From Neighbours to Community: A HEART BBQ At Taurima Reserve
Back in June, our HEART Project Fund Kaitiaki approved funding to support a community BBQ led by HEART Change Agent Julie Friedewald. The idea was to bring neighbours living around Taurima Reserve in Point England together and create an opportunity for them to meet, connect and start developing relationships within their neighbourhood.
Julia and her family had moved to Point England around two years ago and, like many busy households, found that work and everyday life made it difficult to connect with the people living around them.
After hearing about the connections that Ren had developed within her own community, Julia wanted the chance to organise an event, with HEART’s support, for the people living around Taurima Reserve to gather and connect with one another.
Taurima Reserve’s new playground was the perfect opportunity to encourage people to come together and to spread the word about HEART’s mission, so on Saturday 15 August, utilising the HEART BBQ trailer, neighbours gathered to celebrate the opening, share some kai and get to know each other!
The day brought lots of activity, with families playing basketball and touch football, riding bikes and scooters and enjoying the new playground.
Julia was amazed by how willing people were to get involved. “We met so many awesome people who connected with the message of HEART and rolled up their sleeves to help out with the BBQ – we were blown away!”
HEART’s newly approved BBQ trailer at Taurima Reserve.
What people took from it
For Julia, one of the biggest takeaways from the day was seeing how important local shared spaces can be in bringing people together. She had hoped that the gathering would allow neighbours to the opportunity to meet people they might see regularly but otherwise wouldn’t usually get the chance to know.
“One thing I’m taking away from the day is just how important our green spaces and playgrounds are for us to be able to gather and form connections in our neighbourhoods,” Julia shared.
Julia and her family are looking forward to seeing some of new friends they’ve made when they visit the reserve next, hopefully continuing those connections beyond the day itself.
Our wonderful Change Agent Julia, who organised the Taurima Reserve BBQ
Why this matters for HEART
At the heart of the HEART Movement is the belief that healthy relationships and strong communities are built through connection.
Projects like Julia’s create accessible, practical opportunities for people to get to know their neighbours and feel more connection to the places in which they live. Something as simple as a shared BBQ can be the beginning of stronger relationships, greater belonging and a more connected neighbourhood and community.
Ngā mihi nui ki a Julia for bringing this idea to life and to everyone who came along, helped, shared some kai and took the time to connect with their neighbours.
We’re looking forward to seeing where these new connections lead and hopefully seeing some familiar faces around Taurima Reserve again soon!
