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East Cape Hawkes Bay
Community centre for Camberley
By Jason Wawatai
Hastings now has a new community centre and hall in Camberley.
- Girls from Camberley School's Pacific Island Cultural Group performed for residents and guests at the official opening of the community centre.
Tenancy Manager Rikki Te Kira says the official opening in November last year was a proud moment for the community.
"Twenty years ago residents began asking for a community hall," says Rikki.
With a combined effort from Te Ora Hou Hawke's Bay, Hastings District Council, Eastern & Central Community Trust and the Lotteries Commission, a church hall relocated from Havelock North has been transformed. The hall now has decks, parking and administration space.
Housing New Zealand staff put on a barbecue a couple of weeks before the opening and around sixty children and adults cleaned up rubbish and removed graffiti.
"It was great to have the community working together and taking pride in their neighbourhood," says Rikki. "Housing New Zealand own a lot of houses in Camberley and we were proud to be there."
"It adds another facility for the community other than the school," Hastings Mayor Laurence Yule said at the official opening.
"For years the school has been a central part of the community. However, this is a facility that Camberley can be proud of. Havelock North has one, Flaxmere has one and now it's Camberley's turn."
Any Camberley residents wanting to use the centre can book by phoning the Council on 871 5000, or by calling in to see Centre Administrator Lisa Halbert at the centre on Kiwi Street.
Street by street
By Janet Steele
The police have put the community first to make a real difference in Gisborne.
- Constables Jamie Hutana and Quentin Hollis chat with Thomas and admire his vegie garden.
Last year the police began a street by street project that is supported by ACC and Housing New Zealand. Their aim was to reduce crime and traffic related incidents, but it became much more than that.
Senior Constable Quentin Hollis is delighted with the response the police have received in the community.
"We organised a street barbecue where we thought we and other agencies could make a positive difference to people's lives. It was a good chance for neighbours to meet each other and us," he said.
The barbecue was followed up later with a survey to ask residents what was good about their street and what was not so good. Then another more detailed survey covered topics such as smoking, health, drug and alcohol issues, budgeting and children's welfare. After the survey, police started to work on solutions with the families and residents.
The street where the project was started is now a much better place. Housing New Zealand provided some skip bins for a street clean up and the Gisborne District Council cleaned up the park and improved street lighting. They also provided an extra recycling bin and extra rubbish removal for some larger families.
Turanga Health is encouraging residents to put in vegetable gardens. Agencies have come on board to help individual families, and kids who were missing school are now back in the classrooms.
Constable Hollis is a great believer in helping build capacity for people to step up and take ownership. The police and other agencies are there to help.
"A resident has volunteered as a 'capable guardian' and is looking after the park and painting out graffiti," says Constable Hollis. "This is what helps make a safe and pleasant community."
There have been virtually no reports of crimes. Residents now have a real sense of pride in their street and it shows.
