Boost for rural support in Taupo

A massive snowfall in the Rangitaiki area last August cut power and isolated residents.

A new $10,000 grant from BayTrust will allow Taupō's Neighbourhood Support to continue its focus on encouraging rural residents to stick together.

Since the heavy snowfall event that closed the Napier-Taupō highway last winter, Taupō Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Joy Johnson has been working hard to encourage rural residents to get to know their neighbours better so they can call upon them in times of need.

"If your power is out or you're isolated for a few days, it's helpful to know who might have first aid skills or a nursing background," she says.

"We've now partnered with Civil Defence and have been running educational workshops with rural groups to encourage people to prepare for emergencies and look out for one another."

Rural residents are also being encouraged to keep an eye out for unfamiliar vehicles to help prevent stock thefts, and to report all crime - something people are often reluctant to do.

"They think it'll take police too long to get there. And if it's cattle or stock removal, what evidence would there be for the police to find?

"In many cases they haven't locked the house when they've gone up to the cowshed, or they've left the keys to the quad bike sitting in the vehicle. So they won't bother reporting burglaries because they know their insurance won't pay out. But reporting all crimes means a pattern can be established which is often very helpful to police when they're trying to resolve a case."

Johnson says the new funds from BayTrust will be used to run more rural workshops and continue liaising with the 516 Neighbourhood Support groups already established in Taupō.

"Ten thousand dollars is magic because it allows us to keep working with these rural communities in particular. I'm delighted to be able to settle in and do some work and not have to worry about where the next dollar is coming from. We're very grateful to BayTrust."

To celebrate the upcoming Neighbours Week, Taupō Neighbourhood Support is also planning a public event on Saturday, March 25 to encourage people to meet local officers and other groups like Taupo's Violence Intervention Network.

Taupō Neighbourhood Support is based at Taupō Police Station and is contactable between 9am-4pm weekdays or by phoning 376 1601.