The skate ramps at Arataki Park where a young girl was attacked. Photo / File
The skate ramps at Arataki Park where a young girl was attacked. Photo / File
A technology innovation has emerged from efforts to curb a trend of anti-social behaviour by youth in Arataki.
Custom-built safety devices with GPS are in the works in a bid to help keep children and teenagers safe after a series of attacks were reported to police in the Arataki area.
But members of a community group driving efforts to make the area safe again believe a temporary community base at the former Imbibe site next to Bayfair Shopping Centre has "made a heap of difference".
It has been just over a week since the temporary base was set up after a community meeting attended by hundreds of people in December.
Takiri Butler, who is part of the Make Arataki Safe Again group, said several positive steps had been taken since the meeting.
"We took names of people interested and held our first meeting as a group on Christmas Eve," she said.
"From that meeting, everybody said what they could contribute. We have a tech guy putting together custom-built safety devices for our kids, with GPS to help keep them safe.
"We have some artsy people helping because we're going to run a whole Make Arataki Safe campaign. We've got social workers in there, people from council, an accountant. It was really cool having a range of people with a range of skills."
Butler said seeing such a range of people come together for a common cause was "the best part" of the initiative.
"It's really, really cool to have people of all ages from all parts of the community, it's fantastic. We have younger ones, a group of rangatahi because obviously it's a rangatahi issue and we want to make sure they're involved in what we're doing."
She said the police basing themselves at the former Imbibe site had made a difference.
"It's made a heap of difference.
"People in the Facebook group are saying that's the first thing they see when they go to Bayfair, is that blue uniform and that just makes them feel a whole lot safer. It's cool sharing that space with them.
"There have been a shocking number of attacks on our youth in the Arataki area but it does feel like things are changing. The incidents do seem to be stopping so far, there has been a drop-off but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves."
The group will meet again in mid-January to reassess the situation.
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton. Photo / File
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said the general feedback following the community base opening had been positive.
"We are aware of a small number of recent incidents and where advised will ensure they are followed up.
"Police continue to provide support to the community to help address the issues that have been highlighted by the community involving youths and anti-social behaviour."
