Sirens and Services: A Focus on Safety and Wellness in Merivale, Tauranga

Sirens and Services in Merivale. Video by Vector Group Charitable Trust.

The sky was a brilliant blue over Merivale School, the venue for Sirens and Services in Merivale, a vibrant community event organised by Neighbourhood Support Western Bay of Plenty in collaboration with the Merivale Community Centre. This was the third Sirens and Services event - a free gathering focused on safety, community services, and hauora (wellness) - and it proved to be a remarkable success, drawing families from across the local area.

Special guests included MP Jan Tinetti and Tauranga City Councillors Rod Taylor and Marten Roseboom, who joined the festivities and emphasised the value of strong community engagement.

The event was packed with fun and engaging activities for whānau. Children enjoyed face painting, balloon creations, free haircuts provided by Avenue Barbers, and complimentary candyfloss. A community barbecue, hosted by Neighbourhood Support and stocked with donated sausages from Kiwi Fresh Meats, ran throughout the day.

Attendees had the opportunity to explore the 17 sirens and community service displays as part of the Earn and Learn experience. Each station offered valuable information for whānau, and visitors collected stamps on their passports as they made their way through. Once completed, they were rewarded with goodie bags, filled with donated items from a wide range of community organisations, including Here 2 Help U, New World Gate Pā, Tauranga City Council, Hamner Clinic, Good Neighbour, Fire and Emergency, Nga Mataapuna Oranga, and more.

The excitement didn’t end with face painting and food - two standout experiences captured the community’s attention. The first was a virtual reality (VR) simulation run by the Tauranga City Council Emergency Management Team, where both children and adults experienced a virtual tsunami scenario at Mount Maunganui. The second was the engaging activity led by New Zealand Police, who provided impairment goggles to give participants a firsthand understanding of the dangers of impaired driving.

Sirens and Services Unite to Share Support and Vital Messages with the Community

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) – Remember to regularly check the expiry date on your smoke alarms to keep your home and whānau safe.

New Zealand Police – Drive sober and stay alert. Impaired driving puts everyone at risk –make safe choices to protect yourself, your whānau, and your community.

Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) – Working alongside Police to help keep our neighbourhoods safe. Be the eyes and ears in your community—report suspicious activity and support a safer Aotearoa.

Ngāi Te Rangi – Brought their Health Waka to the event, offering free health checks and valuable well-being information to support whānau on their hauora journey.

Here 2 Help U – Reach out for referrals to free social services and wellbeing support available in our community. We're here to connect you with the help you need.

Tauranga City Council Emergency Management – Is your evacuation kit ready? Make sure it includes essentials like water, food, a cellphone, cash, medication, important documents, a torch, and a battery-powered radio. Being prepared helps protect you and your whānau in an emergency. Good Neighbour – Supporting communities, families, and individuals with practical help so our neighbourhoods can thrive and flourish together. Super Support – Designed for those aged 65 and over who need food support. If you or someone you know is a senior facing food insecurity, Super Support is here to help. Bay Financial Mentors – Free financial mentoring services supporting individuals and whānau to take control of their finances and build a stronger, more secure future. Ngā Mataapuna Oranga – Need help navigating social services? Whānau Ora can support you and your whānau to access the right services and create a plan for a stronger future. Plunket Tauranga offers a range of free services to support the health and well-being of tamariki under five and their whānau. Services include Well Child checks, parenting education, playgroups, and more. Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support is a free, confidential service dedicated to supporting individuals and whānau affected by sexual harm across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions. Their mission is to foster healing, education, and prevention, with the vision of creating a society free from sexual violence. Hanmer Clinic – Let’s break the stigma around alcohol and drug use—because when whānau feel safe to reach out, healing can begin. Recovery is possible. Treatment works. And when you’re ready, support is here. EmployNZ is a NZQA Category 1 private training establishment offering a range of education and employment support services across the Bay of Plenty, including Tauranga and Rotorua. Te Manu Toroa is the largest Kaupapa Māori provider of primary health services in the Western Bay of Plenty, dedicated to delivering holistic, whānau-centred care that supports the well-being of individuals and communities. Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support – Join as a member to receive community updates, stay informed, and become a Street Coordinator to help your neighbours connect, communicate, and support one another. Let’s make our communities safer and stronger—together. Merivale Community Centre provides a range of social services and programmes to support the Merivale community, working alongside whānau to build resilience, strengthen connections, and help individuals realise their full potential — all with the shared vision of a strong community, thriving together.

Hon Jan Tinette alongside Chair of WBoPNS Kathy Webb, with the Whānau Essential Packs.

In the news...

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible participants, volunteers, sponsors, and members of the public who made Sirens and Services in Merivale such a vibrant and successful day. Your presence and support brought the spirit of community to life. A special thanks goes to the dedicated team at the Merivale Community Centre for their outstanding contribution - your time, donations, and tireless volunteer efforts were truly the backbone of this event. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks to our supporters!