What is Neighbour Net?

Neighbour Net is a community-led movement that will be aligned and associated with the

National Neighbourhood Support organisation, which has as its objective the creation of safe,

resilient and connected communities.

Our Goal

Our primary aim is to create a comprehensive Muriwai Community Resilience Plan. This plan

will help ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively when the next natural event should

impact Muriwai. A well-connected community enhances safety and well-being.

Key Risks to Muriwai

• Catastrophic Weather Events
• Fire
• Flooding (Inundation)
• Isolation (No Vehicle Access)
• Utility Loss (Power, Communication, Water)

Neighbour Net will help us prepare and respond to emergencies by understanding these risks

and taking proactive measures.

How You Can Help: Become a Coordinator

We are looking for volunteers from across the village to take on the role of neighbourhood

coordinators. A lot of Muriwai villagers will already have an organic connection – others might

want to discover who lives nearby.

Being a coordinator would involve an initial catch-up; recruiting from around your patch,

and maybe later on organising small immediate neighbourhood events to gather neighbours

together. We aim to organise clusters of 6 to 10 houses, depending on location. If you’re

interested, please fill out this form, and we will contact you.

Get Connected | Be Prepared

A close-knit Neighbour Net will help with:

1. Emergency preparedness

• Emergency Contacts: We’ll provide fridge magnets with critical information.
• Know Your Coordinator: Stay informed about your neighbourhood coordinator.
• Communication: Use the designated Whatsapp group
• Evacuation Clusters: Learn your designated evacuation point.
• Grab Bags: Prepare essential supplies.
• Assist Vulnerable Neighbours: Ensure those who need help can evacuate safely.

2. Crime Prevention

• Recognise Unusual Activity: Knowing your neighbours helps you spot anything out of the

ordinary.

• Create a Safer Community: Work together to prevent crime.
• Stay Vigilant: Be aware of new tenants and long absences.

3. Community Care

• Welcome new residents and help them get to know Muriwai
• Support Vulnerable Neighbours: Assist with shopping, hospital visits, or other needs as

necessary.

Get Involved

Be part of Muriwai’s future and help build a safe, resilient, and connected community.

Email us at: admin@muriwai.org.nz or fill out this form to express your interest in getting

involved.

**Exciting New Proposal: Revitalising the Sand Dunes Café Site!**

The original proposal to relocate the Edwin Mitchelson Cottage to Village Green has unfortunately been turned down by Auckland Council Parks due to one significant concern: "No new buildings in the park." 

However, we are excited to present a new solution that promises to breathe new life into our central hub! The proposed location is the existing and currently underutilised Sand Dunes Café site. This change aims to enhance our community while preserving its heritage.

Our vision for the relocation of the historic building is to create a vibrant space that will not only replace the old café but also infuse the area with character and charm. We believe that this new development can become a beloved gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. 

Auckland Council has estimated that it would take between $1-2 million to bring the existing structure up to current standards. However, building a new café from the ground up is projected to cost about $3 million; therefore, relocating the Edwin Mitchelson Cottage would be the most financially sensible decision while preserving the history of the area.

We are excited about this potential growth and transformation, and we believe it will significantly benefit our community. Stay tuned for further updates as we work towards making this vision a reality! Your thoughts and support are always welcome as we strive to create a welcoming and vibrant space for all.

Proposal

Project progress updated May 2025

Currently, 34 Domain Crescent is owned by the Auckland Council due to the fact it was given Category 3 status following the cyclone and slips of February 2023 - then subsequently bought out by the Council. The cottage structure is not damaged in any way. Removal from the site is pending. Should this happen, it would mean the loss of a significant taonga from Muriwai.

What we aim to achieve here is to retain the historic cottage at 34 Domain Crescent within our whenua, to preserve our heritage and help build our community’s future. Importantly, this cottage links to the generous gifts from Sir Edwin Mitchelson of land that is Muriwai Regional Park.

A huge thank you to iwi for listening and providing this amazing opportunity, we believe this may be a first of its kind, the forest now offers a truly magical experience.

Malcolm Paterson, CEO of Ngā Maunga Whakahī o Kaipara Ngahere Ltd (NMWoKN), the commercial organisation of Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, presented information about the 12-month trial for authorised access to Woodhill Forest in the Muriwai area at the Muriwai Community Association Meeting on 2 March 2025.

• NMWoKN Ltd offered a 12-month trial for authorised access to Woodhill Forest in a specific area in Muriwai.
• The initiative, Hīkoi Ngātahi (Walking Together), reflected the spirit of Ngāti Whātua and the wider community working and walking together.
• The programme was modelled on the existing arrangement for the Kake Hoiho horse riding club (woodhillforest.co.nz/equestrian-access), with members subscribing via the Ngā Maunga Whakahī o Kaipara Ngahere website.
• NMWoKN invested significant funds and resources into systems, processes, and signage for the trial — including website management for subscriptions, signage, and track maintenance.
• A range of paid membership categories was made available.
• Dogs were welcome, provided they were well controlled.
• The Hīkoi Ngātahi initiative officially opened in April 2025.
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The success of the 12-month trial depended on factors such as the frequency and type of incidents, membership numbers, environmental impact, and the quality of interactions between members, trespassers, and NMWoKN personnel.

