City’s ups and downs highlighted
While the mountain and the sea were key attractions for people living in New Plymouth, the seedier side of the city has emerged as a major concern.
In its 2018 The State of our Communities report, released by the Salvation Army’s Policy and Parliamentary Unit this week, it revealed the results of face-to-face interviews conducted with 152 New Plymouth residents.
The city was one of six communities around the country involved in the project, which aimed to ‘‘capture the views of everyday Kiwis’’ of the positives, along with the problems, about the place they lived in.
Questions posed to those surveyed included what they like about their community, what their fears or concerns were and what they would say to the Prime Minister about their area.
For those living in New Plymouth, the biggest drawcards were its location and the environment, particularly the city’s proximity to the mountain and the sea.
The friendly nature of the people and that the city was a great place to raise a family were also mentioned, the report said.
While those surveyed had a ‘‘pride and passion’’ for where they lived, they were not blind to its problems and catalogued a series of worries to interviewers.
These included drug and alcohol issues and what was described as an ‘‘increasing methamphetamine culture in New Plymouth’’.
Other concerns like rising homelessness and the situation for the city’s youth were highlighted too, in particular issues around substance abuse and safety.
The report said New Plymouth residents also flagged the issue of family violence as a concern, which was not widely acknowledged by the other communities surveyed for the report.
‘‘They talked about family violence growing and being a very real issue in their community.
‘‘Also, locals talked about elder abuse and the need to care for the elderly so they are not victims of this exploitation,’’ the report said.
In terms of what New Plymouth residents would say to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern if they had a chance, the message would be ‘‘don’t forget or ignore us’’.
‘‘Like other communities studied in this project, they felt overlooked by the Government.’’
The five other areas polled for the unit’s report were Kaitaia, Whangarei, Manurewa, Hornby and Tımaru.
Looking ahead five years, the New Plymouth respondents said they hoped to see increased community connection, better
outcomes for youth, a continued focus on improving the city’s infrastructure and a reduction across a variety of social issues, including suicide, crime and the influence of gangs.
New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the report’s contents rang true for him.
‘‘I thought it certainly reflected some of the feedback I’ve had from the community in the last few years,’’ he said. He felt the desire New Plymouth residents had to minimise the inequalities in society and increase connections within the community reflected the egalitarian values of New Zealand society. Holdom said events like the upcoming Festival of Lights, which was free to attend and open to all, was part of the council’s commitment to be involved in initiatives which bring people together.
What people love about New Plymouth:
Its location and the environment. The city’s proximity to the mountain and the sea.
The coastal walkway and beaches.
The friendliness of the residents. Seen as a great place to raise a family.
The relaxed feel of the community
What are people worried about:
Rising alcohol and drug use, including P
Increased levels of homelessness. The city’s youth.
Family violence.
Mental health.
Source: Salvation Army