The Grey Lynn Business Association recently held a very successful community evening at the Grey Lynn Library Hall. It was a sold-out 120 people get together. Another 60 people tried unsuccessfully to get tickets.
This was the inaugural event in an ambitious project to celebrate and support the people and culture of Grey Lynn. The association pointed out that the area has attracted independent thinkers, talented creatives and commercially savvy business people, creating an environment that is conscious, progressive and vibrant.
The association is, they argue “holding true to our values and taking the conversation to the businesses and people so that they consciously develop strategies that celebrate and build on Grey Lynn’s success.”
They want a unified, community-led approach, clearer communication with council, and better outcomes.
I applaud this approach to community development and enhancement. It is positive, forward-looking and emphasises bottom-up planning, rather than settling for top-down imposition of council ideas.
For the past 35 years many New Zealanders have struggled under a market or neo-liberal dog-eat-dog economy, where co-operation and positive community togetherness were neglected. Individualism was encouraged and communities suffered.
A recent American book called Bowling Alone highlighted how people now do not join anything and communities have lost volunteer help.
It’s very positive to see the Grey Lynn Business Association determined to engage business people and residents, to produce
a strong and vibrant community which can take on the world.
Let’s celebrate what makes Grey Lynn so special, and fight to retain and enhance those amenity values which we love.
To join the GLBA or give some feedback, email: feedback@glba.co.nz (JOHN ELLIOTT)