JP RECOGNISED – 2021 QUEENS BIRTHDAY HONOURS

Congratulations to Ms Danielle Bergin JP of Point England who was honoured in the 2021 Queens Birthday Honours List as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the community and particularly the homeless.  Your association is very proud of you Danielle and congratulations on your award.

Citation – Ms Danielle Bergin is the Founder and Manager of the Island Child Charitable Trust New Zealand. Ms Bergin, while running an op shop in Panmure, noticed homeless people sleeping outside her shop and in cars and allowed them to sleep in her shop as needed. Following this she bought a property in Point England in 2005 and established the Island Child Charitable Trust as a homeless shelter, developing this into one of the most successful in the country. Her ability to network in the community has seen her re-house families sometimes within days and not the usual twelve-week minimum period. She has developed a relationship with Sistema, who have donated products such as lunch boxes and drink bottles for children staying at the shelter. Island Child has since grown from one house to four houses and 13 tiny houses on one site, providing for 18 families or up to 54 people each night. Ms Bergin has also helped support a remote hospital and villages in Vanuatu, sourcing donations of medical goods from around the country and working with the New Zealand Air Force to
transport goods.

A complete list of Justices honoured in the 2021 Queens Birthday Honour list can be found by clicking HERE