For new manager Catherine Fletcher, working in the Citizens Advice Bureau is in her blood.  

“My mother was a volunteer in South Auckland [CAB] for 30 years, so we grew up hearing about issues that everyday people deal with,” says Catherine, who has recently taken the helm of Tauranga’s CAB. 

“It feels good to follow in her footsteps. Mum wrote the training manual, served on the national committee, and was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for her work.” 

The manual has been updated, but the issues remain the same, says Catherine. 

“People needing food parcels, struggling to pay high rent, not being able to find a rental property, domestic violence and employment exploitation. Those problems aren’t going away.” 

At Tauranga CAB Catherine manages a team of 55 volunteers who range in profession from lawyers to physiotherapists, and undergo rigorous training. 

“When you talk to us, you’re getting accurate information from dedicated people with a great wealth of knowledge. 

“We collaborate with organisations like the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Multicultural New Zealand and Women’s Refuge so that our advice is up-to-date and more relevant than if you searched online yourself.” 

The Citizens Advice Bureau isn’t government funded – so it relies heavily on community support and donations.  

“We have five outreach clinics; Welcome Bay, Pāpāmoa, Te Puke, Greerton and Ōmokoroa and we’d like to stretch out to Katikati, so we need more volunteers to make that happen,” says Catherine.  

“One of the new tools on the website is designed for youth, so we’re hoping to attract younger volunteers as well as people from different cultures.” 

Find out more about Tauranga CAB in Catherine’s monthly column in The Weekend Sun. Turn to page 28 for her first instalment.