Tairua Care &
Friendship Club
ABOUT US
The Tairua Care & Friendship Club is a friendly, community-based organisation supporting people in Tairua and surrounding areas.
Founded in the early 1990s, the club began as a simple weekly gathering to bring people together. Over time, it has grown into an essential local service, helping residents stay connected, independent, and able to access the care they need.
Today, we provide both social connection and practical support, with a strong focus on helping those who may otherwise find it difficult to get around.
We provide a reliable, door-to-door transport service for people who need help getting to medical appointments, dental visits, shopping trips, and essential errands.
We also bring people together through regular gatherings and activities - weekly (Tuesday) lunches; shared lunches; friendly conversation and companionship.
Our services are available to people in Tairua, Hikuai, Pauanui and surrounding areas. We especially support older adults, people living alone, and anyone who needs assistance with transport or social connection.
We are part of the Waikato Community Transport Group the covers the whole of the Waikato and there about 38 separate groups and as such we have become a powerful advocating on your behalf.
Committee Members
Chairperson
Donna Earley
Donna has been a valued member of the Tairua community since 1998, when she moved to the area and went on to own and operate Tairua Dive and Fishinn. During this time, she raised her four children in the community while actively contributing to local initiatives and organisations.
Donna has served on both the Information Centre Committee and the Residents and Ratepayers Committee, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to community development. She has been instrumental in creating and leading a range of successful local events and programmes, including the Tairua Dive Festival, the NZ Dive Trail, Santa by the Sea, Teen Dive Camp, and various school holiday programmes.
She is currently working as a real estate agent and holds an MBA from the University of the Sunshine Coast, bringing strong business acumen and leadership experience to her role.
With a deep passion for community connection and coastal life, Donna brings energy, experience, and dedication to her role as Chairperson.
Vice-Chair
Ben Grubb
My wife and I are both retired and both volunteers for Tairua’s Care & Friendship Club.
Donna is part of one of the Tuesday Community Lunch cooking teams rostered on once every six weeks. Her team are ‘crazy ladies’, her desserts are world famous in Tairua.
I am one of the Club’s drivers. I am rostered on for a 5 day week once every six weeks. It is an easy gig. I usually drive two or three days in my week and can swap my week or individual days with other drivers if there is conflict with other things Donna and I do……..family or travel plans or whatever.
I don’t mind the driving. The Club’s vehicles are new and safe and easy to drive.
I really enjoy meeting the people I take….. a huge variety of seriously interesting people. Sometimes it is me mostly listening to quite remarkable experiences and things I know little about. Often it is just sharing things in common.
Both Donna and I are involved because we see the importance of what the Club does…… the fellowship and comraderie of the weekly lunches…..the providing of essential transport for people unable or hesitant to drive return trips to Thames or Hamilton themselves.
Secretary
Jane Latta
My name is Jane Latta and I am a 64-year-old community-minded woman who serves as Secretary
of Tairua Care & Friendship, where I am dedicated to supporting the committee in all matters of
administration, as is required. I enjoy meeting with the committee and appreciate all the efforts of
volunteers and committee members alike in the running of a successful and vital community
organisation.
I am a proud mother of two adult children, I value family, friendship, and the importance of looking
out for one another. I enjoy cycling and making the most of the outdoors, finding joy in staying
active and connected to my surroundings. I deeply appreciate the close-knit community of Tairua
and am committed to contributing, as many do, to the well being of the town, this being why it
makes it such a special place to live.
Treasurer
Ton van der Meer
A while ago, a good friend asked whether I would consider becoming treasurer of the Tairua Care and Friendship Club, knowing my long background in accounting and finance.
After completing my master’s degree in business economics, I became involved in socially responsible finance in the late 1980s—at a time when the idea of achieving both social and financial returns on investment was still quite new. I went on to become CEO of a trust that enabled people to choose where their savings would be invested as loans, supporting areas such as education, complementary health, sustainable agriculture, environmental initiatives, and other activities.
Our approach focused on supporting worthwhile projects from the bottom up, driven by individuals rather than top-down structures. We believed that small contributions from many people could create meaningful impact—and that financial and social returns are not mutually exclusive.
Now that I am retired, it is a privilege to be able to use my experience once again to support others.
Van Coordinator
Marnie Goodman
After my partner passed I found myself at a loose end and up popped the position for van coordinator.
I absolutely love my "Job". It is my pleasure to help in anyway I can sometimes it is just to chat. My greatest thrill is when I get to meet some of the people we helped.
It can be quite challenging at times juggling people times drivers and vehicles not to mention closed roads slips and floods.
Lunch Coordinator
Agnes Topman
Testimonials from our Customers
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