HUIA FISHING CLUB
Central ‘hub’ keeping community bond strong for West Auckland residents.
By Melanie Dooley
Residents of Huia maintain strong community bond by regularly attending The Huia Fishing Club every week for social events and friendly conversation.
The Huia Fishing Club is open to local residents of Huia and the wider suburbs of West Auckland which allows the residents to regularly stay connected to one another.
Huia Fishing Club member Aleisha Baxter described the fishing club as the central “hub” for the Huia community.
“Going to the fishing club every week helps keep everyone in Huia connected, we can then rely on each other if we need help which is really great. We all look after each other and help out when we can,”
“I’ve made so many strong friendships through the club and we know we are looked after by the other members there,” Miss Baxter said.
"The Huia Fishing Club is like the central hub for the Huia Community"
The club, formerly known as the Foster Bay Association, has been open for residents of Huia for over 60 years.
Longtime member Trudy Butland said that since it’s establishment, the club has hosted family galas and community events which is a great way to enhance the community spirit of Huia.
The Huia Fishing Club is now open to residents every Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
On a Friday Night, residents and members are able to buy dinner from a select menu, as well as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages from the open bar.
Volunteers from the Huia community run the kitchen and bar each week.
The club has many games and attractions that are fit for all family members; these include darts, pool, a range of board games suitable for the younger members, and regular sporting events viewed on the new flat screen television set that was installed earlier this year.
The kitchen is only available on the Friday night due to popularity; beverages are still available for purchase at the bar on the Sunday Afternoon.
The Huia Fishing Club is located at the end of Foster Ave– a cul-de-sac, right next to a public walkway leading to Huia Rd which creates easy access to the club for the residents of Huia.
With a large parking area, members of the wider Waitakere Ranges community including Parau and Laingholm residents are also able to attend the club.
The Huia Fishing Club has a general committee where members discuss upcoming community events, income and profit and general queries; committee members are elected at every annual general meeting.
Miss Baxter said that competitions planned by the committee members are an important way for the Huia community to maintain a strong relationship.
“I recently participated in the annual women’s pool table tournament with my team-mate and we won the entire competition. Competitions like this at the fishing club are really fun,” Miss Baxter said.
Recent polls and surveys conducted with AUT university students showed the estimated average relationship a student has with their community, as well as the desire to attend a club like the Huia Fishing Club.
Students were asked the question: "If you lived close to the Huia Fishing Club, would you attend?"
68% of voters chose Yes, which shows the majority of students would attend the Huia Fishing Club if they lived close to it.
26% of voters responded with Maybe and ultimately only 5% responded with No.
Students were also asked the question: "If your street had a club similar to the Huia Fishing Club, would you attend?"
89% of voters chose Yes while the remaining 11% chose Maybe.
No voters chose No for this question.
Another poll was conducted with students describing their relationship with their community.
54 students responded with an average relationship, and 30 students responded with no relationship.
Only 3 students responded with a great relationship.