We talk about gaps across our communities, where children, the isolated, elderly and alone may become vulnerable. We can reduce those gaps by simply starting with getting to know our neighbours.

You already have the two things you need for getting to know your neighbour – a smile and a ‘hi’ or ‘kia ora.’

are the only ones who can we need people to take the lead and bring people together in their neighbourhood. While only YOU can get to know your neighbours, we can facilitate you in organising events to bring people together by sending you an organiser’s pack. Why not get together with one other neighbour and plan an event for your road, street, estate, or even parish if you feel really adventurous.

Some ideas:

Back to School coffee morning

Men’s Shed event

Street BBQ

Shared vegetable gardens

Progressive Dinner – walk from house to house with each home putting on one part of a meal

Neighbours Day Aoteoroa

24-25 March 2012 – plan to be with your neighbours. Click here for more details:

“Turning streets into neighbourhoods” Atawhaingia te Pa harakeke

Wherever you are in NZ, put March 24-25 2012 in your diary as a day to celebrate where you live and get to know your neighbours better. Just one act of neighbourliness can make a difference to the street you live in.

Building better relationships on our streets can transform whole neighbourhoods into healthy, fun and vibrant places to live. Neighbours Day Aotearoa is something all New Zealanders can get involved in.

Remember you don’t have to wait – everyday can be a neighbours day.

Neighbours Day Aoteoroa on Facebook