A Northland town is becoming a poster town for an international movement urging people to reclaim their centres.
Australian urban design guru David Engwicht and his organisation Creative Communities encourage citizens to stop complaining about what's wrong with their towns or waiting for the council to fix things.
Instead he wants people to band together and fix problems themselves, a philosophy which has been seized by the people of Paihia.
Volunteer group Paihia Phantom Placemakers has so far redecorated the waterfront, tidied up the Village Green and Maiki Hill, and rebuilt a once dark and smelly toilet block.
Now the Phantoms' efforts have been recognised with Creative Communities' top award, presented by Mr Engwicht at a celebration to mark the completion of the toilet project.