The Tribe Church hosts neighbourhood gathering

Story and photos contributed by Anna Baird (Eco Church kaihāpai, The Tribe Church)

Neighbours relaxing on their Sunday morning in Oxford St Masterton might have wondered why the local green space was starting to look like a party.  Live music, balloons, lawn games and the smell of sizzling sausages could all be observed last Sunday as we celebrated Neighbours Day Aotearoa.  In collaboration with the Awatotara Project (a stream restoration project on Oxford St) and Oxford St Community Garden, the Tribe Church helped to organise a Meet the Street event.  Offering a tour of the gardens and the stream project and sharing food together was a chance to celebrate some of the amazing things happening in this street that our church calls home. 

As an Eco Church, the Tribe Church was more than happy to take a day off from its regular Sunday service to get behind this initiative and to be able to serve the local community.

About 40 people came along, including local councillors and the mayor, neighbours and members of the Tribe Church.  In a brief speech, the mayor Gary Caffell congratulated us on these community-led endeavors, “Our council supports community-led projects and wants to see more initiatives like these so thanks for being a model to other streets.”  One purpose of the day was to gather ideas from local whānau about developing the green space by building a naturally landscaped playground.  Watch this space to see how that progresses! 

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Neighbours Aotearoa (formerly Neighbours Day Aotearoa) is a community development initiative dedicated to growing, connecting and strengthening neighbourhoods across the country. It is a place-based and local approach – neighbours linking up in their local communities. Each year in March, everybody is encouraged to do something small - or large! - that lets you know a neighbour that bit better. For more info: https://neighboursaotearoa.nz/