The Good Cents initiative in Porirua, has emerged as a locally grown response to concerns about debt and has grown into a community owned initiative that is focussed on transforming systems and structures in our community that create unsustainable debt.

Good Cents is about working collaboratively, across the whole community to identify how together each of our contributions can make a difference, and has just released its Strategy paper. To find out more and obtain a copy, read on.

For the past 16 years Wesley Community Action has run an emergency food bank in Cannons Creek, Porirua,  and now there are exciting plans to transform the food bank into a community garden and  pantry.

The Community garden and pantry will be a place where people can come to grow and harvest fruit and vegetables, share their skills and learn about gardening, cooking and healthy eating all while building strong community links. 

Completing a Good Cents budgeting programme has had many benefits for Kay (not her real name.) A $2,000 debt with the IRD has been re-accessed; she has managed to repay outstanding debts with 2 loan companies that were costing her $110 per week; and perhaps the main benefit; she has regained confidence in herself.