Supporting young and old, empowering migrants, neighbourhood barbecues and raising awareness of family violence were highlights for the team during the 2018/19 financial year.
''What a collaborative community this is,'' says community team leader Tessa Sturley, in reflecting on her team's annual report.
''And we are there to facilitate that and we thoroughly enjoy it.
''As a team of council-based facilitators, we work with the people from these communities to help make stuff happen.''
The council launched its updated youth development strategy in December and this year has seen the Waimakariri Youth Council work to put the strategy into action.
''The youth council is really going from strength to strength and people are consulting them regularly. The youth are taking a real lead in a number of areas,'' Tessa says.
The community team has been facilitating an ''age-friendly plan'', which has been adopted by the council's community and recreation committee and will be launched soon.
Tessa says ''some incredibly talented people'' are leading a range of initiatives in local communities.
These include a number of initiatives to support and promote our cultural diversity, including the recent Suitcase exhibition.
The neighbourhood parks barbecues initiative last summer was a success and now the community team is partnering with Neighbourhood Support North Canterbury and other local groups to run similar events.
''As we move into summer we would like to remind people that the community trailer is available and a few sausages and games in a park is a great way to get to know your neighbours - and we can help with that,'' Tessa says.
She says the council will be going through the process of re-accreditation as a ''Safer Community'' in December.
''It's an opportunity for the whole community to celebrate what a safe community we live in.
''It's all about our welcoming, inclusive and safe community. Our strength is based on encouraging wellbeing and connection across the community, which reduces the risk of some those community safety issues.''
The community team worked with Violence Free North Canterbury to deliver 14 family violence education talks across North Canterbury - three times the number delivered the previous year.
Staff have enjoyed supporting the establishment of TimeBank Waimakariri and look forward to supporting the potential development of shared learning workshops.
''We think that this initiative is a great platform to recognise and celebrate the skills and talents of a diverse range of local residents'' Tessa says.
