After hundreds of local residents gathered for a community movie night at Kaipātiki Hot Springs, social media was quickly flooded with calls for the event to return, with community members describing the evening as “awesome”, “brilliant” and asking for movie nights to become a regular feature.

More than 180 residents attended the event, which was delivered in partnership with local council partners, Te Poari o Kaipātiki ki Kaipara, and featured a screening of Minecraft, a film with special local significance after scenes were filmed in Helensville and surrounding areas.

Hosted inside the pool complex for the first time, the event gave local whānau (families) the opportunity to enjoy a unique night out together.

Special community pricing was introduced to help ensure cost wasn’t a barrier to participation, making the experience more affordable and helping more local families enjoy an evening out together.

Kaipātiki Hot Springs General Manager Dion Tilson said the strong turnout and community response demonstrated the value of creating affordable opportunities that bring people together.

“Seeing so many local families come together and enjoying the evening was fantastic. Events like this help strengthen community connections and create memorable experiences for people of all ages.

“One of our goals was to make sure families could enjoy the experience without cost becoming a barrier. We know times are tough for many households, so being able to offer an affordable community event that people could enjoy together was really important,” Dion said.

“The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive and is a great reflection of the work our team our Council partners have done to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience for our community.”

Te Poari o Kaipātiki ki Kaipara funded the inflatable screen, projector, sound system, lighting and event personnel, while the Kaipātiki Hot Springs team hosted and promoted the event through local schools, preschools and community channels.

Families, community groups and local food operators all contributed to the atmosphere, creating a fun evening that showcased the power of local partnerships.

The success of the event has encouraged Kaipātiki Hot Springs to explore similar community-focused experiences in the future, continuing its commitment to creating opportunities for locals to connect, relax and enjoy time together.

To lear more visit the Kaipātiki Hot Springs website.