Tauranga’s Free Public Advocacy Service has made it easier to access it outside business hours.

The service now offers a Saturday clinic from 10am to noon at Tauranga City Library, founder Carol Heena said.

“And we’ve launched a link on our website — https://freepublicadvocacyservice.co.nz/ — that allows people to contact us online, so we can capture clients’ details and issues.”

The service aims to provide free assistance for people of all ages struggling to access essential services, Heena said.

Established in November 2023, two agencies began operating from Greerton Library and Welcome Bay Community Centre, with two advocates sharing the responsibilities.

Wider coverage area

Today, the service has five volunteer advocates and is available at three further weekly clinics at Arataki, Pāpāmoa and Te Puke. “This has improved our ability to access clients from a wider area with the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Moana.”

With a 100% increase in inquiries for help since the extra clinics opened, the service had supported 48 individuals so far this year with free advocacy advice on issues including insurance, ACC, WINZ, tenancy problems, Mbie, and Dispute Tribunal matters, Heena said.

While some clients receive regular advice and guidance, others have one-off inquiries.

“Our clients welcome the free and easy access to helpful advice and advocacy within their community. This service is offered without restraint on financial or residency status.

“[The fact that] we are offered positive feedback openly without being solicited validates our service.”

Successes

Heena said the service had achieved some remarkable success since it began.

“In one instance, an advocate accompanied and assisted a social housing tenant to the Tenancy Tribunal seeking reimbursement for disputed expenses incurred and was awarded $1400 from the landlord.”

Another win stemmed from a solo mother of five receiving an eviction notice from emergency accommodation.

“The mother was very distraught because the children were settled in a nearby school, and she didn’t want to upset the established routine of her children by having to relocate.

“We were able to arrange references of support from a nurse and a social worker from the school the children were attending.”

The result was the mother and children were allowed to remain in the emergency accommodation.

“Sometimes things don’t turn out right for the client, but we can usually get a reasonable conclusion,” Heena said.

Get in touch

“At other times we’re not suitably qualified to help — but we will continue to support our clients through the process if needed.”

This year, the service intends on consolidating its work “so we can bring our help further into the communities where people who need it live,” Heena said.

To access help or contact Tauranga’s Free Public Advocacy Service, visit: freepublicadvocacyservice.co.nz