Building stronger neighbourhoods in Kaipātiki
A completed Kaipātiki Community Recovery Plan marks a new milestone for Beach Haven, Northcote Point and Birkenhead in their recovery from 2023 storms.
Pest Free Kaipātiki has been working closely with locals, with support from Auckland Council’s Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office, to understand what matters most to them and help shape practical priorities going forward.
More than 230 homes in Beach Haven, Northcote Point and Birkenhead were affected by landslips or flooding in 2023, with 118 of them experiencing serious access issues. While many residents have moved forward in their recovery, the journey continues for others — including neighbourhoods adjusting to change where high-risk Category 3 homes are being removed.
Community needs
Unlike infrastructure and property recovery, community-led recovery is “for the community, by the community”.
Over the past year, Pest Free Kaipātiki has supported locals to consider what recovery means for them. Through workshops, school activities, drop-in kōrero and a community survey, residents shared what matters most as the area moves forward.
The result is the Kaipātiki Community Recovery Plan, outlining the priorities and actions residents can take to support community wellbeing.
“One message came through clearly: people want more ways to connect with their neighbours,” says Lucette Hindin from Pest Free Kaipātiki.
“After the storms, a lot of people told us the same thing: they just wanted to feel more connected on their street.
“Recovery isn’t only about infrastructure or planning — it’s also about knowing who you can check in with, who might need support, and who you can share a laugh with. These everyday relationships are a really important part of resilience.”
Bringing people together, one street at a time
While the area already has some well-loved larger events, residents said they were looking for simple, manageable ways to connect more regularly in their immediate neighbourhoods.
To support this, Pest Free Kaipātiki - Auckland Council recovery funding - is offering small vouchers (around $300) to help neighbours host local gatherings, from a simple street BBQ to a shared walk at a reserve or a kids’ play afternoon in a nearby park.
“People are busy,” says Lucette. “The goal is to keep things simple, local and led by the people who know their neighbourhood best.”
So far, nine applications have been received. Most are smaller street-level gatherings, but the first one held by the Stream Team Streat Party was attended by over 60 people at the Sunnyhaven Place Reserve in Beach Haven. “There was a great atmosphere and real acknowledgement of how connected this community has become through volunteering with the Stream Team,” Lucette explains.
Other community priorities
Alongside the focus on social connection, residents also talked about the importance of caring for local green spaces and being better prepared for future severe weather. These themes sit alongside existing community-led environmental work already happening in Kaipātiki.
Pest Free Kaipātiki has long played a role in supporting locals to look after the area’s bush, streams and reserves. As part of this ongoing mahi, the group is also partnering with Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters team on waterway and flood resilience work.
This mahi sits alongside the recovery planning, with a shared aim of building strong, well-connected neighbourhoods that understand and care for the places they live.
How to get involved:
Getting involved in your community helps build resilience for future weather events. If you’d like to get involved, there are plenty of meaningful ways, including:
Hosting a neighbourhood gathering: Apply for a small voucher to support a simple street or park get-together – get in touch with Pest Free Kaipatiki
Caring for local streams, bush and reserves: Join any of a range of events including volunteer days, freshwater monitoring workshops, Wai Care sessions or native planting
Getting involved in local decision making: such as providing feedback on new development planning rules or recreation activities at nearby AF Thomas Park
Backing local enterprise: local businesses were part of the response and recovery too - supporting them helps keep these places thriving.
출처 : Auckland Council News