Everybody needs good neighbours

Tenants have registered about 50 Neighbours Day events ranging from such things as movie nights to street parties, barbecues, gardening activities, clean ups, sharing a cup of tea and pot luck meals.

Community Development Manager Karen Allen says Housing New Zealand staff members are supporting local events across the country. “We’ve taken a more tenant-led approach to Neighbours Day this year because we want tenants to feel empowered to be actively involved in the event planning.”

Getting to know your neighbours is an important part of building safer, more connected communities, Karen says.

“It fosters a sense of wellbeing, helps people feel that they belong and reduces loneliness. If you know your neighbour, you feel more comfortable having a chat over the fence or in the stairwell. That way you are also more likely to go to them if you need a hand with something.

“Housing New Zealand has been involved in Neighbours Day activities for several years. This year we are excited to be increasing our support by becoming a strategic partner,” Karen says.

Neighbours Day Aotearoa coordinator Cissy Rock says it’s a great fit to be partnering with Housing New Zealand. “We are all about connecting people in communities and the more ways we can encourage people in the community to get to know each other the better. That’s why we are excited to work with organisations like Housing New Zealand.”

Notes to the editor:

Neighbours Day Aotearoa is a collaborative campaign organised and supported by Lifewise, Inspiring Communities, The Mental Health Foundation, Christchurch Methodist Mission, New Zealand Red Cross, Neighbourhood Support New Zealand and Housing New Zealand. This year the event has been expanded to run over ten days from 22 to 31 March 2019. More information here: http://neighboursday.org.nz/