Welcome to our bumper edition December update covering activity since our AGM in October. I’m sure you’re all looking forward to the summer break, Christmas cheer and New Year celebrations. Our Christmas Lights Competition is back, read below for more! Season greetings from the Long Bay Residents’ Association team!
Major Activities/Initiatives:
Awaruaika Youth Park Sod Turning Ceremony
Long Bay Residents’ Association (LBRA) was proud to attend the Awaruaika Youth Park sod-turning event on the 5th of December at 1 Streamview Way, Long Bay. This milestone marks the official start of construction for an exciting new community space dedicated to supporting youth wellbeing and recreation. The event brought together representatives from Auckland Council, the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, Ngāti Manuhiri, and contracted vendors, alongside community members and LBRA Chair – Gareth, who joined in celebrating this important development for our growing neighbourhood.
Awaruaika Youth Park plans include an adventure play area with a flying fox, a social space, pump track, multi-use court, kick-a-ball area as well as much needed facilities with public toilets. A link to the northern side of the pedestrian “bridge to nowhere” is also included, however the southern side link (steep bank) will be a future project. Work on Stage 1 – the toilets, has started today 17th December, and is due to be completed at the end of January, and Stage 2 – the youth park – construction October 2026 to April 2027.
Awaruaika Youth Park will provide local residents and the general public with an inclusive environment for play, connection, and creativity, enriching the heart of Long Bay for generations to come.
Christmas Lights Competition
We’re into the final week of entries, and the lights already up around the bay are impressive. There are houses glowing, some very creative themes with proper Kiwi flair, clever tech setups, and even a few very festive pets. It’s been great fun seeing what everyone’s come up with so far. There’s still time to get involved if you haven’t already. Judging happens on 20–21 December, so now’s the moment to snap a photo and send it in.
How to enter:
* Decorate your place (lights, inflatables, Santa in boardies — anything goes)
* Take a photo
* Send it with your address via Facebook, Instagram, or email longbayra@gmail.com
Prizes up for grabs:
– Brunch for two at Kinfolk
– 4 × $20 vouchers from Long Bay Fisheries
– Gel manicure at Glow & Co
– 3 × 5-class Pilates passes from Power Pilates Long Bay
Categories:
– Ultimate Christmas Glow
– Best Themed Concept
– Techy Tinsel Wizard
Barista Event – Kinfolk
What a Brew-tiful Afternoon! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Barista Lesson at Kinfolk Cafe on Saturday 15th November! Special thanks to Gloria, Catie and the team for their passionate hosting – they made learning the art of milk steaming and coffee-making both fun and easy. It was fantastic to see so many faces from our Long Bay community come together to share great cups, swap tips, discover new flavours and for some, devour some Tiramisu Crepe Cake! Whether it was mastering the milk froth or just enjoying the tasting session (espresso, matcha, teas!), we hope those involved left inspired and caffeinated. If you missed out, keep an eye out for more coffee perks and community get-togethers.
Thanks again to the team at Kinfolk Cafe for making it all possible – be sure to visit and hope to see you at the next one!
Dotterels in Long Bay
Recent new residents who generated excitement by arriving in mid November to our Long Bay community are a pair of Northern NZ dotterels, tūturiwhatu. They have been seen along Glenvar Ridge Road by the ponds and the boardwalk. Hopefully they are nesting but sadly, one nest there could already have been destroyed. We can protect them by giving them their space, by keeping our dogs leashed along there and our cats inside at night. Signs have been put in place to provide notice. We’re lucky to have them return to our bay as the Northern population was nearly wiped out by predators like stoats, rats and cats. Dogs can easily crush eggs and chase off the adults. If you have a rat trap, please keep it baited.
Tūturiwhatu’s return rewards our predator control project and Vaughans Stream Team efforts, Long Bay residents together with local Restore Hibiscus and Bays volunteers. Keep going everyone! https://longbay.nz/predator-halo
For more info about dotterels on DOC’s website here.
Photo Credits: Martyn Seddon – Long Bay Village dotterels – 16-Nov-2025.
Halloween 2025 – Spooky Vibes Only
On the 31st of October we set up in the Village Square, and saw hundreds of people come through enjoying the Halloween activities, costumes and decorations with music, games and candy – it was so successful we exhausted the local supplies of wrapped sweets leaving New World’s shelves bare!
