Aranui to celebrate turnaround

Aranui’s ten-year bid to turn itself into a strong and safe place to live in has been deemed an ongoing success in a qualitative research undertaken last year.

The feedback on the Community Renewal programme in the suburb has been extremely positive, with the local festival AFFIRM identified as one of the best things about Aranui.

The Aranui Renewal Partners – Christchurch City Council, Housing New Zealand and Aranui Community Trust (ACTIS) - will celebrate the findings of the 2008 Aranui Needs Analysis by sharing a cake and plans for the future with the community on 29 April 2009. A community sausage sizzle, finger foods and an opportunity for community networking and questions are also on the agenda in the two-hour celebration starting at 4pm at the Wainoni Aranui Family Centre.

Community renewal in Aranui is a 2000 initiative by Housing New Zealand, Christchurch City Council and the local community that sought new solutions to local needs including community networking and projects through to traineeships and family support services. A key factor to the development of the Aranui community since 2001 has been the continuity of the staff involved in the project, the dedicated local volunteers and development of the Aranui Community Trust in 2002.

“The focus is to transform the community by engaging and supporting local people to get involved in community activity, and to improve health, learning and employment opportunities,” says Natalie Dally, Christchurch City Council Community Development Adviser.

Meanwhile Housing New Zealand has significantly redeveloped the local neighbourhood, turning many of the ‘two-storey’ blocks in the area into single storey units, with design input from residents. Aranui was the first Community Renewal projects undertaken by Housing New Zealand and is one of six around New Zealand.

“The transformation of Aranui is not only down to the physical redevelopment but role community plays in making it a safer, better place to live,” says Housing New Zealand Christchurch Marlborough Nelson Regional Manager, David Griffiths.

Community pride that is underlying and embedded in the developments in Aranui provides a solid foundation for the future, says Rachael Fonotia, Manager of the Aranui Community Trust. Another significant change that reflected the growing pride of the community was the return of the Aranui Eagles Rugby League Club to Wainoni Park as its home ground.

The upgraded Wainoni Park - which won a national community park award recently - is also the venue for the community-initiated annual AFFIRM festival, held for the seventh time last year.

The Aranui Renewal Partners have worked with many organisations, government agencies and the community to develop an excellent model of community renewal and development, says Ms Dally. Following on from last year’s updated needs analysis, the Partners will be celebrating the outstanding work that has been done through this collaboration with the community and other organisations, and highlight what they plan to achieve in the future, she says.

The Celebration will commence at 4pm with a short presentation from each of the Partners including Mayor Bob Parker, followed by a cake, sausage sizzle, finger foods and an opportunity for community networking and questions. Copies of the 2008 Aranui Needs Analysis will be available on the day.

All members of the community are encouraged to attend, simply turn up on the day. If you have any questions, please contact Janene at the Aranui Community Trust by phone, 963-7070 or email, janene@actis.org.nz