Caring and sharing will make all our communities better
Last week I attended a community hui (meeting) in Mangō nui, which was called in an effort to encourage the community to band together and collectively come up with solutions to crime in the area.
It was evident there were many frustrated locals at their wits’ end, sick and tired of the bad behaviour and crime they were witnessing/ living with in their neighbourhood.
I am also a resident of Doubtless Bay and while I don’t think what’s happening here is any worse than other places in Te Hiku (or the country to be fair), it is obviously upsetting for those continuously subjected to this type of negative, anti-social behaviour.
One of the things that stood out for me at the meeting was, like many issues here in the Far North, the solutions lie with a collaborative, community approach and not just with the police, council or some other organisation.
There was another separate hui I attended in Kaitaia recently, which was held in response to a story I wrote about the alarming number of young children and whā nau in need of support in Kaitaia.
Similarly, at this meeting it was recognised that the only way forward was for people to start paying more attention to each other and to avoid the mindset that unless something impacts them, it’s not important.
As Hinemoa Tipene from Shine On Kaitaia suggested, if you see someone who looks like they need help, just ask if they’re okay. It doesn’t take much, but a little bit of kindness and care can in fact go a long way.
And I think Hinemoa is right — we do need to get back to a place where we as communities are more accountable to our neighbours, our whā nau, friends and ultimately, to ourselves.
As much as things like the internet have brought us closer together, I think it’s also driven us apart, making us less social and in turn, more selfish and less concerned for other’s wellbeing.
“Out of sight, out of mind” seems to be the attitude of many nowadays and that’s a shame, because with the current state of the world, I think we’re going to need each other more than ever before.
I know the community spirit is strong here in the Far North, I’ve witnessed it on countless occasions.
The recent homecoming parade for Black Ferns prop and Women’s Rugby World Champion Krystal Murray was the perfect example of just how much mana, pride and aroha exists in this community.
That event was one of the most beautiful and uplifting experiences I’ve ever had in all my time as a journalist and generally as a human being.
If only we could tap into that spirit more often, just imagine who we could be!