Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: The heart of a small town is its people

Ngongotaha is a special place, according to Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. Photo/File

What is it about small towns and communities that make them so special?

It has to be the people. I saw and heard this demonstrated this weekend in Ngongotaha at Jocelyn's birthday party. People who have lived all their lives in the town, and many who returned especially for the party, talked about Ngongotaha being a special place. There were many happy and funny stories told.

Well-known identities, now older and they admitted greyer too, greeted each other with genuine affection. It even appeared that some guests had been resurrected. I heard more than once, "gee I thought he'd passed away".

Not so. Alive and full of tales of growing up in a community that cared about each other. People who had once been in business in the town were able to renew old friendships.

Many of the children of well-known Ngongotaha families, now adults with their own families have chosen to live there too. They remain connected to its past and are making their own contribution to the present and future shaping of Ngongotaha.

It's always the stories I find so enriching.

There were family members - mothers, fathers, and friends, many gone now, remembered for their kindness and generosity. Not only to their own children but to others who were free to come and go in their homes. It's what they did in those days.

There was no bother to just set another place at the table when someone else showed up. Parents worked hard and put extra effort into making their homes and community the best place to bring up children. This was long before "community development" became a familiar word.

Town planners may think they invented the term community development but families did that.

They wouldn't have known there was a name for what they did, but that's what it was. Community development.

Jocelyn's parents got on with life and raised 14 children, not realising the contribution they were making during their time, to sustain and grow Ngongotaha.

Their children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren are continuing their positive influence on the town.

Today community development encourages people to see where they can make a difference in how they feel, interact and fit in. Try to be inclusive and allow for differences.

Seventy years ago this wasn't a planned undertaking. People decided for themselves where they wanted to put their time and energy.

They knew the activities they wanted to be involved in to make Ngongotaha special for however long they lived there.

You can have the best views, poshest houses and great mix of shops in a town but it is people that give community a heart. Ngongotaha was reminded on Saturday, by so many people, of the impact it had on their lives.

Jocelyn thought she was having a birthday party. She did. But she provided far more than just a party for her guests. She allowed those present to be transported back in time, to a place that was special to her and them and filled with the people they loved.

They spoke with pride. About their parents and family friends. They shared memories.

They praised Jocelyn the uncompromising, no-nonsense woman who has made her own contribution to Ngongotaha for years, dividing her time between her family, wider community and the sporting youth of Ngongotaha in particular.

She was often in the speeches affectionately referred to as "a little firecracker".

We know our towns and cities have changed today. Many people rent, move on and never put down roots.

In most households both parents need to work. In these places we lose touch with those who live just down the road. But in smaller communities, there will always be families who know the value of community connectedness.

On Saturday we heard what this was like in Ngongotaha over the past 70 years.

Seems to me they got the recipe right back then. The heart of their community was family and friends.

This is still very evident in Ngongotaha today.

Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.