Coromandel Heartland Service Centre

Heartlands is a government funded inter agency initiative that enables people in rural areas to access government services. The Centre is based at Tiki House in Coromandel Town and is accessed by local residents and those living in the isolated communities of Colville, Port Charles, Papa Aroha, Koputauaki, Kennedy Bay, Whangapoua and Manaia. In addition to government agencies, other social services providers regularly book the rooms to see clients.

At the centre members of the public are able to:

• access government agencies, NGO’s, or community providers
• use video conferencing facility
• use a room to meet if a community organisation/group, or MP
• easily make an appointment to see an agency, or find out the easiest way to do it
• use computers with broadband and wi-fi
• ask for information about practically anything
• People who use the HSC have commented that…
• they appreciate not having to travel long distances to see government representatives (e.g., Inland Revenue; Maori Land Court – the main office for Maori land in this area is Hamilton)
• feel at ease in the surroundings and atmosphere of Tiki House and their own town
• if they didn’t have some of our services they wouldn’t be able to live here
• they can call on CILT staff for support
• they are always thankful for the help and service

In the last twelve months, there were 1518 face-to-face appointments with a government or non-government representative at the centre. This is a substantial number considering the population of Coromandel Town is only 1500. There were also 2867 support calls, emails, faxes and internet inquires related to seeing visiting agencies.

Agencies accessing the rooms included Probation, Māori Land Court, IRD, Community Mental Health, ACC, Workwise, as well as counsellors, computer tutors, speech and language therapists, an osteopath, masseuse and acupuncturist.

Residents are visiting agencies are very grateful for the service with positive feedback from regular surveys including comments such as:

“Keep up the good work please. Very worthwhile having these sorts of services come to our community especially for people who are not able to get to Thames or Hamilton.”

“This service is invaluable in a small rural community with no public transport. Long may it prosper and be continually funded!”

Coromandel Heartland Service Centre, Tiki House, 45 Tiki Road, Coromandel

The Whanau room at Tiki house

Visit us at:

Tiki House

45 Tiki Road

Monday to Thursday 9am to 3pm

07 866 8358 (phone and fax)

cilt@cilt.org.nz