  |
Making a differenceHowick and Botany Times
Participants in the Manukau Junior Neighbourhood Support converged on Maraetai’s Omana Reserve where their outstanding contributions to the programme were acknowledged by the police, members of Auckland Council and their schools. In the same vein as traditional neighbourhood watch groups, the junior contingent started in September 2008, and were encouraged to keep an eagle-eye on their community, be willing to lend a helping hand and report any behaviour that concerned them. During the festivities, time out was taken from scavenger hunts, waterslides, BMX bikes and basketballs, and awards were presented to youngsters who had shown “real leadership”, says senior sergeant Peter Kaveney, of Counties Manukau Police. “Throughout the year many children have been nominated for awards for reporting vandalism and graffiti, preventing bullying and fighting, school or street clean-ups, or helping a neighbour. “They have been nominated by teachers, community members, shop owners, friends or family.” Safe communities co-ordinator for Auckland Council, Rosetta Reti Simanu, says the day was about “recognising the little things” that go towards making neighbourhoods friendlier places. Five-year-old Mikayel Weekes was nominated for an award for putting out his elderly neighbours’ rubbish and recycling for them while they were in hospital. Another award went to Patrick Lole, who is eight, for rounding up a group of his mates and taking them to his house to play rather than having them hanging out on the street. Tim Rehu describes his son Gleeson, 11, as a “mediator”. Gleeson was nominated for an award by his teachers after he broke up a fight in the school playground. Mr Kaveney told the young people they were seen as “leaders, people you can go to for help, and other young people look at you as having mana”.
|
