Recently, we were invited to meet with our fellow Neighbourhood Support coordinators from across the Bay of Plenty. It was a valuable opportunity to come together, share ideas, discuss common challenges, and learn from one another's experiences.

These connections are important. While each community is unique, many of the issues we face are similar. The meeting provided a chance to exchange resources, explore new approaches to community engagement, and strengthen the relationships that help us support safer, more resilient neighbourhoods throughout the region.

One of the highlights was hearing from representatives of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, who shared useful information about household preparedness and community resilience. Their insights reinforced the importance of being ready for emergencies and highlighted the vital role neighbours play in supporting one another before, during, and after an event.

Most importantly, the gathering reminded us that we are part of a wider network of people committed to building connected communities. Taking the time to collaborate, share knowledge, and learn from each other helps ensure we're all better equipped to support the neighbourhoods we serve.

We appreciate the opportunity to be part of these conversations and look forward to continuing to work alongside our Bay of Plenty counterparts to strengthen communities across the region.