My Community

As I look back at community Development, it is something that deeply interests me and something I can see myself pursuing in the future.  I enjoy all aspects of the subject, and I love being able to help those in my community who are deeply affected by many of the negative amenities present here.  I also like how many of these ideas from around the world and in our own backyards, can be incorporated not only in Auckland but throughout New Zealand and Australasia.  

I never thought I would do a blog, but I have to a certain degree found it interesting and outside of my comfort zone.  I am unsure as to whether I will continue doing this, as I only originally started this as a requirement for my coursework under my planning degree.  But, I may find myself voicing my opinions and thoughts here in the future.  

Ben

Something We Must Change

In my previous post I mentioned the importance of providing safer communities.  I have come across a document on the internet where an individual named Pedro Noguera conducted research in a number of lower income schools.  What he finds illustrates the need for more education for younger children and a need to shift them away from the violent culture that is embedded in them.

We must change this attitude, this is seen as cool in New Zealand, and that must change if we want safer communities
Source: thekoolskool.blogspot.com: 2010

The report found that children in a lower income school though violence was an unavoidable fact of life, and even though they may never have been in a fight before, would more than likely call on a friend or relative to help them.  This is a stark contrast to what Pedro thought, as he believed they would go to an adult or parent instead of fighting, but because of the nature of modern society, kids are more likely to fight back and retaliate with violence instead of just walking away.  This is something that needs to change, and education is the only thing that can change this perception.

The document is found at: http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/pedro3.html 

Source: Pedro Noguera, Published in Motion Magazine, April 28, 1996

Safety In Our Communities

Safety is always a concern in many communities.  Ensuring your children and family members are safe is always the top priority for many families and community organisers.  As I look around Auckland, crime seems to be going up, theres always something in the news about another killing or armed robbery, and they always seem to be happening in lower income communities such as those in South Auckland.  I am not trying to be bias against this particular region, as people are always associating organised crime activities with this part of Auckland, but it is evident, as neighborhoods in Otara and Papakura are constantly making headlines with the number of murders and gang related offences.

Therefore, I believe that a number of steps must be taken by community boards and the council to try and stomp out some of this crime.  As seen in the picture below, this is a bus stop directly outside my residence and always plays host to a number of teenagers consuming alcohol, being rowdy and harassing anyone who happens to be walking by.  

This bus stop is usually populated at night by rowdy drunk youths
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

This street can be quite dangerous at night, due to the limited lighting.  It has been the scene of many assaults, and has resulted in many police visits on my doorstep at night
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

Therefore I think it is necessary for the majority of areas frequented at night, to be adequately lit and ensure there are a limited number of places for groups such as this to populate.  Also this relates back to providing youth with something to do, and give them an activity or sport they can regularly participate in to keep them busy and too preoccupied to conduct in anti-social behavior.  

Community Centers

The importance of community facilities is unmatched and is an absolute necessity for a community to develop and thrive.  Here in Oranga we have a brilliant community facility in a public domain known as Ferguson Park.  This serves as a structure that is used for community presentations, plays, information and education nights, and as a place for people, in particular younger children, to congregate and engage in recreation activities.  The location makes it easy to access for most people in the area, as it is located in a park with a multitude of entry points by both car and on foot.  I find this is one of the only things in my community that I am actually proud of and the fact that there are always people there interacting makes it even more effective.  

Ferguson Domain
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

Entry to Oranga Community Center
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

Adjacent Childcare center and Playground
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

Easy to access community center
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

The presence of a facility such as this in many areas of Auckland that may suffer from disconnected communities, can help reform them.  I have witnessed on many occasions, people meeting each other for the first time, as families take their children and close friends to the park for a game of rugby or something, and end up meeting others who have done the same.

Wide open spaces for recreational activities
Source: Ben Christian-Webb, Author: 2011

                                          

Essentially, I understand that providing a facility as good as this one is hard in many communities, especially those who are lower income and do not receive enough attention from the council.  But even something similar, such as using an old building and doing it up, is taking the initiative and the first step that usually catches the eye of interested parties who may be willing to help out

Public Transport

I believe we need to look at public transport as a way of improving the movement and environment in our communities.  I understand this is hard to do in New Zealand as we are a very car dependent society.  But I also understand why this is true, as public transport, especially in Auckland, is terrible.  I catch the bus to university almost every day, and I have to be honest, I don’t think it is avery good service and there is not much in the way of options.  With regard to my bus schedule, I either end up at uni an hour early or twenty minutes late which irritates me quite a lot.  I also understand that by encouraging more public transport, it means a safer environment for children in the community who walk to and from school and play along the footpaths adjacent to the road.  

Even walking school buses like this one in Pt Chevalier, Auckland can be effective for safe mass transport within a community, and of course, it is environmentally friendly

Walking school bus in Pt Chevalier
Source: Pt Chevalier Property Blog

I understand implementing an effective public transport system in New Zealand is hard because we are such a small country with limited access to funds.  But we could be doing so much more if we reinvested the money we are using to widen roads and build new motorways on new public transport initiatives.  Even creating carpooling and car sharing programs can limit the number of cars on the road and may even to a small degree create relationships among people whose children go to the same school.  These types of strategies can surely benefit us, and with a little more resource allocation from the council, it could happen, we just need to move away from the single user private vehicle system we are so accustomed to.

Ideas from: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/PublicAndCommunityTransport/index.htm 

Picture source: http://unconditional.co.nz/ptchev/2008/08/03/walking-school-bus-its-cool-to-walk-to-school/ 

The Presence of GANGS

Gangs of New Zealand

As I drove down to the Mad Butcher in Onehunga, I came across two Tribesmen gang members who hold a significant presence in communities such as mine.  I feel as though these gangs such as Black Power, Tribesmen and the Killer Bees degrade communities and bring a number of negative amenities like crime.  Everyone knows that gangs such as these are bad, but no one really knows how to get rid of them as they hold such a strong grip on youth and the unemployed.  Therefore I believe we must look at the root of the problem and stop role models who glorify gang affiliations, which younger generations may see as cool.  Younger gang members have gone from small time thugs to career criminals and end up participating in organised crime such as the drug trade with methamphetamine and assault. 

This is unacceptable and degrades communities a tremendous amount to the point where some are held ransom by their local gangs.  Intimidation and violence usually results from the presence of these groups, and no one likes seeing the Armed Offenders down their local road.  Therefore we must deal with this issue directly and stop taking such a light stance when trying to rid our communities of these individuals and groups. 

Ideas from: (Police Association: 2007. Available: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00115.htm)

Video from Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOWF6eIVqqI

Education and Career Opportunities

Building on the “community Day Project I feel as though it can be used to bring opportunities into communities in the form of employment and education possibilities.  By inviting a number of organisations from the public and private sector, they can set up activities or information stalls that can lure people who may not be employed or possess no skills.  Labour companies or even military branches such as the navy and army can provide pamphlets or information regarding how to pursue a career in their chosen profession.  This may encourage people to join these service units and obtain new skills such as mechanic or plumbing trades that they utilise once they leave the military.  

Stalls that provide eye catching and stimulating attractions such as the NZ Army stall seen below will attract people: (Photo by: A-dit-ya: 2007)

NZ Army Stall at a convention
Source: A-dit-ya: 2007

Other organisations such as MIT or other Polytechnics can offer trade opportunities that younger unskilled youths may not have considered or even known about.  This will definitely have a flow on effect into the local community as more people hold down jobs and more money is pumped into the local area.  Also as unemployment and the number of uneducated drops, crime and other negative social amenities should fall as well

Source: (A-dit-ya. 2007 Available: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53752777@N00/495724842/in/photostream/)