fun, inclusive, and completely free event for our community.
Altrusa’s Garage Sale was also a great success, raising over $1,000 with strong community support. Even better, any unsold items were passed on to local op shops — a win-win all round.
We’ve also seen some fantastic community moments through the Silverpeaks Country Music event, bringing people together through music and connection, and celebrations for Amana Christian School’s 25th anniversary — a special milestone marking years of contribution to our local community, along with many more events happening across our beautiful Taieri — read on to learn about what's coming up this month!
On a slightly more “hands-on” note — we went on a mission this month to track down an apple press… and came up empty-handed. But (silver lining!) this has sparked a brilliant idea: why not design and build one right here in our own community? Ambitious? Maybe. Exciting? Definitely. Stay tuned — and fingers crossed!
And finally… who even knows what’s going on with the weather at the moment — but one thing we do know… it’s April 1st tomorrow. Look out! 👀
Ngā mihi nui | Best regards,
Jean Bonner
Kaihono Hapori | Community Connector
Taieri Network |
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Only a few more sleeps until our 4th Annual Taieri Rangatahi Youth Hui — and what a pearler it’s turning into!
We. Have. Three HIGHLANDERS joining us!
We'll let that sink in for a moment. And yes, we’ve had lots of questions about the hui, so here’s a quick guide on what to expect:
Once registered online, your young person simply needs to turn up at 11am on Thursday 9th April at the Taieri Bowling Club, 12 Wickliffe St. Look for the Taieri Network flag!
There will be live music on arrival, check-in, and plenty of space to chill before the fun kicks off. You’ll find your team and get ready for action!
We’ll quickly launch into a welcome and briefing for the Amazing Race, before heading to Brooklands Park for all the challenges — or indoors if the weather decides otherwise. Will your team beat all the challenges and reach the finish line before the buzzer?
When time is up, pat yourselves on the back and head back to the Bowling Club. Lunch will be served, including some Pizza Hut treats, plus more music, chill time, activities, and games at your fingertips.
Once the judges have collated all the scores, the Amazing Race prizegiving will take place — and there are some fantastic spot prizes up for grabs. Gotta be there to win!
Parents/caregivers — please make sure to complete the registration form for your young person.
A huge thank you to our Amazing Race Challenge Hosts:
Girl Guides, Scouts, Boys’ Brigade, Taieri Tennis, Petanque Taieri, Dunedin Young Farmers, St John Cadets, Youth East Taieri, Taieri Youth Advisory Panel, and more!
Your time, energy, and love are helping create an unforgettable experience for our youth.
We also couldn’t do this without the support of the Head and Deputy Students of Taieri College (Rosie Mitchell, Fergus Clark, Ollie McFelin, and Sienna Forgie), Saddle Hill Foundation Trust, Findex Otago, and Taieri Network.
A big shout out to all additional volunteers from Taieri College, Altrusa Club of Taieri, Saddle Hill Foundation Trust, and Taieri Network. And a warm thank you to our Spot Prize Legends: Night 'n' Day Mosgiel, Te Puna o Whakaehu, and more.
And did we mention, three HIGHLANDERS are joining us!!
This is going to be fun, fierce, and fabulous — we can’t wait to see you there! 🎉 |
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Taieri Network is excited to be launching our Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), a new initiative designed to ensure young people in Taieri have a genuine voice in shaping their community.
This has been a long time coming. Through community consultation, we consistently heard that young people in Taieri feel there is “nothing to do,” face barriers to accessing opportunities, and often feel overlooked in decision-making. The YAP has been developed as a direct response to this, creating a space where young people are not just consulted, but actively involved in leading change.
The panel will bring together 8–12 young people aged 13–18 from across the Taieri to: Share their perspectives on issues that matter to them Design and lead youth-focused events and initiatives Work alongside community organisations and decision-makers Develop leadership skills and real-world experience
We are also thrilled to have appointed two incredible volunteer coordinators to help bring this kaupapa to life. They bring complementary skills and a genuine passion for youth development, and we’re excited for what they will build alongside our rangatahi. We will introduce them in a future newsletter!
Applications for young people open this week, and we encourage anyone aged 13–18 who lives or goes to school on the Taieri to apply. This is a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and make a real impact in the community.
If you know a young person who would benefit from being involved, please encourage them to apply or reach out to learn more.
For more information or to get involved, contact
Melissa Hawke (Taieri Network Trustee) at [email protected] |
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Tēnā koutou katoa
The Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday 1 April (Rāapa 1 Paenga-whāwhā) at the West Taieri Rugby Club in Outram. The Community Board unanimously agreed that we needed to be more accessible to everyone across the Taieri.
