Communities
Nelson has lots of cultural groups. If your group wants to be added or updated, please let us know. Please contact groups for genuine local community inquiries only.
Bhutanese Society Nelson
Bhutanese Community of Nelson, is a not for profit and incorporated society run by the Bhutanese resettled in Nelson, New Zealand. They are a society of Nepali speaking Bhutanese who were forcefully evicted from Bhutan. Their aim is to provide relevant and up to date information that is easy to find, so that the Bhutanese Society of Nelson is well informed.
Contact: Bhoj Raj Subba (President)
Chinese affiliated groups
NZ China Friendship Society - NZCFS Nelson
The Nelson Branch was formed in 1991 and has over 80 members. Meetings are held on the last Friday of the month at the Hearing Association House, 354 Trafalgar Street, Nelson.
Branch President: Barbara Markland
erm@xtra.co.nz / 03 544 4712
Treasurer and Membership Secretary: Ian Lister
treasurer.ncfs@gmail.com/ 027 229 0020
NZ Chinese Association - Nelson and Marlborough Branch
Fiji-Indian Community "Nelson Sanatan Ramayan Mandli"
Contact: Danial Vikash Prasad (President and Preacher)
Filipino Community
Contact: Christian Pesino of the Nelson-Tasman Filipino Community Inc (President) or contact Marie Lindaya (stay2positive@gmail.com)
Nelson Filipino cultural Dancers (Cristy Aydon - email: cristyaydon@gmail.com)
Hindu Community Priest
Pandit Bishnu Bhakta Adhikari, an ordained Hindu priest, conducts Hindu Pujas, religious rituals of marriage and death, family and community ceremonies, private and public recitals of Holy Hindu Scriptures, besides all other duties and priestly functions deemed necessary in Hindu Dharma practices.
Hispanic & Latin American affiliated groups
Colombian Community
Contact: Jaime Diaz (President)
Ronal Cortez (Vice President) +64 21 168 1913, Email: ronal1995cortes@gmail.com
Latin Dance Community
HOLA! Hey bienvenido to our community!
Join us and share the love for Latin dancing - Cuban rhythms, salsa, bachata, kizomba, merengue and more.
We run regular classes, workshops, events and parties.
Contact: Pablo Salas (Pabs)
Nelson Spanish Club
Bienvenidos Spanglish speakers!
This is a friendly gathering of people from around Nelson to practice and learn Spanish. Practicamos vocabulario, grammar, different latino accents, costumbres y idioms de los hispanohablantes. Con games and/or fun interactive activities. So, It is time to practice some Spanglish aye! Todos los niveles son bienvenidos - We meet every 2nd Thursday. Get in contact with us. Nos vemos
Contact: Pablo Salas
Spanish Speaking Community
“Hablamos Espanol” - spanish speakers meet on the first Monday of the month, 7.30pm at The Freehouse, 99 Collingwood Streeet, Nelson. Contact person is Dayanira.
IndoNelson Community
We embrace multicultural community activities and we became an umbrella to Indonesian community living in Nelson, New Zealand. We welcome the newcomers and assist the best we can to help them integrate into New Zealand way of life. IndoNelson also opens its door to Indonesian diaspora, the community who loves and embraces Indonesian cultures.
Contact: Mini Howie (Chairwoman)
Irish Community
Contact: Lianna Conner - Kahurangi Irish Dance Co.
Email: dance@kahurangi.dance
Japanese affiliated groups
Japanz Kidz Educational Group
We meet weekly, with the purpose of teaching children with Japanese heritage, about the language and culture of Japan.
Contact: Yuki Eagashira
Kayoko +64 21 183 9829
Nelson Miyazu Sister City Association
Miyazu City is situated in the north of Kyoto Prefecture on the main island of Honshu. With a population of approximately 30,000, Miyazu shares many of Nelson's characteristics.
Contact: Lyndal McMeeking
Muslim affiliated groups
Nelson Shia Muslim Community
To promote friendship and prayer for the Shia Community.
Contact: Sanam Mukhtar
Nelson Whakatu Muslim Association
The president is: Aiyaz Shah ( +64 21 056 4864)
The contact person is Secretary: Nissa Mowjood
Bringing all Muslims together for friendship and prayer.
Gatherings at the Trafalgar Hall, 67 Trafalgar St, Nelson.
Jummah Prayer – every Friday – winter – 12:30pm; summer – 1:30pm
Educational Forum – every Sunday – 6:30pm
Social Meal – 1st Sunday of each month – please ring Nissa for time
Myanmar affiliated groups
Zomi Innkuan Society, Nelson
We are a community organization representing Zomi ethnic families originally from Chin State of Myanmar. It is a member organization of Zomi Innkuan New Zealand.
Activities: Zomi Christian Fellowship – Every Sunday at 2pm & Zolai – Mother tongue classes
Contact: Pa Thang Teng Maung
Monica
Nelson Malayalee Community
We are a South Indian settlement in Nelson, New Zealand, originally from the Indian state of Kerala. We speak Malayalam and we are known as Malayalee.
Nelson Sambassadors
A local group based in Samba and Brazilian rhythms – Dance & percussion class and performances
Contact: Leonara Soares
Palestinian Community
Contact: Saed Alazza
All are welcome to visit my Falafel food truck on Trafalgar St near NCC.
Pasifika Nelson Tasman Community
Our community consists of approximately 1,500 people, mostly living in and around the urban areas of Nelson and Richmond. Originally from the islands of the Pacific including: Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomons and Hawaii.
Out mission is to provide, support and strengthen the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Community to grow, achieve and prosper.
Sri Lankan Community
Contact: Janaka Assaddumage, owner/baker L’Artisan @ 167 Hardy St, Nelson
Thai affiliated groups
Thai Buddhist Temple
Contact: Venerable Somchai
377 Lower Queen St, Richmond Nelson
Thai Community
Contact person: Jasmine Yordsiri (email: worawanyordsiri@gmail.com)
Please contact Jasmine for Thai cooking classes.
Ukrainian community
Tautoko Ukraine Charitable Trust
Chairperson: Lyubov Lawrence (Email: lyubov.lawrence@gmail.com)
Secretary: Dmitry Romanenko (Email: romanenkodv@gmail.com )
USA Nelson Club
The Nelson USA Club aims is to celebrate holidays specific to the United States that commemorate historical events or encourage a common national memory for children living in Nelson Bays region with American citizenship.