As a community, there were opportunities to demonstrate our connection and appreciation for the forest by volunteering to support Muriwai forest projects. The Muriwai Environmental Trust continued to work alongside iwi on rare plant seed collection, pest eradication, and trapping.

If you would like to receive updates or membership information, please register using the form provided. Your details will only be used for this project and shared with Ngā Maunga Whakahī o Kaipara Ngahere (NMWoKN) for the purpose of providing updates about the Hīkoi Ngātahi (Walking Together) club.

We are proud to see this initiative come to life and hope the community continues to support its success. Spread the word. 

Please register for information regarding membership details (Registration Form) Your details will only be used for this project and shared with Ngā Maunga Whakahī o Kaipara Ngahere (NMWoKN) for the purpose of providing recipients information about the 'Hikoi Ngātahi' (Walking Together) club.

We are very excited and hope you will join us to make this initiative a success. Spread the word (Registration Form) 

The team have made the most of this sunny weather and spent some time up Domain Crescent planting out on of the bare sections. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped, if you would like to volunteer to come along and help us make these plots of land beautiful again please email zak.bogdan@gmail.com

The first step in healing our landscape has begun.

At 181 Motutara Road—the former site of the Muriwai Lodge cabins—a dedicated crew of locals came together for the first Scars on the Land planting day. With boots on and gloves ready, they cleared the site of weeds and carefully planted over 400 native trees, turning a place once marked by loss into a space full of new life and hope.

This project is about more than plants. It’s about reclaiming space for the community—quiet corners for connection, remembrance, and regeneration. Thanks to the support of the Muriwai Environmental Trust and the Muriwai Deli (whose kai kept us going strong), this first milestone has been a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when we come together.

Let’s make sure these spaces grow into something meaningful—for us and for those to come.

Photo credit: Ginny Were

View plan here

Sculpture Unveiled to Honour Muriwai’s Resilience

On the 23rd of March, the new sculpture was unveiled at the intersection of Motutara Road and Waitea Road, commemorating the devastation caused by the January 2023 storms and the strength of the Muriwai community in their aftermath.

Created by renowned sculptor Jeff Thomson, the work features seven unique columns made from salvaged materials collected from cyclone and flood-damaged homes in Muriwai. These include corrugated iron, tap fittings, sinks, letterboxes, and tiles—each piece carrying the weight of a personal story.

The project was supported by members of the Muriwai Artists Collective, who hosted community mosaic workshops at the Muriwai Surf Club. These sessions offered a space for storm-affected residents to process their grief, share memories, and reconnect.

The sculpture not only stands as a striking public artwork, but also as a symbol of resilience, shared healing, and the enduring spirit of Muriwai.

The sculpture will continue to be added to over the coming months as the remaining houses are deconstructed throughout Muriwai.

The Artist – Jeff Thomson

Jeff Thomson is a well-known New Zealand artist best known for his sculptural works fabricated from corrugated iron and salvaged materials. His artistic and sculptural pieces can be found in public and private collections throughout Australasia and globally. His corrugated Holden Kingswood calls Te Papa home, his public toilet is the pride of his local community in Helensville while his life-size giraffe strides the Gibbs sculpture park on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour. Jeff’s proximity to Muriwai, his long-time involvement with the Muriwai art community and his experience in making Public Sculpture make Jeff the obvious choice for this project.

Sculpture Location

The sculpture is located in the grassy area next to the Muriwai Ranger’s station, at the corner of Motutara and Waitea Rd. This location is close to the heart of the community, and it is also a secluded spot ideal for reflection, with picnic tables already in place, and plenty of parking and amenities nearby.

The Sculpture Concept

'The sculpture is a series of eight free-standing columns, or Pou. People can walk through and around the sculpture. One piece is low to the ground, for people to use as seating. Viewers can walk between and around the uprights, and touch and photograph them. Given the scale of the space, the tallest column would stand between 3.5 metres tall and remain outside the drip line and beneath the height of the surrounding trees.

The final sculpture design is a product largely of the materials that have been made available by the Trow Group from the deconstruction of the Category 3 Muriwai homes. The final work incorporates community art initiatives from the weeks following the Cyclone, such as the Muriwai ‘Love Letters’ and Mette Hay’s ‘Muriwai Voices’, alongside the mosaics created in the November 2023 community mosaics workshops

Many Thanks to our Principal sponsors

Muriwai Arts

Paul Sherrock, Registered Valuer

The Trow Group

Waimaukau Lions

Autex Industries and the One New Zealand Warriors

Muriwai Golf Club

Muriwai Sculpture in the Media

RNZ

RNZ