Paeroa Domain was filled with “real-life superheroes” on March 2, for a free event all about volunteering, staying safe, and celebrating the people who look after the community.
The inaugural Real Life Superheroes event has been three years in the making, and was a collaboration between the Hauraki, Thames-Coromandel, and Matamata-Piako district councils. It featured informational stalls from groups including first responders Hato Hone St John, Fire and Emergency NZ, and Police NZ; emergency and aid organisations Civil Defence, Red Cross, the NZ Army, and Youth Search and Rescue; community patrol, neighbourhood support, and rural support groups; Volunteering Waikato; and other community focused groups like the Hauraki Māori Trust Board and Te Korowai.
There were also free sausages and water, competitions, and live demonstrations by emergency services.
Event organiser Brett Otto from Hauraki District Council said he wanted a day where people could find information and learn how to get involved themselves.
“This day is all about real-life superheroes, and we have those guys that are in these services, but we don’t have enough of them,” he said.
“So it’s about learning, knowing your risks, being prepared, having a plan, and upskilling yourself, so that you become a level-up superhero yourself, and then you know how to look after yourself.”
Brett said he hoped the day inspired people, especially youth.
“My passion is mentoring kids, getting them to think about their future, [and] being a good global citizen. Following your passions and your dreams, but realising that you can do anything, you just need a bit of help,” he said.
“It’s just giving kids a bit of confidence… it’s actually having a go at something and then figuring out what it is that you actually want to do. If you don’t put yourself out there or you don’t volunteer, how are you going to know?”
