With a hectic start to April, this March update is a little delayed, but plenty to report back on from March!
On the 16th of March we had a double event day, with our Community Clean Up day and Cultural Shared Meal + Jenga Competition. Our idea with the Cultural Shared Meal was to bring the community together to eat and share food with each other’s cultures. This was an excellent opportunity to make new connections and try something different! We had a variety of flavours from Malaysia, the Netherlands, England, South Africa, and others, including the obligatory NZ sausages on the BBQ.
There was also a Jenga competition which was a lot of fun, with randomised competitors facing off, combining young and not so young to bring out a touch of competitive spirit. Prizes were kindly donated by the Long Bay Surf Club. Congrats to our winners Octavia and Jun Yen.
Earlier in the day the residents also got together for the Long Bay Community Clean Up event which runs once a quarter. Another great way to make new connections and help keep the streets and rain gardens clean and tidy. The next clean up event is June 15th at 9.30am – we’re hoping for more participants so please mark your calendars!
We had a number of new members join following the events, and also our first Donations! Please do support by clicking the Donate button on the website. This covers operational and event costs. We accept payments via credit card and other methods. Please reply to this email if you would prefer to donate directly to our bank account. 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 the website. If you’re interested, please reach out or spread the word to businesses.
We also had the Food Collective and their Long Bay Food Truck series and in March and early April – we hope you made it down there, they’re wrapping up for the season and look forward to having them back again.
Last month, we had a number of interactions with locally focused organisations, community groups and residents including:
- Auckland Council and the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board – around the Auckland Council Long Term Plan feedback, support for Government Policy Statement on Land Transport, and other local issues such as roading visibility from plants not be trimmed, feedback on rubbish bin removals, removal of graffiti, and more.
- Restore Hibiscus and Bays, where we supported an application for funding from Predator Free NZ for traps and lines in Long Bay, unfortunately we were unsuccessful on this occasion, but we will try again!
- Long Bay College – where we met with members of their leadership team in a very productive session – actions from this meeting are in progress – watch this space!
- Many interactions with passionate locals in relation to a sub-group we are coordinating – Imagining Te Oneroa ō Kahu (Long Bay) – visioning for the Long Bay area – more on this in the very near future.
- We even played a hand in an attempt to re-home a rather large shark – ask us more about that
Here’s a few of the key events coming up:
- Thursday 16th May, 7pm – 9pm: Mix & Mingle – Neighbourhood Support
Location and details to be confirmed – Save the Date!
- Mid-Late June: Planting and Weeding Workshop (to be confirmed)
Further details to follow.
- Saturday 15th June, 9.30am: Community Cleanup
Meet outside New World and keep an eye out for LBRA board members in our new hi-vis vests, thanks to New World! Coffee afterwards.
Please bring neighbours, friends, gloves and a rubbish bag!