Welcoming Week 2026: Together We Belong

Welcoming Week is an opportunity to celebrate the people, places and connections that make the Timaru District a great place to call home.

This year's theme, Together We Belong, recognises that belonging is something we create together. Whether you've lived here your whole life, arrived recently from another part of New Zealand, or made Timaru District your home from overseas, everyone has a role to play in building a connected, inclusive and welcoming community.

Our district continues to grow and diversify, bringing together people from many cultures, backgrounds and experiences. These differences enrich our communities, strengthen our neighbourhoods, and help shape the future of our district. Welcoming Week is a chance to celebrate that diversity while recognising the things that unite us: a sense of place, shared experiences, and the relationships we build with one another.

In Timaru District, welcoming goes beyond a friendly greeting. It is about creating opportunities for people to connect, participate, contribute and feel valued. It is built through everyday acts of kindness, community involvement, shared learning, and the willingness to get to know our neighbours.

Two important Māori values sit at the heart of Welcoming Week in Aotearoa New Zealand:

Whanaungatanga – building and strengthening relationships, connections and belonging.

Manaakitanga – showing care, respect, generosity and hospitality towards others.

These values remind us that strong communities are created when people look out for one another and work together.

Throughout Welcoming Week, people across the district are invited to take part in events, activities and conversations that celebrate culture, foster understanding, and help create a community where everyone feels they belong.

From the mountains to the sea, and from our rural communities to our towns and neighbourhoods, Welcoming Week celebrates the people and relationships that make Timaru District home.

Nau mai rā. Welcome. Together, we belong.