The winners for our Halloween Competition 2025 were:
- Most Creative House Decorations: 8 Bounty Road
- Scariest House Decorations: 2 Luff Place
- Best Candy Selection: 4 Bounty Road
- Most Creative Costume: Tessie Cao
- Scariest Costume: Benji the Mummy
- Best Family Costume: Lee-Ann Steyn
A huge congratulations to everyone who won and thank you to those that brought Long Bay’s Halloween to life! We can’t thank you enough for all your incredible work and time you put into making it so special.
Thank you New World Long Bay for supporting us with prizes, and Faye for the decorations!
Until next year… stay spooky!
Long Bay Residents’ Feedback 2025 Survey
Our community has spoken! The 2025 survey results showed once again the clear local favourite is the Long Bay Regional Park/Beach. The top concern shared by residents was traffic issues & boy racers, while community service topped the list for residents wanting to get involved. People offered to assist in a variety of areas, with cooking groups/activities the most offered, and strong interest in seeing more local community facilities developed in the future.
Check out the survey summary online at: https://longbay.nz/survey25
Keen to help out? We’d love to hear from you!
Congratulations to our $50 New World Gift Cards winners for participating: Ayden, Rick and Octavia. A big thank you to New World Long Bay for sponsoring!
Thank you to all those who provided feedback, you all make Long Bay such a special place!
Piripiri Point Drive Speed Calming Measures and Berm Protection
After a long period of background advocacy and persistent follow-up, there’s finally some progress to report on the issues at Piripiri Point Drive. This work has taken considerable time and effort from multiple people working behind the scenes to get it recognised and prioritised.
Have Your Say by 18th December 2025: https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/piripiripointdrive
Boy-racers frequently use the road for burnouts and unsafe driving, even causing property damage and a crash into the street light in the past. There have also been many instances of 4×4 vehicles damaging the berms, ongoing rubbish dumping, and even a bonfire set on the road at the cul-de-sac, these and other undesirable activities result in safety worries for general concern for locals.
The Long Bay Residents’ Association is continuing to advocate for further measures to be taken. If you would like to assist please get in touch.
Long Bay Halo – Predator Free Update
We have now deployed over 100 traps throughout Long Bay! We appreciate the patience of people who have provided consent or responded to our survey – we are making progress! We’ll be ramping up again in the new year in preparation for February’s pulse, and with many stoat sightings in locations around Long Bay we need to lift our game!
If you have a trap – get in touch if you’d like us to provide some Pic’s Peanut Butter Waste (for rats not humans!) – no cost. We’ve also registered on Forest and Bird’s Give a Trap – donate to Long Bay Residents’ Association, we’d love a few more AT200’s!
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Long Bay Halo – Vaughans Stream Team Update
At the Vaughans Stream Team working bee over each of the last few months, we rolled up our sleeves and tackled some pesky invaders to help restore the Vaughans Stream corridor. Here’s what we did:
- Removed all but one of the large pampas grass – that tall, feather flowered cutty grass that loves to take over! A nesting pukeko foiled our plans to take down the last one. Now the native Toetoe flowers are featuring through the corridor.
- Removed gorse, the prickly shrub that’s a bit too friendly with our native plants, and pampas grass from the zig zag trail up to Ridgelea Road
- Worked together enjoying great company and community spirit, with a picnic after our 16th November efforts!
Our next targets will definitely be easier, and we’re looking forward to next year’s planting season, where we are hoping to plant around 2000 trees.
We’re taking a break for Christmas, our next working bee will be: 10am, Sunday 18th January, meet opposite Dynamic Physio. Let’s keep the momentum growing! 
Keen to join? Our group is on WhatsApp, visit: https://longbay.nz/vst
Quarterly Community Cleanup
A big thanks to all the wonderful locals who joined our Long Bay Community Cleanup on Saturday, 13th December!
Together, four teams cleaned up areas around Long Bay filling multiple large bags and clearing out some more usual finds: including balloons, gloves, and large plastic sheets and piping – now safely out of our rain gardens. The crew connected afterwards with a coffee at Kinfolk.
