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Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Rumours about Koha Shed lack any foundation

By Liz Wylie
Whanganui Chronicle·
2 Aug, 2015 06:57 PM4 mins to read

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NEW HOME: Grant Tantrum, Sherron Sunnex and Cristian Fifield are busy setting up the new Koha Shed in Duncan St.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 299715WCSMKOHA1

NEW HOME: Grant Tantrum, Sherron Sunnex and Cristian Fifield are busy setting up the new Koha Shed in Duncan St.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 299715WCSMKOHA1

Daffodils are springing up along the banks on the east side of the Whanganui River - a welcome sight to Koha Shed founder Sherron Sunnex.

"After all the damage, loss and hard work of recovery they are poking their pretty little heads up.

"It has been a month since the flood and Koha Shed volunteers have been turning up every day without a break," she said.

In the past month, the shed has grown from a small exchange in Ms Sunnex's garage to a busy goods depot and central point for volunteer labour in Hakeke St.

The neighbourhood has had an influx of people coming and going from the depot, which has caused a few problems.

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There have been reports of intimidation of neighbours, children going door-to-door asking for donations and a lack of accountability for funds.

Ms Sunnex is happy to respond to all the concerns raised and said it is a good opportunity to set the record straight.

"The Koha Shed has not sent any children door-to-door asking for donations and if anyone does knock on the door asking for donations, they haven't come from us.

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"There was a problem with a neighbour at Hakeke St and it did escalate and the police were called but no-one was arrested and I think it has been resolved."

Since the flood, the Koha Shed has received donations of $1500 in petrol vouchers from Te Oranganui for the purpose of reimbursing volunteers for travel, $2000 from Wanganui Rotary and $240 proceeds from a raffle.

"The petrol vouchers are given out to volunteers on a regular basis and the volunteers rarely ask - I find I have to offer and there are still plenty left.

"We have a bank account and all the money we have received has been deposited and remains untouched.

"My administration skills are quite rusty so I don't deal with those things and there are two signatories for the account we have set up and the Eastside Community Church have agreed to act as an umbrella for us in terms of administrative functions."

Ms Sunnex said the Koha Shed philosophy is about keeping things simple and being able to respond to peoples' needs in an immediate way. "People who need food grants and don't have eligibility from WINZ have to collect a form and get to foodbanks before they close which is usually at lunch time.

"If someone comes to us and their money has gone on something it shouldn't have, we don't judge them - we feed their children because the children need to eat and it's not their fault."

Mayor Annette Main said the Wanganui Rotary donation was tagged for the Koha Shed and administered through the Mayoral Relief Fund.

"Applications are encouraged and come to the mayoral fund directly and they are recorded and allocated according to need based on available funds. An application has been made to the Regional Trust based on applications to date."

The mayor said it is the same process as occurred in 2004 and 2006.

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"There are still many people who are needing assistance to rebuild their lives and the fund is one way of helping that process," Ms Main said.

For Ms Sunnex and the Koha Shed volunteers there is more hard work ahead with a move to a new premises - the old scout hall in Duncan St and they will open there on Monday.

"Martin Wu who owns the Hakeke St building has been kind enough to let us use it but he now wants to open it for youth programmes he plans to run."

The Koha Shed will now be open from 10am until 2pm week days and 10am until 1pm on Saturdays.

"I never planned to extend the service beyond my garage but it's taken on a life of its own since the flood and koha sheds have popped up around New Zealand and overseas," said Ms Sunnex.

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