Connecting people, families, whānau and communities

We asked the Families Panels what community means to them and how to reach across divides and connect communities with each other. Here is what they told us.

For a community to flourish and even exist, it requires people to participate and engage which takes time and commitment. A number of groups also identified the importance of people who are “connectors” those people who know lots of people and help make connections across different communities and groups, those who take initiative and responsibility

Having commonality was identified by all groups as the foundation of community. This commonality varied and included geography (neighbourhood), an issue or circumstance, faith, hobby, ethnicity or extended family to name a few. Having something in common enables people to feel a sense of belonging and safety. Many talked about like-mindedness and support.

The growing importance of online communities such as Facebook was highlighted, with families using Facebook to stay in touch with friends and relatives overseas - “My grandson is in Australia he is learning about whakapapa through the net”. One participant established a website to provide a discussion forum for grandparents raising grandchildren – she also has a Facebook page and this has helped her combat her sense of isolation.

Most of the groups felt that community is changing, many people do not know their neighbours any more and feel that community is no longer a priority for many families. The groups identified many contributing factors to the decreasing sense of community, these included:

• Families being time pressured
• High rates of mobility (people moving further and more often than in the past)
• Urban sprawl which encourages people to drive everywhere and can contribute to isolation
• Not shopping locally
• Children not attending their local school

Some groups explored the changing face of New Zealand recognising there are more people from different cultures, faiths and ethnicities. These differences can lead to suspicion and an unwillingness to get to know neighbours, making it harder to find common ground and build community. There was a recognition of the need for greater tolerance and understanding particularly in light of the increasing diversity in cultural and lifestyles choices of the New Zealand population.

There was a general sense that community is not viewed as important in society any more, but it is missed by many as it creates a sense of belonging and safety. Creating community requires time, investment, tolerance and a willingness to “put yourself out there”, as well as people who are ‘connectors’.