The Junior Neighbourhood Support Program (JNS), was launched at Te Papapa Primary School on 10 August.
Guests were welcomed with a pōwhiri followed by speeches from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board and Auckland City Police. The Police Eagle Helicopter, police dogs and Junior Neighbourhood Support mascot Captain Community mingled with kids outside the classroom.
“The programme is about keeping our children safe and empowering them with some basic tools to help them stay safe”, says Don Allen, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Deputy Chair and Onehunga Community Constable.
“The programme has three main focus areas of Home, School and Community. Working with these specialist organisations means we have covered off each of these areas with expert advice and support.”
JNS is the result of a partnership with the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, Neighbourhood Support Auckland, Auckland City Police and the There’s a Better Way Foundation.
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki’s Safety Plan
As part of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki’s Safety Plan 2015 - 2020, the board has funded the programme for primary schools across Maungakiekie-Tamaki.
Local board chair Josephine Bartley says, “We will be reviewing the programme next year and hope to roll it to all schools in Maungakiekie-Tamaki.”
The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Safety Plan’s purpose states that it: is to identify a range of options in which the local board can respond to local safety issues in a strategic and coordinated manner, and improve safety and perceptions of safety in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki area. It sets the framework that will guide decision making from 2015 to 2020.
