Shine on Kaitaia (SOK) in collaboration with Safer Communities and Blue Light hosted a free “Know Your Neighbours Day” at Parkdale Park in Kaitaia. Whānau from this area had posted online that they wanted to have a street party just to bring people together, out of their homes and meet neighbours in a positive interactive environment. 

The Youth Navigators from SOK facilitated the event where neighbours enjoyed some healthy kai, played games like giant Jenga, sack races or ball toss, danced to music courtesy of DJ Damo and of course entered teams in the Basketball Street Battle-off.   There was even an opportunity for anyone interested in auditioning for the Christmas in the Park event (which is being held later in the year).

SOK hoped that in seeing their parents and others in their neighbourhood getting along, that tamariki would have a sense of pride in their neighbourhood, respect each other more and create safer spaces – possibly reducing crime or vandalism.  SOK saw an opportunity to give adults or older youth who live there, ideas on how to run a simple event for the neighbourhood as well.

Shine on Kaitaia Youth Navigator, Karis Roberts says “we brought this event to Allen Bell Drive/Parkdale Reserve to use the amazing facility located including the park and the basketball court and to also give opportunity for whānau in this area to have a fun day out with easy accessibility.”

Te Whanau Marama Trustee, Micah Tawhare goes on to say “that we are all in this together – He Waka eke noa... the true meaning of it takes a village to raise a child. We had parents come up to say thank you and its inspired them to do something in their street too! Winning!”

SOK aim to have an event similar to this in every park in the Far North initially focussing on Kaitaia, Ahipara and Awanui to start with.  The Youth Navigators are charged with running these park events and have mentors to support them.  The skills they learn go towards their CVs – management, organisation, communications, Public Relations and Marketing... while encouraging sport, active living, healthy eating and promoting a waste free environment.   These park events also aim to help families create neighbourhood watch groups or some kind of security support group which some families who live in the same street already have.

This event was a great initiative to create whanaungatanga between whānau and neighbours in an area of Kaitaia that do not usually get given this opportunity.