Marlborough Multicultural CentreThe Marlborough Multicultural Centre recently brought together board members, staff, and community representatives for a governance training workshop facilitated by LEAD - the Centre for Not for Profit Governance and Leadership.
The session, held at the Scenic Hotel in Blenheim on 8 June 2026, gave participants practical tools and fresh thinking on what it means to govern well - covering topics such as board responsibilities, effective decision-making, and how to run more purposeful meetings. The workshop drew on frameworks used across the not-for-profit sector in Aotearoa New Zealand, encouraging participants to reflect on how their own boards and community groups can become more focused, more effective, and better prepared for the future.
The training attracted a diverse group of participants, reflecting MMC's commitment to building leadership capacity not just within its own organisation but across the wider multicultural community in Marlborough.
Among those attending was Rita, a woman from Kiribati who is active in both her church and school board. Rita had visited the MMC office to inquire about the workshop, initially thinking it had something to do with funding - but decided to attend anyway, and was glad she did.
"I came thinking it was about funding," she said, "but I am so happy I stayed. I learned so much. So many things I can now take back to my church and to the school board - things I did not know before."
Her experience was echoed by MMC Acting Chair Patricia Miranda-Taylor, who brought to the session her experience across multiple boards - and still found herself taking away new insights.
"Even with my experience on other boards, I learned a great deal from this session," she said. "There are things I am genuinely keen to put into practice."
Her reflection speaks to the value of dedicated governance training - not just for those new to board roles, but for experienced leaders too. Good governance is never a destination; it is an ongoing practice.
MMC Centre Manager Matilde Figuracion said the session was an important step in MMC's ongoing commitment to building capability across the Marlborough multicultural community. "Governance matters - whether you are leading a national organisation or a small community group. We wanted our board, our team, and people from the communities we serve to have access to this knowledge together."
For more information about MMC's programmes and upcoming events, visit mmc.nz or call 03 579 6410.
