Trust work recognised at relaunch

UNSUNG: Deputy Mayor Elaine Brazendale cuts the ribbon at the Wairarapa Safer Community Trust launch at St Mark's Church, Carterton. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

An organisation that too often flies "under the radar" has celebrated its rebranding with a relaunch and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Wairarapa Safer Community Trust, formerly known as the Southern Wairarapa Safer Community Council, used its relaunch on Friday afternoon to showcase its youth and family services with a presentation to the public.

Before cutting the ribbon, Deputy Mayor Elaine Brazendale spoke about how the organisation's work had often gone unrecognised.

"We've seen them doing so much great work in our community and so much of it is under the radar and they haven't received as many pats on the back as they would have if we'd known about it."

Pupils from Carterton School performed a song and haka to mark the occasion before guests were introduced to members of the team.

The trust also used the event to introduce its newest programme "Whakapuaki Whanau", a kaupapa Maori programme which aims to support and guide youth and their families in a positive way.

Maori Party co-leader and MP Marama Fox commended the trust's work to "wrap support around the child".

"The kaupapa Maori approach means those people who are affected can be reconnected through language, culture and identity," Mrs Fox said.

She believed the new programme would offer benefits for Maori and non-Maori alike, she said.