Checking pulse of community

Hamilton is hosting one of the first community engagement sessions for Waikato Vital Signs, a community check-up on the social, environmental, cultural, and economic wellbeing of communities.

Cheryl Reynolds, chief executive of Momentum Waikato, said the engagement sessions will serve to join the dots between statistical information and what matters most to people living in our communities.

The first year of reporting features data collated and analysed by the National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis (NIDEA), Waikato University.

Community and business leaders, local residents, philanthropists, volunteers, policy makers, local and central government staff, and others are strongly urged to add their local knowledge and ideas to the July report by attending engagement sessions next month, said Reynolds.

The inaugural Waikato Vital Signs pilot project covers three regions – Waikato District, Hamilton City, and MatamataPiako District.

Reynolds said these regions have been chosen for the pilot year because they offer a mix of rural and urban economies across a range of demographic characteristics.

‘‘The final report will describe the challenges and opportunities prioritised by people in these regions, and it is expected to foster community initiated action in response to the published report.’’

Hamilton: Tuesday May 10, 10am-12.30pm, Western Community Centre, 46 Hyde Ave, Nawton