We’d love to see you at our events next year: join us on the following Saturdays in 2026, meet outside New World, 9.30am – a great way to give back to the community:
- 21st March
- 20th June
- 19th September
- 19th December
Want to stay in the loop? Join our WhatsApp group here: https://longbay.nz/cleanup.
Long Bay College Enviroschools Celebration
Long Bay Residents Association board members joined an Enviroschools tour at Long Bay College on October 16, 2025, celebrating the school’s sustainability achievements through its five guiding principles: Empowered Learners, Learning for Sustainability, Te Ao Māori, Respect for Diversity, and Sustainable Communities. The event featured a kapa haka performance, karakia, and student-led presentations highlighting initiatives like the Sustainability Council, Ecolution gardening club, Enviroweek activities (including bake sales, clothing swaps, and plastic-free lunches), waste audits, and a bottle cap mural.
Community collaborations shone through tree plantings and weeding with groups like Long Bay Residents’ Association and Restore Hibiscus & Bays, plus involvement in educating students. Other highlights included the Student Volunteer Army’s working bees, Youth Volunteer Week (logging 350+ hours), community cleanups, an outdoor classroom, expanded gardens, and cultural events like Multicultural Week. The tour ended with awards, recognitions, and a school walk-through, reinforcing Long Bay College’s commitment to a sustainable future. Awesome work Long Bay College!
Run the Bays – Long Bay Run Club
Join the free Run the Bays run club every Monday meet 5:50pm at the Long Bay Surf Club. A welcoming community group for runners and walkers of all abilities targeting flat, enjoyable routes. Enjoy weekly spot prizes generously provided by New World Long Bay and Long Bay Surf Club, plus exclusive 15% discounts for members at Shoe Science Albany and Silverdale. With 15-20 friendly locals attending each week, connect via our active Facebook and Strava groups for session updates and post-run shoutouts. Thanks Mark and Ide for coordinating!
- Facebook group ‘Run the Bays’: https://www.facebook.com/groups/runthebays
- Strava group ‘Run the Bays’: https://www.strava.com/clubs/runthebays
Perfect for shaking off the Monday blues, staying fit, and meeting neighbours while supporting local businesses.
LBRA Board Activities
- Board and Governance
- Board Meetings: Meetings were held each month. Thanks to Viranda for providing a venue in the village for our meetings.
- Treasurer’s Reports: Steady balance – minor expenses.
- Constitution & Incorporated Societies Act: Draft constitution ready for lodgement, feedback from IRD received on non-profit guidance.
- Association Insurance: Management Liability and Professional Indemnity coverage – discussions continuing including liaising with other non-profit organisations.
- LBRA AGM: Successfully held our AGM on 15th of October 2025 at Long Bay College Staffroom, with 70+ attendees and very positive feedback. See AGM post for details.
- Board Members: New members Ayden Barnett (resident) and Lily Cowen (Long Bay College student rep) joined the board
- Community Engagement and Events
- Barista Event: Information and fun workshop provided by Kinfolk.
- Long Bay Market: Presence with flags and flyers in October.
- Community Clean Up Day: Held on 13th December 2025.
- Halloween: Amazing event, competitions & costumes & house decorations!
- Community Heroes Day: Plans still in discussion with Neighbourhood Support North Shore for an event in Long Bay.
- Exploration of new community workshops, e.g., baking, cake decorating, and partnership – plans in process.
- Vaughans Stream Team: Working Bees held each month, and a picnic celebration of achievements held in November.
- Run the Bays Run Club: Liaised and publicised the Monday 6pm run club, added to list of activities.
- Music in the Parks: Reviewed Auckland Council event plans for Feb 21st at Ashley Reserve.
- Community Safety & Issues
- Piripiri Point Drag Strip/Burnout Zone: Further notice of incidents and ongoing discussions with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and Police. Auckland Transport plans now out with a Have Your Say..
- Neighbourhood Safety: Neighbourhood Support North Shore signage is a work in progress. Thanks to the team for providing signs!
- Pedestrian Safety flyer being prepared and run in English and Chinese.
- Communication with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport: A number of incidents and requests around parking, graffiti, illegal dumping, illegal freedom camping and compliance raised with local authorities.
