Friendly Support Network
    New Zealand

    What is the Friendly Support Network?

    It is an organisation of volunteers, who give their time freely to others, mainly people of Dutch descent, who are in need of support.

    FSN groups exist in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Timaru. Nelson, Dunedin and Invercargill may follow in the near future.

    These groups provide moral and practical support to Dutch people in New Zealand. It is a kind of S.O.S. telephone service and besides the listening a lot more is given in case there is need for it.

    Moral support for the terminally ill, the bereaved, help with the coping of suicidal tendencies and criminality in the family are offered. These are a few examples of the kind of support the FSN is able to provide.

    Help is also offered with housekeeping, for instance: cleaning, cooking and shopping.

    Translation of documents, preparing of CVs and the laying of contacts between client and different organisations.

    Support is not only for the older members of the community but also for the newly arrived immigrants.

    In certain instances financial support can be obtained. Applications are passed on to the Board of Trustees by the local FSN group, who will decide to pass such an application.

    How is it possible for the FSN to exist?

    The setting up of a local FSN group is financed by a grant of the Trust. After that a group is expected to be financial independent. Therefore members organise fund-raising. Often a local business, with a Dutch background, will give financial support in return for advertising in FSN newsletters. The local groups apply for grants through, for instance, the Lotto Board.

    Who are the FSN volunteers?

    A group of people, who all speak the Dutch language, some of these have been trained to give special care to the needy, some have administrative backgrounds, some possess advisory qualities, etc. But all of them have a strong desire to support the Dutch people in New Zealand, who are in need of help in some way or other.

    All members have signed a confidentiality certificate, so people who do require support can be assured that all information given to a caregiver will at all times remain confidential.

    Those who require information or support can contact the following:

    • Auckland:

      • *Mrs M L Denee-Sieger
      Tel.09.524 4167
      Mrs M Kelderman
      Tel.09.834 6247
    • Waikato:

      • Mrs M C van Vught
      Tel.07.824 1771
      *Mrs R van Rijen
      Tel.07.823 6789
      Fax.07.823 6789
    • Tauranga:

      • Mr G Oster
      Tel.07.576 1087
    • Rotorua:

      • Mrs Corrie van den Berg
      Tel.07 349 1789
    • Central Districts:

      • Mr J H Bos
      Tel.06.355 4666
      Mrs P Foster-Koenders
      Tel.06.355 2815
    • Wellington:

      • Mrs M van der Meel
      Tel.04.383 7948
      Mrs L Visser
      Tel.04.563 7430
    • Canterbury:

      • *Mrs Y McLeod-Saris
      Tel.03 354 1106
      email:ian@sirranet.co.nz
      Mrs I Hilgeholt
      Tel/Fax .03 338 0647
       
    • South Canterbury:

      • Mrs A de Ridder
      Tel.03.688 9986