Te Kopuru sits a few kilometres south of Dargaville with a demanding view of local Maunga  Toka Toka and Maungaraho. It has a population of around 500 residents and features a historic local school and church (St Peters). Te Kopuru is steeped in history, stemming from the days of Kauri milling and gum.

Since June this year a group called “Community Think” consisting of community workers Cissy and Duncan (who have been contracted by Kaipara District Council), have been working with Te Kopuru residents on a plan for the community.

Initially they created fun maps of Te Kopuru where members of the community could place stickers on the maps to say what they would like in their town. The maps were very successful with over 50 returned and lots of ideas. With this in mind, Community Think along with Kaipara District Council have hosted events at the local church hall so that people can drop in and see the ideas and add their own.

The ideas have been divided into four key areas:

• Food and local Produce
• Business, Tourism and Economic Development
• Community Spaces for Fun, Gathering and Learning
• All other ideas

A community group the “Te Kopuru Community Development Group” has also been the lead group, supporting the initiative as a local representative group.

It has been vital to have some action while going through the process of putting together a community plan, so Community Think have organised a theatre performance with local actors. The actors will improv stories from the audience by acting them out. Everyone that has lived in Te Kopuru has some great stories so Cissy thought this would be a great way to share them and bring the community together.

Another initiative is a new Facebook page “Te Kopuru Grapevine and Sharing”. It is administrated by locals to share information between the community members and to also inform them of what is happening.

St Peters Church members, Viv Biddles and Kaye Welch are also organising a regular drop in morning on Wednesdays from 10 – 12noon. There will be a cuppa and a slice for a gold coin donation. This is an opportunity to meet new friends, have a chat and maybe learn crafts or play games. Viv explains that it is hoped that “it will begin to give the local community somewhere to gather, especially some of our older folk who are very lonely”. She also hoped young mothers and their families would come along.

For more information on these Te Kopuru initiatives visit the “Tautoko Te Kopuru” Facebook page here