Pā Harakeke Flaxmere is a semi- finalist in the community section of the 2023 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa
There are nine finalists in the Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau section of the awards. This number will be whittled down to three before the awards gala dinner in Auckland on 30 March.
The citation for Pā Harakeke Flaxmere reads:
“Over the past decade,– a small township in the Hastings District – has undergone a major transformation. 10 years ago, the community was at breaking point; with a reputation for high crime rates, family violence and gang confrontations that divided locals and made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. In 2008, following a six week period of sustained violence that ultimately became a tipping point, the ‘Enough is Enough’ hīkoi (march) saw over 5000 people take to the streets to raise awareness and galvanise a concerned community into action. It was a turning point. Since that day, this small community has rallied together for good.
“In 2022, school children proudly represent their suburb at events across the region, cultural festivals attract visitors from across Hastings, and the Flaxmere Community Centre is packed with people of all ages taking part in a huge variety of programmes. It’s taken a decade, a range of initiatives and an entire community to get behind change – but the impact is undeniable.”
The Flaxmere entry in the awards was led by the Flaxmere Planning Committee (FPC) and supported by Hastings District Council.
Watch for follow up to this article in the New Year when BayBuzz interviews FPC chairman Traci Tuimaseve.
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