20/04/2022
This was a big, big effort from all of the Nelson community and here’s who helped get these amazing bits of inclusive equipment in tahunanui.
Thank you to everyone who was involved it’s made a big difference in peoples lives who needs wheels to get around.
Massive team effort!
So good to see the new Mobi Mat being rolled out at Tāhunanui Beach this week.
Moana Paddle Nelson's Toby Wild tells me feedback has been awesome, particularly from a 91 year old user who gave it a big thumbs up.
One of the nicest things about the project has been seeing how thrilled people across the board have been about the mat. It tells me this is a community that wants an inclusive and accessible city for all.
Given how well it’s been received, it’s worth pointing out that the mat represents a massive team effort. It was driven by the Nelson Host Lions Club, made largely possible by Moana Paddle Nelson and supported by Nelson City Council but in the background there is a long list of people that helped to make it happen.
The story goes that last year the Lions set up a Givealittle page to fund the Accessibility Carousel at the Tāhunanui Lions Playground and the mat. A bunch of locals then decided to give that page a serious boost. Meg Wells from The Custom Space - Joinery and Spray Painting, Annie and Blair Riley from Rollos Locksmiths and Monique Ireland teamed up to run a series of raffles and put a call out to businesses around the region and across the country to come up with prizes. Brilliantly, over 60 people responded with donations and then the team went hard out selling tickets. In the end, they raised $10,560 towards the costs of the carousel and the mat.
Cool, eh? The individuals and businesses who made those fundraisers possible include….
NZ Collab
Good Pops
Ana Galloway Photography
Rollos
The Reed Smith
The Custom Space
The Custom Creative
Guytons
Sublime Coffee Roasters
Jaks Island Espresso and Catering
Trafalgar St Tattoo
Kombucha Bros
Viva la Vaca
Finest Kind Ltd
Kathryn Furniss Artist
chloemytton_watercolour
Clouds of Colour
Pic's Peanut Butter
Baby Mumma
Kayla Hoult
Hair Envy
Proper Crisps
Little Engine Eatery
Nelson Classic Car Museum
HALO Haircare Society
SHE Nail Artistry
Amelia Boland
Ivana Mila Photography
Mahli & Me
Sisterhood Fashion NZ
What Sarah Bakes
Nelson Beauty Therapy
Little Beehive Co-op
Ruby & Rain
Pebble & Dot.
B R O N N S M I T H
Studio Soph'
Sprig + Fern Brewing Co.
Rachael Brown Photography
A Nourishing Notion
Plant & Share
HH Ceramics
Aquarium Vibes
The Tides
The Hair Boutique
Sweet not Sugar
Pita Pit New Zealand
nativebirdfeathers
Raglan Roast Tahunanui
Founders Heritage Park
Posie The Label
Jumpin' Nelson
Pakawau Beach Park
Tasman Mako
Nelson Paragliding
MyheartsingsNZ
Sabre's Party Animals
Happy Day Tattoos
Nester
So well done you lot! Seriously, you’ve helped to do something fantastic for our community. You’ve also provided us with a great example of what’s possible when people work together. It’s a very cool thing. The only question is…what’s next?!