After surviving a funding crisis and reopening in 2025, the Nelson Women's Centre is celebrating three decades of community service.
In December 1996, a group of local women set out to give a much-needed community service a permanent home. Starting with just $160, they raised $160,000 within 18 months to open the Women's House at 44 Trafalgar St.
Thirty years on, Nelson Women’s Centre Te Whare Āwhina Mō Ngā Wāhine Puawai is proud to continue that legacy of connection and practical support.
However, the road has not always been easy. In 2024, the loss of significant funding left the centre facing serious financial difficulties, resulting in staff redundancies and reduced services. When it reopened in March 2025, the focus was on rebuilding.
Since then, visits have grown from approximately 3000 to 4000 over 12-months. The Centre has also delivered around 1000 hours of free social work, 750 hours of counselling and 500 food support packages, alongside workshops and community activities.
“Thirty years is a remarkable achievement for a community organisation, and one that belongs to everyone who has helped make the Women’s Centre what it is today,” says Governance Committee co-chair Jasmine Herlt.
“We acknowledge the vision and determination of the women who established the centre, and the many people who have given their time, skills, generosity and leadership to sustain it. Our responsibility is to honour the work of those who came before us while ensuring the centre remains resilient, relevant and accessible for future generations.”
Executive director Augusta van Wijk says that the Centre must ensure its services remain accessible for future generations.
The centre focuses on early intervention and prevention rather than crisis support. Women and non-binary people can access social work, housing navigation, affordable counselling, food support, workshops and information, without a referral.
“We want people in Nelson Tasman to be able to say, as generations before them have said, ‘The Women’s Centre was there when I needed it’,” says Augusta. “That is the legacy we’re working to protect for the next 30 years.”
To celebrate, the centre is hosting a fundraising evening with broadcaster and presenter Petra Bagust at the Suter Theatre on Wednesday, 4 November.
The event runs from 7pm to 9pm with doors opening at 6.30pm. Tickets cost $49 and are available online or in person at Nelson Women’s Centre, 44 Trafalgar Street.
