While members may join for different reasons, they all share a common vision that their locality can be enhanced in some way.

People’s interests within a group may be varied. Groups are sometimes established to provide for recreational activities such as children’s playgroups, youth clubs, sports clubs or art and theatre interests. Usually groups are set up in response to a perceived threat to the stability or character of a neighbourhood. This could be, for example, saving an historic building, starting a Community Watch group or preventing a planning designation or foreseen intrusion into a residential area.

A residents’ group can provide the focus and common purpose through which the needs, aspirations and goals of a community’s residents can be met.

Formation and Recognition

The Christchurch City Council encourages citizens to group together and look constructively at the needs and aspirations in their communities.The Council has established policy through which residents’ groups, whose members are truly prepared to promote and advocate for the interests of their neighbourhood and community, can apply to their Community Board for recognition as the “official” residents’ group for an area.

As part of the recognition process, the Community Board ensures that the boundaries for each residents’ group are as appropriate as possible.

Recognised residents’ groups are consulted by the Council on work planned and carried out within their boundaries and are permitted to address the Community Board on contentious issues.

They are also entitled to receive typing and photocopying service from their local Service Centre.

Support for Residents’ Groups

The Advocacy Team at the Linwood Service Centre, in conjunction with the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board, offers recognised residents’ groups the following support:

• A photocopying allocation of up to 600 single-sided or 400 double-sided A4 copies a month. A small charge per copy is made for any extra copies. Because of demand, at least three days should be allowed for photocopying.
• Some assistance with typing. Five days should be allowed because of staff workloads. Handwritten copy should be clear and legible.
• Assistance to meet and discuss community challenges.
• Assistance and information on Council and Community Board policy.
• Information about and assistance with Council planned works, technical matters or problems.
• Assistance with the setting up of new residents’ groups.
• Assistance with mediation.
• Help with funding applications.
• Recreational activity information.

The Hagley/Ferrymead Advocacy Team and Linwood Service Centre support is aimed at improving the Hagley/Ferrymead residents’ groups’ profiles in their community and keeping the members of the community informed about community groups, issues and initiatives.

• The Council’s policy on residents’ groups is available from the Linwood Service Centre. A full list of the city’s residents’ groups is available at www.ccc.govt.nz/Council/ResidentsAssociations.asp