Four Merivale Community Centre staff resign, sparking urgent meeting

The Merivale Community Centre. Photo / George Novak

Four staff members have resigned from Merivale Community Centre.

The centre's board, however, says two staff members remain and it is confident in its direction.

An urgent community hui is planned tonight to address the concerns of people who rely on the centre's services.

A printed notice issued to residents stated there had been a "lot of disruption" with the centre and its programmes recently and staff "felt they had no choice but to resign" on July 23.

Their last official day of work would be August 13, it said.

As of June, nearly 200 young people were enrolled for the centre's service, which included free after-school drop-in, youth nights for rangatahi and leadership programmes.

The community centre, founded in 1993, also provides social services including counselling, GP clinics, access to social workers and budgeting advice.

The purpose of the community hui is to hear residents' concerns. Photo / George Novak

One of the four staff members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the resignations had nothing to do with "the community or the programmes".

She wanted to remain anonymous to respect all parties involved.

She told the Bay of Plenty Times four staff members had resigned.

Two had already officially left, and the other two would have their last day on August 13.

She hoped the meeting would help residents who use the centre's childcare programmes and services prepare for change ahead, and give them a space to be "heard and seen".

"It is so we can hear the community's worries and collate them and pass them on to the board before we leave," she said.

"And that we can do our best to try and make this next period as smooth as possible for the community, because they are our main priority.

"We have not been told what is going to happen to the centre once we leave."

Merivale Community Centre chairman Chris Rapson said the community hui had been organised by former staff members.

"They have called for this hui after their resignations were accepted."

He said the resignations were a "disappointment" but he respected the decisions.

"It is a shame we are losing some of these people but at the end of the day that is their decision," Rapson said.

"They have chosen to make their future with other organisations and we wish them well."

Rapson said the childcare programmes would continue, and the centre was seeking to hire replacement staff. Two staff members remained at the centre, he said.

They were in the process of figuring out how this would work.

The Merivale Community centre offers a free after-school service. Photo/George Novak

"We need to complete a recruitment process to make certain that we have got safety for our staff and the children that are attending sessions. There is a recruitment process under way, and those services to children will continue.

"But they must continue on a safe basis so, until that safety can be assured, there will be restricted numbers."

An independent "comprehensive review" of the situation, practices and team dynamic had been undertaken, he said.

"The board is confident in the direction that they are taking and that the benefit to the community would continue."

He said the objective was to "make change in a community that has multiple and complex problems".

"Being an agent of positive change, it is not an easy space to be in. As a community, we need to be moving forward so that the lives of the people we seek to serve are improved by our presence."

Rapson was unable to attend the meeting, but understood other board members would be present.

He said the board was always keen to hear suggestions and concerns from community members.

In June, the Bay of Plenty Times reported community centre staff were often forced to turn children away from their after-school programmes when they reach capacity.

Tauranga City Council approved $1.16 million for a new community centre in 2017 and because of resource consent delays and other complexities, the project was now expected to be completed by December 2022.

According to the council, setbacks had also been caused by the involvement of a number of stakeholders and external agencies.

• The meeting will run from 6pm to 7pm at the Merivale Community Centre tonight.