As winter sets in, a new community initiative is working to make homes in the region warmer, drier, and healthier.
The Curtain Bank Nelson Tasman and Marlborough officially launched 12 months ago, providing donated curtains to families in need across the top of the South Island.
Co-founder Claire McKenzie says she knew of curtain banks in Christchurch and Wellington and wanted to get one up and running here.
“I worked in the health sector for many years and was always interested in the community-based side of things – health promotion and the prevention of illness.”
She then partnered up with Dave Pullen, who spent time working with the New Zealand Home Heating Association, to make it a reality. And with some help from Te Piki Oranga, EECA, Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, and the Network Tasman Trust, the curtain bank is now in full swing.
By the end of March 2025, they had helped 18 households and fitted curtains in 48 rooms.
At this stage, Claire says they only accept clients on referral from organisations such as Te Piki Oranga, Family Start, and Age Concern.
“Eventually, lower-income families may be able to self-refer with a Community Services Card – particularly families where kids might have respiratory issues, or their housing situation is exacerbating illnesses.”
As well as providing health benefits, Dave says curtains are crucial from an energy-efficiency perspective. “Curtains are the next most important thing, after doing any draft-proofing or insulation.”
Claire says most of the clients they have helped so far haven’t had any curtains at all, or the curtains are inadequate.
“We get given the window sizes and then we dive into our stock to see what we’ve got.”
Their storeroom is full of curtains donated by private individuals, motels, retirement villages, and even curtain manufacturers.
Volunteers then add new lining if it is needed or alter them to fit an odd-shaped window.
“One great big curtain can be made better into two, so we can alter them to fit the specific window that they’re going to,” Claire explains.
They are always accepting donations of clean, mould-free curtains, and they are also looking for volunteers, she adds.
“You don’t have to have any particular skills, but if somebody had experience in using an industrial sewing machine, that’s an advantage.”
Good shelving is also a must to keep things organised and Claire says they were able to purchase the majority of their shelves with a $1,500 grant from Network Tasman Trust.
“It’s amazing, we couldn’t manage without it and Mitre 10 gave us a really good price.”
To donate curtains or find out more about volunteering, email curtainbank.nelson@gmail.com or call 0220874877.
