Establishing a strategy to create a safe community space in and around Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay, Auckland

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Selwyn Reserve is a large reserve in the Auckland suburb of Mission Bay. The reserve is characterised by a stone house and fountain which sit close to the North facing beach. Selwyn Reserve is frequented by people from across Auckland’s isthmus and tourists to the region. The chronic issue which exists pertains to the alcohol consumed during hours of darkness in Selwyn Reserve, particularly during the weekend. The purpose of this research was to establish a long-term sustainable solution for the chronic issue which exists at Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay, Auckland.

RESEARCH APPROACH

The research utilised Te Ara Tika (Hudson et al. 2010) as a framework, bringing Te Ao Māori into all components of the research ensuring the voice of iwi was present, heard, and actioned. The research was conducted utilising a sequential mixed-method design, with existent Police and Council data, influencing the questions asked in the interview phase and during a community led hui.

Un-tested PANDA Model

At the time of the research PANDA (Problem, Analyse, Nominate, Deploy, Assess the impact) was an untested method for solving chronic issues. Research findings identified what the issue at Mission Bay was, when it occurred, and who was involved. Additionally, the commitment of the community to solve the chronic issue is considerable. The approach taken to interviews and the hui was beneficial in ensuring that the various components of PANDA could be covered, to establish a comprehensive long-term sustainable solution for Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay. The learnings around the approach will assist others seeking solutions for chronic issues.