I naively believed Tim was just offering his pharmacy space to allow PostShop and KiwiBank to relocate.
I promise to catch up with Tim in the new year to better understand the arrangement but Tim, what a blessing you are supporting this service.
Kimi Ora Primary School principal Matt O'Dawd invites us to the school's X Factor production. Pam and I sit and listen to the children - the finalists.
Blaze Werea comes out to sing solo. He has the moves, the look and loads of confidence. Fovale and Miri take first prize.
I watch proud parents wipe away tears as their children perform.
Matt discusses with Pam and I how Kimi Ora offers breakfast in schools. Matt intends to extend that to providing lunch in school.
It's next door to Te Aranga Marae, so we have had a longstanding relationship with Kimi Ora Primary. Today, Christmas lunch is being prepared for all students, with invitations extended to us.
Delivery of our 2016 Heroes Calendar to every household in Flaxmere is under way. Groups volunteer their time to do this for us.
Pam co-ordinates delivery, with marked maps and a list of groups offering to assist.
Taikura Steiner School is here today for two days, to help in our garden.
Students help us with the planting of kumara seedlings. The seedlings have been raised in our garden, with knowledge transferred of how to raise kumara by Hanui Lawrence of Aunty's Garden. We have enough seedlings to give away.
Our Takitimu Ora Whanau Ora collective workshop is held - our first. The attendance is fantastic and we plan to debrief next week to follow up on key actions. The collective impact framework provides good structure to guide our "Rangatahi to Rangatira", ensuring young people aged 15-19 within our respective communities are engaged in employment, education or training.
I am particularly taken by someone representing the Te Aratika drilling company. Pastoral care and employing those young people who may have come from a troubled background is the way in which this company operates.
Participants are informed right from the outset of the workshop that if they are there to gain financially or just to warm a seat then they are welcome to leave.
This workshop is not for that purpose. It's about all of us collectively contributing to address an issue. How can you contribute? No one leaves.
I'm worried about my mate Henare O'Keefe.
He is limping with his sore hip. Years of rugby playing, he tells me. I watch him struggling with stairs and in obvious pain. We will have to try again to get him back into the system.
Pain is no fun. It's not like my mate to be quiet - pain can alter your overall physical and emotional wellbeing. If I could wave a magic wand ...
I receive a "celebrating 20 years of giving" box of quotation cards from the Tindall Foundation. The first quote: "New Zealand is full of inspiring people who put their hearts into creating positive change. They care about people, they are passionate about communities and they believe in a better world for everyone."
I do believe we have a caring community. I continue to be struck by the goodwill and ongoing selfless acts of giving around me.
I realise I only have one more opinion piece for 2015. Andrew (editor, Hawke's Bay Today) might even give me a couple of weeks off over Christmas/New Year so I can put down the pen and have a break.
-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.
