Mayors Memo

 

Kia ora

Shock and sadness following the recent terror events in Christchurch have resonated across the country and around the world. I am sad for those who are in pain, grief or fear at this time. I join with others in condemning hatred and extreme views of all types, and instead seek to celebrate diversity and openness in our communities. 
Welcoming all people to our increasingly-diverse Kaipara is central to this Council’s vision of ‘Thriving Communities Working Together’. Openness, inclusiveness, that friendly Kaipara kindness and smile – these virtues are attractive and help this place grow.  In Kaipara we’re building bridges not walls (hey – Matakohe, Tomarata, Hakaru!) and rolling out the welcome mat to Kaipara.

It’s a delight to me when people, whether kiwis from other regions or new immigrants, choose to make Kaipara their home because it’s a reflection of our openness as a community. We must be doing something right and have much to celebrate here, as Kaipara is now the fastest growing district in the North Island with annual population growth of 3.1%. For all of us this is a great, big melting-pot of a place, and becoming greater and bigger every day. 

As Mayor it’s my great privilege to lead New Zealand Citizenship ceremonies in Kaipara District for increasing numbers of new citizens from around the world who choose to make this place their home. Council staff tell me that where there used to be only one or two of these ceremonies in Kaipara each year and there are now five or six, at each of these more than a dozen new citizens join us and pledge to become New Zealanders. It’s a joyous event, filled with hope, optimism and the energy of new beginnings. These new citizens add greatly to the diversity of our community, bring added richness to the social and cultural fabric of Kaipara and I’m always delighted they choose to start their New Zealand citizen story in Kaipara. As someone who also started his kiwi story in Kaipara (when I was born here) I always say to our new citizens they got to choose their place and they chose well but I didn’t have any choice and instead just got lucky!

In Kaipara I hope we’ll continue to build bridges not walls, reach out to those around us and remember to keep that friendly Kaipara kindness and smile as we go. Simply, let’s keep growing the kind in Kaipara.

Nga mihi nui,
Jason