Community Resilience Network

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight – Rosemary Nash 🌟

As part of Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu | National Volunteer Week, we're celebrating the incredible people who help make our communities stronger, safer, and more connected.

Today we'd like to recognise Rosemary Nash, who has been volunteering in Papakura for 12 years through Sustainable Papakura and the Community Resilience Network.

Rosemary's work focuses on community education, helping to plan and deliver initiatives that empower people to understand environmental challenges and build resilience. She first became involved out of a concern for environmental degradation and has dedicated over a decade to creating positive change in our community.

When asked what she enjoys most about volunteering, Rosemary's answer was simple: "The people, being part of a caring community."

When she's not volunteering, you'll likely find her tending to her vegetable garden, cooking in the kitchen, out fishing, or enjoying a good book.

Rosemary is just one of the many amazing volunteers who make the Papakura Community Resilience Network possible.

Our volunteers:
🏡 Support Community Emergency Hubs
🤝 Help organise and host Street Meets
📚 Attend training and workshops to learn how best to help during emergencies
📋 Keep the network running through administration and coordination
🌏 Lead and contribute to many other community groups, charities, marae, schools, environmental projects and local initiatives that make up the wider CRN whānau.

Much of this work happens behind the scenes and often without recognition. To Rosemary and all of our volunteers, thank you for your commitment to wider Papakura and for helping make our community a more prepared, connected, and caring place to live.

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa 🙌💚

A few hours on a weekend could benefit Papakura for decades to come.

Ōpaheke Sports Park planting day is about growing a greener, healthier future for our community 🌱

📅 Saturday 27 June 2026
⏰ 10am–1pm
📍 Ōpaheke Sports Park, Opaheke Road, Papakura (follow the signs and flags)

Bring whānau and friends and join other locals and park rangers planting native trees for our wildlife, water quality and our future generations 🌿🐦

👢 Wear sturdy shoes and clothing to suit the weather
💧 Bring a water bottle
🧤 Gloves and tools provided (or bring your own)

Let's get our hands dirty and make a lasting difference together 🤝🌱

🌱💚 Sustainability and resilience go hand in hand.
When we repair, reuse, share skills and make the most of the resources we already have, we are reducing waste and building stronger communities that are better prepared for whatever the future brings.
That's why we love the work of Sustainable Papakura and their monthly Sustainable Market 🛍️♻️

📅 Saturday 20 June
⏰ 10am–1pm
📍 Sir Edmund Hillary Library Foyer, 209 Great South Road, Papakura

Come along and discover creative handmade items. It's also a great opportunity to support local makers, learn more about sustainable living and connect with others who care about our community and environment 🌏

🌧️ Preparing for storms starts long before the rain arrives.

This video from Auckland Council highlights the work being done across the region to strengthen infrastructure, reduce flood risk, and help communities prepare for severe weather events.

While agencies and councils play an important role, community preparedness is just as important. Knowing your local risks, having an emergency plan, preparing supplies, and staying connected with neighbours can make a real difference when storms hit.

At the Community Resilience Network, we're passionate about helping communities become more prepared, connected, and resilient. Every step we take today helps us recover faster tomorrow.

🎥 Watch the video below and learn more about how we can all play a part in building a safer, more resilient future.

https://youtu.be/n9ib8CrXwq0?si=1GMyAg32z2zX84sC

Preparing the city for storms | Auckland Council When heavy rain is forecast in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aucklanders prepare...

Members of the Papakura CRN attended and presented at a recent Auckland Emergency Management community forum at Due Drop Events Centre, alongside community leaders and emergency readiness groups from across Tāmaki Makaurau.

One of the standout speakers was community engagement expert Anne Pattillo, whose message supports the work happening here in Papakura 💚

Anne spoke about how strong communities are built BEFORE emergencies happen - through local leadership and neighbours knowing neighbours. Communities themselves are often the actual first responders in a crisis.

Using stories and some hard truths, Anne challenged the idea that resilience only comes from official systems. She encouraged communities to invest in connection and local action now - which is happening in Papakura! Get involved.

