Stars align to connect the community during Lockdown

The stars started to align in March when an idea to connect with the community was floated that involved the stars of Matariki and some of our own stars, aka Change Agents. The Matariki Star hunt involved posters featuring the nine stars of Matariki put up across the Tāmaki community. People were encouraged to take photos of themselves with the posters and to post on social media for a chance to win vouchers from local eateries in Panmure and Glen Innes. The posters also offered support for those who may have needed a hand during lockdown with kai, internet and relationships. A box was left at Pak’n’Save Glen Innes at the Customer Service desk for people to drop a note in that requested help. Our Change Agents organised a roster where the box was checked each day to ensure no request was left waiting.

Our Change Agents helped to put up posters in Panmure, Pt England and Glen Innes.

Taking place during level 4 lockdown the team rallied together and overcame barriers to get the posters out in the community while maintaining social distancing. Close to 70 posters went up thanks to a team of nine change agents who walked streets, reserves and walking tracks in their neighbourhood to put up the posters. For many putting up the posters was a small ‘to do’ on their regular walk, for others it was a little prompt to get outside and moving - a welcomed self care task during lockdown.

Glen Innes Pak’n’Save were also a great help by being an integral part of the initiative providing a key location for the dropbox. They also put up large posters in the supermarket that really helped HEART get the word out about the star hunt. The Glen Innes Business Association and Panmure Business Association were also great supporters of the initiative, they organised food and dining vouchers, printed posters and shared the kaupapa on their social media. The local food and dining outlets were happy to be involved and to hear about The HEART Movement.

Glen Innes resident Matt Watts and his daughter Dani were one of our spot prize winners after finding the Waipunārangi star.

HEART kept the momentum going throughout the six weeks of the Matariki Star Hunt by posting prize winners on social media, sharing knowledge about the Matariki stars, and sharing clues to find the stars. We had a good response from the community with photos popping up of smiling faces in front of posters and even some other communities asking if we could do a star hunt in their hood! Thirty vouchers totaling $1000 went out to worthy winners who were grateful for their prizes and to support local business. There were some requests for help that came through the drop box that were passed on to the necessary organisations. 

The HEART Movement would like to thank everyone who was involved in the Matariki Star Hunt. It was a new initiative for HEART and with help from the Change Agents we persevered through Covid-19 restrictions to create a fun and innovative way to connect with the Tāmaki community. Special thanks to Glen Innes Pak’n’Save for your support that was key to our social assistance, Glen Innes and Panmure Business Associations for your help and prompt response to providing food and dining vouchers and to all the businesses who got on board with the kaupapa and have welcomed the winners with their excellent service and products! Ngā mihi!

Some of our wonderful food retailers!

Chris Sutton from Panmure Business Association

Soane Savieti and Peter Raea had a great time finding a set of 9 stars!

Two local boys Soane Savieti and Peter Raea were early winners of a spot prize for finding a set of nine stars! We had a chat with them about how they found the hunt.

HEART: How did you hear about the Matariki star hunt?

Soane: We saw it on the school app.

 Peter: It was on our school notices.

HEART: What did you think of the activity?

Soane: It was fun because we gotta travel on bikes and because we travel all over Glen Innes.

Peter: I thought it was fun because it was like doing ‘I spy’.

HEART: How did you find the stars? 

Soane: I found the stars on Bike.

Peter: Soane, Hine and I all rode bikes.

HEART: You guys were one of our spot prize winners, have you used the voucher yet? If so what did you get or planning to get?

Soane: No, we have not used the vouchers yet. No we have not spent it because we are still deciding.

Peter: No not yet, but we are still thinking about what we should do. 

Soane: Thank you to the HEART Movement for making this Matariki star hunt.

Peter: Thank You HEART Movement for putting this event up for us. Can you guys please do one next year, because it was really fun to do. Thank you.