The Takapuna Methodist Church and the wider Parish in which it sits has been on a Community Led Development journey for a number of years. Community Led Development or Te Whakawhanake ā-Hapori can be understood as a place-based development approach which seeks to build from local strengths and assets, working with diverse groups of people towards locally-owned visions and goals.
Through this journey the church is striving to be more outward facing and intentional in its Community work and to being an active participant in everyday community life, collaborating and working with local people and groups in ways that matter to them. CommunityMatters is an across parish group that brings focus and leadership to this community facing and community-led work. It is open to anybody who might be interested in community development to become involved.
Community Led Development has five principles and the church seeks to work to these principles in its community facing endeavours:
• Grow from shared local visions
• Build from strengths
• Work with diverse people and sectors
• Grow collaborative local leadership
• Learn by doing
More about this way of working can be found through the Inspiring Communities Link: http://inspiringcommunities.org.nz/ic_resource/what-is-community-led-development/
Neighbours Aotearoa
The kaupapa of Neighbours Aotearoa is to encourage people to get to know their neighbours better! It is as simple as that!
Neighbours Aotearoa 2024 runs during the month of March this year. This year’s theme is Growing Together as we want neighbourhoods to grow stronger together.
Previous years have seen people holding BBQs, community movie nights, swapping produce, street parties, beach clean ups, and even small acts like sharing a cup of tea or running errands for their neighbours. We encourage you to reach out to your neighbours with even the smallest act and experience the joy of connection.
We welcome the community to our Cultural Evening. Bring the whanau and something to share or just bring yourself! ALL Welcome!
All welcome to our 2023 Matariki event!
Join us for a free sit down community meal. Get to know your neighbours and meet new friends. This meal will be at the Northcote Citizens’ Hall on Saturday 25 February 2023. All welcome.
Everyone is welcome to our Children’s Craft Afternoon on Friday 25 November.
CHILDREN’S CRAFT AFTERNOON
COMMUNITY DINNER
Everyone is warmly invited to our first Community Dinner here at TMC in the hall on Saturday 10 September at 5.30pm.. Bring the whanau and meet your neighbours.
All welcome to our youth market event. Bring some cash or just have a browse of the wonderful wares produced by local students in the Youth Enterprise Scheme.
We are very sorry to have to cancel this event due to covid.
We look forward to holding it sometime in the near future when we can be more certain in our planning.
All are welcome to our first free sitdown community meal here at TMC in conjunction with Kai 4 Communities. Please come and meet your neighbours while eating delicious kai. Bring your own plates and cutlery too. See you there!
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NEIGHBOURS DAY AOTEAROA 2022
Northcote Takapuna Methodist Parish in collaboration with Kai 4 Communities are offering a free takeaway meal on Saturday 19 March as part of Neighbours Day week. Food will be available in a drive through contactless takeaway form at 16 Greenslade Crescent Northcote from 11am until food runs out.
| Let’s connect through kai! Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2022 will be encouraging people to connect through kai. This could be sharing a cuppa, fresh produce, a recipe or hosting a picnic or BBQ. Whether the intention is big or small, it all makes a difference. Neighbours Day runs from 18 to 27 March 2022 Northcote Takapuna Methodist Parish in collaboration with Kai 4 Communities are offering a free takeaway meal on Saturday 19 March as part of Neighbours Day week. Food will be available in a drive through contactless takeaway form at 16 Greenslade Crescent Northcote from 11am until food runs out. YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN CONTAINER! |
Now open – our new little library. Blessed by Rev Peter Norman and opened by Simon Watts, MP. Take a book as you pass by, once you’ve read it pass it on or return it. Children’s books too. Help yourself.
Little Library
Our Little Library was opened and blessed here at Takapuna Methodist Church, 427 Lake Road, Takapuna, on Tuesday 17 August at 12.30 pm. There was a short ceremony followed by refreshments. For more details see ‘Our Little Library’
Neighbours’ Day 2021
The kaupapa of Neighbours Day Aotearoa is to encourage people to get to know your neighbours better! It is as simple as that!
Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2022 runs from March 20-March 30th this year. This year’s theme is The Great Plant Swap as we want neighbourhoods to grow stronger together.
Previous years have seen people joining Neighbours Day Aotearoa to hold BBQs, community movie nights, street parties, beach clean ups, and even small acts like sharing a cup of tea or running errands for their neighbours.
In 2021 Takapuna Methodist Church coordinated a Medley at 38 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna on Saturday 20 March from 11am to 2pm. There was music, children’s activities, plant swapping, free books from the library, face painting, free t-shirts courtesy of Auckland Transport, and free pest traps with training. If you would like to be involved in the future please contact our Community Enabler Ruby Schaumkel email: rubyschaumkel@gmail.com or Ph: 489 4590.
TMC Nancy’s Afternoons: These have been held here at the Takapuna Methodist Church on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from April to November. Entertainment and afternoon tea is provided for older adults in the community, living independently or in residential care. Transport can be arranged for guests.
NB Nancy’s Afternoons have gone into abeyance since lockdown due to the vulnerabilities of the people involved.
Shore to Thrive: “Shore to Thrive was the strengths-based and community-led partnership project between Auckland North Community and Development Inc. and the Takapuna Methodist Church. Shore to Thrive worked with generous, caring, passionate people motivated to make their local communities more connected and better places for everyone to be in.
The partnership spanned February 2016 through until December 2019 and was mainly active in the North Shore of Auckland suburbs of Bayswater and Belmont. Shore to Thrive brought people together, supported locally-led change and positive outcomes in partnership with local people.
The organisations behind Shore to Thrive are delighted with what was achieved locally and acknowledge the incredible people who made things happen. Both partners will continue to seek to support community-led development in the communities Shore to Thrive was active in.
Repair Cafe, Takapuna Methodist Church
For more information see: https://shoretothrive.nz/
Children’s Craft Afternoons: Unfortunately on hold due to Covid.
These are held three times a year for the festivals of Christmas, Easter and Matariki. Children from preschool to intermediate age are welcome to attend with their parents. Exciting craft activities and a delicious afternoon tea are provided.
“A safe place to bring the children”.
This work is energetically led by our Children’s Worker, Lizzy Biddle. .
Roger Biddle Scholarship: A scholarship for pupils at Wesley College.
Methodist Alliance: This is a formal alliance of the Methodist Missions, parishes and community based social services and trusts. Rev Peter Norman is a member of the Executive of this group.
For further information regarding Community Matters please contact our Community Enabler Ruby Schaumkel at ruby@takapunamethodist.org.nz or at communitymatters@takapunamethodist.org.nz or Rev Peter Norman at peter@takapunamethodist.org.nz.
