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Organisers of a community night in the former Warehouse building in Snells Beach on August 11 were hoping a few hundred people might attend. Instead, the inaugural event attracted thousands.
More than 40 information booths, plus basketball, pickleball, skating activities and a bouncy castle, filled the former store to capacity. Outside, police and the Mahurangi East Volunteer Fire Brigade kept children amused with sirens and a display of blue and red flashing lights, food trucks fed the hungry, scouts displayed their skills and youngsters took on a climbing wall.
The idea was to showcase the range of clubs and groups on the Mahurangi East peninsula, and to give the community a sense of connectedness. The stalls promoted everything from sailing and cycle paths to garden clubs and pipe bands. Schools also had a presence.
Main organiser Kathy Toon says the focus was on being positive, inclusive and bringing the community together.
Referring to the closure of stores and cafes, Kathy said Snells Beach was beginning to “feel a bit sad”.
“The Auckland Unitary Plan describes the area as a boutique seaside village and we agree that the whole of the Kawau Bay area is a really beautiful place.
“Snells was once predominantly a place for holidaymakers, but that’s changed and the infrastructure doesn’t reflect the vibrant, active, fun-loving people that have made Snells Beach their home, from young people to seniors.
“Loads of us travel with our kids up to Mangawhai’s MAZ on the weekends and school holidays and come back thinking, ‘How can we make things like this happen in Snells Beach?’”
Kathy said the team behind the event had been “blown away” by the response to the Friday night event.
“We’ve formed a group called the Kawau Bay Action Group, and will work closely with the Snells Beach Residents & Ratepayers Association and our community to try to deliver what the community wants.”
A questionnaire was circulated on the night to gather information to help both groups find a common vision and themes that are around the neighbourhood. One of the questions was whether or not people would like to see community events held regularly. Although the results were still being collated, Kathy guessed that the answer would be “a resounding yes”.