As part of our efforts to achieve this we have made a couple changes to our board meetings:
1) The locations of our meetings will sometimes change to reach different communities within our constituency, rather than just staying in Mosgiel. Hence, our next meeting will be in Outram.
2) Every now and then we will have an informal ‘Meet the Board’ session an hour before some of the meetings start, so you can chat with board members about local matters, or simply introduce yourself!
Our formal board meetings have quite a rigid structure so if you would like to present, this needs to be arranged in advance. However this ‘Meet the Board’ session we’ll be having on April 1 allows you to just show up and share your ideas without any prior arrangement. Then you’ll have the choice to either stay to watch the formal meeting or leave when it starts.
If you wish to present at the official board meeting please contact governance support on 03 477 4000 or [email protected]
See you soon (ka kite ākuanei) |
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Christmas Planning Group – Expressions of Interest 🎄
It might feel a little early… but we’re already starting to think about Christmas on the Taieri!
We’re looking for expressions of interest from community members who would like to be part of a Christmas planning group. Whether you’re full of creative ideas, love organising events, or just want to help bring a bit of festive magic to our community, we’d love to hear from you.
This is a great opportunity to be part of something special and help shape a fun, inclusive celebration for all.
If you’re keen, please get in touch with us at [email protected], pop into the Taieri Network office at 176 Gordon Rd, or call Jean on 022 121 3325. |
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Free Flu Vaccination for 50+ |
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If you’re Māori, Pasifika, or a former refugee aged 50+ living in Otago and Southland, now’s a good time to think about getting your flu vaccine. It’s FREE!
Getting your flu vaccine helps protect the people you love most — especially pēpi, mokopuna, and older whānau members.
The vaccine is available from tomorrow, 1 April at local pharmacies, general practices and Hauora or Pacific healthcare provider clinics.
The flu vaccine is also free for: Protect yourself. Protect your whānau. Protect your community. |
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An Otago Fish & Game Council event Proudly supporting Wild Dunedin — NZ Festival of Nature
Date: Saturday 18 April 2026 Time: 10am – 12pm Location: Takitakitoa Wetland, Takitakitoa Rd, Henley 2km southwest of the intersection of Takitakitoa Rd and Otokia-Kuri Bush Rd. Location will be signposted. Free or koha Take a guided nature walk at Takitakitoa Wetland, in the lower Taieri, about 30 minutes’ drive south of the Dunedin CBD. Join Otago Fish & Game on a walk to discover the rich biodiversity of this regionally significant wetland — restored, managed and funded by hunters for conservation. This event is suitable for families and nature enthusiasts highlighting the importance of wetland conservation in Otago. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This walk requires a moderate level fitness and is on uneven ground. Please wear sturdy footwear.
Register here - a great chance to tour a local asset!
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Looking for a comfortable, supportive space to practice your English? Join our Women’s English Conversation Group!
Starting Monday, April 20th at 12pm, we’ll meet each week at the Taieri Network office in Mosgiel for relaxed, friendly conversations. This group is just for women, creating a safe and welcoming environment to build confidence, share experiences, and connect with others.
There’s no pressure! Just come along, have a chat, and enjoy meeting new people. Whether you're a beginner or want to keep your skills sharp, everyone is welcome. We’d love to see you there! |
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Drop in Session at Outram |
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Festival of Ageing Expo - Mosgiel |
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Congratulations Chathura! |
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Together we congratulate Chathura (Chacha) Vidyarathna, who was awarded the Federated Farmers Leadership Award in the 2026 Southland & Otago Dairy Industry Awards for his outstanding leadership in the dairy sector.
Although now farming in Clinton, Chathura recently farmed as Contract Milker on Bremners Road, Momona, where he recorded 10% extra production, and the highest production in 19 years. The Federated Farmers Leadership Award recognises Chathura's ability to lead and make a positive impact in the industry.
We wish Chathura and all the Vidyarathna family all the very best for the future. |
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Plus Bus is proposing a shopping service in Mosgiel. If we get enough interest this could take place on Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday mornings or Friday mornings.
Please contact us if you or a family member could make use of our service. We collect clients from their front door, help them onto and out of the bus, assist with shopping and happily carry the groceries indoors.
For further information phone/email - 03 455 4050 or [email protected] |
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Struggling with Power Bills? You’re Not Alone 💡
With the colder months approaching, we know power bills can start to feel a bit overwhelming for many individuals and whānau. If you’re finding things tight, there is support available — and it’s okay to reach out.
A local Consumer Electricity Fund is here to help ease the pressure, supporting around 600 people and whānau each year with their electricity costs. Grants of up to $500 may be available, depending on your situation.
Friendly, supportive teams at Dunedin Budget Advisory Service, Presbyterian Support Otago, Catholic Social Services, and Community Law Otago can walk alongside you — helping you explore your options and access support in a way that feels manageable and respectful.
