The weather couldn’t have been better on Saturday as locals gathered in Moenui Reserve for the official opening of the Orewa Chatterbox Seat, launched just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Chatterbox began in 2019 when founder Emily Paton lost her husband Darryl to suicide.

Wanting to help others open up about life’s hardest moments, she designed a space where people could sit, talk and connect.

The first seat appeared at Pt Chevalier Beach in 2022, and more have since popped up around Auckland.

Unlike a traditional park bench, the Chatterbox Seat is square, encouraging group seating and cross-legged chats that bring people face to face.

Coasties visiting Moenui Reserve can now take a moment to pause, reflect, or strike up a friendly conversation.

It’s a small but meaningful reminder that talking really can make a difference.

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