Nelson City Council

Nelson's Street Ambassadors patrol the streets during summer weekends from 9.30pm till 4am looking out for young people who might find themselves in strife while out partying. Māori Wardens maintain a similar voluntary presence on the streets of Nelson all year round.

Street Ambassadors also look out for all people who are socialising in the Nelson CBD. Tourists, young people, and the general public report that the Street Ambassador service makes them feel safe in Nelson.

In 2011/12 the Street Ambassadors are in their seventh year of service. They are funded by Ministry of Justice/Crime Prevention Unit, the Canterbury Community Trust and the Nelson City Council.

The Ambassadors are all experienced youth workers. They work in pairs throughout the weekend nights, delivering safety messages, offering advice and assistance when needed and intervening when they spot potentially dangerous situations.

For more information

Phone the Safe City Adviser, on +64 3 546 0368

Update

From Friday 18 November 2011, Nelson people venturing out after dark will again notice our Street Ambassadors spreading safety messages. The team in their distinctive orange vests will be on duty each weekend from 9.30pm until 4am as the summer party season warms up.

Nelson City Council’s Safe City Adviser Ingrid Beach says, “Council has been involved in delivering this service since 2004.  Our Street Ambassadors now have a very good rapport with the young people who are out partying over summer. Because of that, young people know there are people they can talk to if they are in need of help or advice throughout the night.”

Feedback about the Street Ambassador service is that it plays an important role in reducing trouble on the streets over summer and keeping Nelson a safe place for everyone to enjoy. The Street Ambassadors work in pairs throughout the weekend nights, delivering safety messages, offering advice and assistance when needed and intervening with the aim to stop trouble before it starts.  In past years, the presence of the Street Ambassadors has reduced conflict and aggression. They’ve helped to calm down situations that could have led to violence and in some cases, got police involved for an early intervention. 

Street Ambassadors don’t work alone. They keep in touch via cell phones and radios with Police, Ma_ori Wardens and Nelson Community Patrol volunteers, who monitor the closed circuit television cameras on the weekend nights.  Street Ambassadors Team Leaders are qualified to administer first aid. 

Council is joined by Ministry of Justice Community Relations and Operations, the Canterbury Community Trust and the Nelson Building Society, in funding the programme.  The Ambassadors will be out on the streets until the last Saturday in January 2012.