- Environmental Initiatives
- Long Bay Halo – Predator Free NZ project continues, including signage design, trap rollout, and some targeted traps following further stoat sightings..
- Vaughans Stream Corridor: Regeneration efforts are ongoing via the Vaughans Stream Team, monthly working bees..
- Initial planning continues for a community garden / EnviroHub in Long Bay with research and communications with community organisations nearby.
- Long Bay College Enviroschools: Attended a tour at Long Bay College (16 October) with excellent efforts ongoing around the school there – awesome work!
- Partnerships & Local Engagement
- Restore Hibiscus and Bays: We attended the RestoreHB AGM and their end of year Christmas BBQ celebrations, thanks RestoreHB team!
- Bays Youth Council (a youth diversity group for the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board) is on the hunt for some more motivated rangatahi ready to kick start projects and lead some impactful and meaningful social change in the Bays! If you are passionate about the community, love meeting new people and want to make a change, find out more and apply here: https://longbay.nz/baysyouth
- Ongoing collaboration with Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, Restore Hibiscus and Bays, Long Bay Chinese Association, Long Bay College, Long Bay Primary, Neighbourhood Support North Shore, Te Hōnonga a Iwi Restoring Rosedale Park, Viranda/Long Bay Village, Long Bay Village Market, and other local groups.
- Long Bay College: New Student Representative Lily Cowan joined the board. A huge thanks to Gauri Ramesh, our outgoing student representative.
- Village & Business Engagement: Ongoing communication with sponsors, businesses and village management.
- Sponsorship & Fundraising
- Sponsorship packages for businesses with a local physical presence are up and running, with spotlights continuing. Only one gold package is still available – benefits are premium exposure to local residents through exclusive promotion via multiple channels; online, print and in-person. Email longbayra@gmail.com for more details.
- HBLB Local Board Grant equipment plans taking shape, venue hire and community sports initiative in consideration; accountability reporting in place.
- Infrastructure & Advocacy
- Vaughans Road Closure: No further updates, further advocacy to be restarted.
- Communication and advocacy for an alcohol ban application for Long Bay public areas; application preparation in progress.
- Street Parking / Rain Gardens: Ongoing discussions about parking spaces, with Auckland Transport & Auckland Council.
- Technical IT Infrastructure: Work to reduce storage on Google Drive undertaken to save costs.
Upcoming Events:
- Christmas Lights Competition on Saturday 20th December
- Long Bay Village Market on Sunday 21st December
- Vaughans Stream Team Working Bee Sunday 18th January 10am – 12noon meet outside Dynamic Physio
- Music in the Park on Sunday 22nd February at Ashley Reserve
- LBRA Community Clean Up Day meet outside New World on Saturday 21st March 9.30am
- Monthly LBRA Board meetings – please contact us to arrange attendance.
Community Activities
There are community activities on the calendar and we’re looking at adding more into the mix! Currently we have:
- Walking Group: Saturdays at 7am meet in front of Long Bay Surf Club
- Run the Bays Club, 6pm Mondays meet at Long Bay Surf Club
- Football: Mondays at 6pm – meet at Ashley Turf, all skills/ages welcome
- Long Bay Mums (and Dads) with Babies or Preschoolers Meetup: Mondays 9.30am at November Eatery/Cafe
- Vaughans Stream Team Working Bees: 3rd Sunday of each month 10-12 meet outside Long Bay Surf Club
- Badminton: in planning – contact us if you’d like to help out
- Community Cleanups: quarterly, usually 3rd Saturday of the month Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec
- Book Buddy Sewing Group: Thursdays 1pm email longbayra@gmail.com for details.
- Cooking Classes: we’re actively looking for volunteers – reach out if you’re keen.
Please let us know if there are any other activities that we can add to our calendar, see our website home page for the calendar. If you’d like to help out with anything you’re passionate about, please get in touch via email longbayra@gmail.com
Please Support LBRA!
Thanks to those people who have provided Donations! Please continue to support us by clicking the Donate button on our website. We appreciate your generosity! This covers operational and event costs. We accept payments via credit card and other methods. Please note that we currently don’t charge any membership or subscription fees, so all donations are greatly appreciated. We’re also seeking sponsors for LBRA. If you’re interested, please reach out or spread the word to businesses.