If you or someone you know could use a hand, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Sometimes a small bit of support can make a big difference. |
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Mosgiel Library Holiday Activities |
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Youth Leadership Programme |
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Pizza Making and Face Painting |
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We’re excited to bring back something special for the little ones this school holidays!
Join Pizza Hut Mosgiel + HanAhrt for a fun-filled day where kids can:
Make their own pizza Enjoy amazing face painting Easter Bunny will be there
Kids Only age between 6-13 years old!
Tuesday, 7th April 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Walk in – No booking needed!
Bring your kids along for a day full of creativity, fun, and smiles |
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Blend Café in Outram:
A Heartwarming Success Story |
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From Humble Beginnings to a Local Favourite |
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Business Profile by Sandy McKay
Opened in March 2024, Blend in Outram is the exciting new chapter for Kaylene and Corey Matthews, who have been delighting customers for over a decade at their original café in Mosgiel. What began as an unexpected leap into the hospitality world has grown into a thriving local hub.When Kaylene and Corey first opened Blend in Mosgiel, neither had experience in hospitality. Corey brought 20 years of engineering knowledge, while Kaylene balanced being a busy mum (with four children) and working in data entry at a laboratory. But when the opportunity to open a café in their hometown came up, they seized it. Mosgiel needed another café, and with Kaylene’s passion for cooking, the couple was eager to learn. The menu began simply with Kaylene experimenting with recipes and perfecting techniques as they went along. A number of their recipes, like their savory scones, frittatas, and mouth-watering raspberry and white chocolate slice, have even featured in the "Ask a Chef" column of the ODT. Gluten-free options, like the chocolate raspberry brownie, are also firm favourites.
Thriving Through Challenges
While many businesses faced uncertainty during the Covid years, Blend saw it as an opportunity to grow. By embracing contactless services and catering to people working from home, they found new and interesting ways to keep the community fed and caffeinated. Delivery services such as Bopple, DoorDash, Deliverezy, and UberEats became crucial to keeping their loyal customers happy. Their catering for work shout-outs also quickly became an important of the business. The result? Blend not only survived the pandemic but thrived, growing from strength to strength.
Meet the Dynamic Team
Corey, a coffee enthusiast, is the heart of Blend’s welcoming atmosphere, making each cup with a smile. He’s passionate about creating a relaxed, friendly environment, and his love for Allpress coffee keeps people coming back. Kaylene, who makes the delicious slices for both locations, oversees the operation with energy and creativity, while Jodi and Geana handle baking everything from biscuits to friands on-site. In just a short time, Blend in Outram has become a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike, thanks to the hardworking team’s dedication and their fantastic menu. Open seven days a week, with only Christmas Day off, Blend is a cozy retreat from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
A Local Favorite for All
Outram’s Blend draws a diverse crowd, from local farmers and tradies to cyclists, retirees, young mums and travellers passing through. Although the inside is small the café’s outdoor seating offers a great view of the Maungatua mountain range, and with roll-down curtains, heaters, and blankets, customers can enjoy the fresh air even on cooler days. Dog owners also appreciate the pet-friendly vibe, complete with water bowls and dog biscuit treats. The extensive breakfast and brunch menu is one of the café’s standout features. From classic favorites like Eggs Benny and the Breakfast Stack to more unique options like tandoori chicken salads, frittatas, and quiches, there’s something for everyone. The cabinet food is delicious too - including pastries, pies, wraps, paninis and a variety of sweet treats. “We’ve built a loyal base of local regulars, from farmers and tradies to young families and the older generation,” says Corey. “It’s amazing to see so many people from different walks of life coming together here.”
A Place to Connect
Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Blend is more than just a café—it’s a welcoming meeting place for the whole community. With their combination of great food, a warm atmosphere, and exceptional service, it’s no surprise that the Outram location is already a hit. Kaylene and Corey’s dedication to making Blend a thriving, community-centered café is clear. Their story proves that with hard work, a passion for what you do, and a little bit of courage, anything is possible. |
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We’re pleased to let you know that Westpac has a Community Banker based at the Salvation Army Mosgiel once a week.
You can visit the banker for support with general banking services, including opening accounts, applying for loans or using online banking – please note they won’t be able to assist with any cash services.
What: Westpac Community Banker assistance Where: Salvation Army, 4 Lanark Street, Mosgiel When: Every Wednesday 9.30am – 4pm (keep an eye out for the Westpac sign ��).
For any assistance outside of this time, please reach out to Westpac’s Contact Centre Team on 0800 400 600, alternatively you can email the team at [email protected]
Westpac have indicated they’ll continue the community banking service as long as there’s strong interest and support from locals, so we encourage you to take advantage of it and let us know how it’s working for you! |
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