News Release
Tuesday 4 March 2014

Treasure Rotorua campaign aims for Koutu to be ‘as safe as houses’

Up to 500 Koutu households will be visited next week and offered free advice and resources for keeping safe as part of Treasure Rotorua’s Te Pou Kapua o Te Koutu - Safe as Houses project.

Treasure Rotorua steering group partners collaborating on the project are Rotorua District Council, ACC, NZ Fire Service, Police, Neighbourhood Support, Civil Defence, and Age Concern.

The Te Pou Kapua o Te Koutu - Safe as Houses safety initiative is funded by ACC, and will involve teams from Rotorua Police, Neighbourhood Support, ACC, and the Fire Service door-knocking in the area from Monday to Friday [10 to 14 March]. They will offer residents information on how to reduce accidents in the home, installing safety devices, and crime prevention.

A project caravan with resources will also be available to Koutu residents during the week, providing a further opportunity for the community to get answers to their questions about safety.

Rotorua District Council community safety officer Linda Johnston said the ultimate goal of the programme is to encourage individual, family, and neighbourhood support networks to improve safety and reduce crime related incidents.

“It’s exciting to work collaboratively with other partners of Treasure Rotorua and the Koutu community to support the direction that this community has identified. They’ve asked us to come and support their vision of a safe community so we’re pleased to have this opportunity to participate in such a meaningful project. It also fits well with the council’s Rotorua 2030 vision and goal around safe neighbourhoods.”

The household visit campaign will follow the launch of Te Pou Kapua o Te Koutu - Safe as Houses project at a community day at Karenga Park on Sunday [9 March]. The community day begins at 11am and includes ‘Koutu’s Got Talent’, scooter and basketball competitions, quizzes, and spot prizes.

[ENDS]

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