Dream South D Newsletter

June 2025

Kia ora koutou - welcome to Dream South D’s winter newsletter!

We hope this newsletter finds you well and that you’re keeping warm as we move into the colder months!

At Dream South D, we’re currently in the middle of many fabulous projects and have completed a number over the past 6 months.  This newsletter is a combined March and June update as Rosie has been working alone while we recruited our newest Dream South D team member - Vanessa Kirkpatrick. 

Vanessa has worked in community development programmes for over a decade both in the UK and NZ.  She gained a Social Work degree at the University of Otago, she has previously worked in HR, Volunteer Management and Recruitment and brings a strong skill set as our Communications Lead and Project Coordinator.  We welcome her to the team and please feel free to pop in and say hello when you’re next passing Dream South D.  

A quick summary of our completed projects include:

SOUTH DUNEDIN SPRING CLEAN

On the 2nd March at Victoria Road Carpark - 64 carloads participated, filling two and a quarter skips in total. There was a collaboration with Com2Tech and Cargills Enterprises to assist with collection and disposal of e-waste. Com2tech assisted onsite to collect and sort e-waste into what was useful for them to refurbish and what needed to go to Cargills for disposal. They also delivered community engagement activities such as; repairing items onsite and speaking to their mahi and services. At this event we also created a space where items in good condition were available for participants to take home and reuse/repurpose.

Com2Tech was able to collect 118kg of working/useful stuff and 443kg of e-waste went to Cargills. In addition to this a further 10 TV’s went to the Green Island refuse centre.

Save Money Skips were fantastic on the day and our 5 volunteers were incredibly helpful supporting the public with the spring clean.  Feedback from participants was positive and appreciative. We received comments such as ‘‘Great initiative, thanks so much.’’ 

EASTER TRAIL

We ran a free activity for families along the main street of South Dunedin over the first week of the April school holidays. 62 people participated in the activity (35 kids and 27 adults) all the craft packs were distributed.  It proved a great project to invite people into our office and talk about what we do, talking about local volunteer opportunities, the community gardens, as well as local services and events.

We had a number of chocolate eggs left over so we made up some special chocolate packs and took them to the pātaka kai stand near Bathgate Park School.

ART WORKSHOPS WITH ANA TEOFILO  - RETURN TO PARADISE

In May we dived into the rich heritage of Polynesian motifs, and learnt the stories behind the symbols and created a unique artwork.  The artworks were displayed in the Dream South D window and then the participants were able to take it home.  71 people participated over 4 community workshops for both children and adults, held at the Armitage and had great feedback, including many participants continuing to practice and create the art work at home.  Ana Teofilo, South Dunedin Pasifika artist, runs many workshops around Dunedin, it was amazing to work with her and provide these workshops free of charge for the South Dunedin community.

DID YOU KNOW? DOTS

Dots - are out and about in the community. This project is about reminding ourselves (and our visitors) of the rich, diverse, and unique character that defines South Dunedin. Celebrating the people and places that make South Dunedin special.  Huge thanks to volunteers Patricia McLean and to Michael McLennan who volunteered with us for the day from Community Care Trust for helping out!  Read more about this project with The Star

GLOW UP

Lighting up King Edward Street to brighten the long, dark winter mornings, afternoons and evenings and bring some glow to our community.

Take a trip along King Edward Street from mid June to mid July to see participating stores lighting up their windows and entrances to create a vibrant and welcoming winter streetscape. 

Projects we’re working on include:

Sports Reconnect with Sport Otago

Halloween Fright Night on Ice

Kids Art Exhibit 

Christmas Light Up

Lorne St: rejuvenation of this area to bring more life into it

To find out more about any of our projects, to volunteer, or to see how Dream South D might support your kaupapa, you can:

• pop in for a chat between 9am-4.30pm, Monday-Friday at 183 King Edward St

• call 022 507 1122

• email hello@dreamsouthd.org.nz

• or click below to have a look at our Community Plan.