Taiao Conservation Awards celebrate incredible people and groups helping protect and restore our South Auckland environment 💚

One of this year’s inspiring young winners was Jaxton from Papakura, recognised in the Emerging and Highly Commended category 👏🐦

Jaxton is just primary school age and is already a passionate pest trapping volunteer! He started building and setting traps with his dad to help protect the skinks living in their garden and now helps lead trapping in a local reserve, protecting birds, insects, lizards and native plants 🌱

💡 Predator control is all about healthy ecosystems that make our whole community stronger and more resilient. Shout out to groups like Pest Free Urban South and Predator Free Franklin
Ka pai Jaxton - you are an inspiration to us all 🙌💚

Street Meet Success on Marne Road! 🏡

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at our Street Meet on Marne Road this week. We were thrilled to welcome around 34 neighbours, including lots of new faces and some familiar ones from previous Street Meets!

The evening sparked great conversations about emergency preparedness, grab bags, emergency hubs, and how communities can support one another before, during, and after an emergency.

Residents were particularly interested in learning more about the Flood Viewer and discussing practical ways neighbours can work together to stay prepared.

One of the highlights was hearing how connected the local community already is, with neighbours looking out for each other and embracing a "no one left behind" approach. We also shared ideas around storing emergency supplies across neighbouring households, because many hands really do make light work.

We handed out grab bag flyers, emergency contact information, and community hub resources, and were excited to share some Flood Viewer goodies kindly provided by Auckland Council

The strongest message from the community? More Street Meets please! 💙

Thank you to Claire and everyone who took part. Every conversation helps build a stronger, more resilient neighbourhood.

Protecting Papakura starts in our own backyards!
Come along to this friendly community bait & trap event and learn how small local actions can make a big difference for our environment, gardens and native wildlife 🐦💚

📅 Saturday 13 June
📍 Drury Community Library, 10 Tui Street
⏰ 9am – 11am

Drop in to:
✅ Learn why predator control matters
✅ See trapping and baiting in action
✅ Get practical advice for your property
✅ Take home predator control supplies

🐀 Rats and possums don’t just harm native birds and insects, they also impact gardens, waterways and local ecosystems. Looking after our environment also helps build healthier, more resilient communities🌱

Big thanks to Te Ara Hīkoi, Beautification Trust, Papakura Local Board and Franklin Local Board for supporting this awesome mahi 🙌

Did you know Papakura is one of Auckland's fastest-growing communities?

According to Stats NZ data, the population of Papakura was 84,200 people in 2025. Over the last five years, our population has grown by an average of 4.5% each year 🌱

Papakura now accounts for 4.6% of Auckland's population, which is up from 3.9% just five years ago.
As Papakura grows, many new residents are moving into the area, housing is becoming denser, and more people are living in multi-unit developments.

That's why initiatives like:
🤝 Street Meets
🏡 Community Emergency Hubs
🎒 Emergency preparedness workshops
📻 Community training and exercises
are becoming more important than ever.

Research consistently shows that communities recover better from emergencies when people know each other and know where to go for information and support.

As Papakura grows, building connections may be one of the most important resilience investments we can make 💚

Huge congratulations to local conservation champion Margaret Gane, recently recognised in the 2026 Taiao Conservation Awards in the Taonga Tangata category 💚

Margaret has dedicated many years to caring for Kirks Bush through her leadership and volunteer work with the Friends of Kirks Bush. From organising working bees to spending countless hours helping maintain and regenerate this precious urban forest, her contribution to our natural environment in Papakura has been extraordinary 🌱

Urban forests like Kirks Bush are more than beautiful green spaces. They help cool our neighbourhoods, support wildlife, improve water quality, absorb carbon, and strengthen community wellbeing. Caring for these places also helps build more resilient communities now and for future generations 🌏

Ngā mihi nui Margaret for your passion, leadership and commitment to protecting te taiao in Papakura 🙌