(Click on the pic above to see the clip)

Story supplied by Sue.

The third of three NDA stories - straight from kiwi neighbourhoods... 

Neighbours Day is so great because you just never know what is going to happen after hosting an activity. (2012) was my second year of being involved. Last year I got involved after seeing an advertisement to come and meet people from across Auckland. It has been so good to meet other people in the community doing different things I didn’t know about. That’s what I mean about being involved, you just never know who else you will meet or the connections people are going to make. 

In 2011 we worked on a real street level. A group of us went out to meet other people on our street and we did a letter box drop about our garage sale and swap event. We held a small garage sale where people could bring anything – food, plants, clothes, etc – to swap with their neighbours. We had a really good response, so last year we decided to do the same thing and hopefully get some new people along too. We also had a business card pin board up so we could make a lasting record of the skills people had and someone from the Oakley Creek Association came along too. There is access to the creek at the end of our street and we are finding more people are coming into our street to walk along the creek. It is good to have more information on the working bees happening along the creek and more information on the environment so we might be able to give more help. It will also be good to know why people are coming and going in our street too.

On the day this year we had a great response to the garage sale and swap. People came along who had lived in the street for years and people who had only just moved in. There was an amazing contrast of people, of cultures and young and old. It was a great response and people were genuinely thrilled we had done something. Lots of people made great new friends because of it. I know some of my neighbours, two in particular, who didn’t know each other before the event, and who now see each other once a week for a cup of tea.

We also discovered some neighbours down an enclave off our street were actually having their own Neighbours Day event later that night! They came along to our street event and then had their own event later on. It was great for them and us to discover more about each other and the people who live around us.

I believe it has built a real awareness of who lives in and who visits our street. A story from last year is about one lady noticing her neighbour who usually works everyday had a car parked in her driveway one day. So she went over to check and found out that her neighbour was home and was really sick. Just that awareness of who is around and who should be around gives us some safety as a neighbourhood. It also meant this lady could help out her sick neighbour too.

Another positive story from this year was with a neighbour I met who has a toddler who is a runner and keeps getting away on her. Part of the work I do is helping mothers so I was able to create a link for her to help with this. There were lots of these little links being made all day, and probably more than I know of.

One thing that didn’t go too well was the business card swap. Not many people had cards or felt what they did wouldn’t be of interest or service to other people. So that was fine, but it was still a way of networking with people and learning more about what they do. I suppose in a little way it was successful because a lady on the street on runs a small catering business was looking for a part-time worker for a few hours a week and it looks like she has found someone now who also lives in the street.

I think if we could get together in between the annual Neighbours Day events it might help build the confidence and capital of our street even more. A year is a long time, so to do something in another six months would be beneficial; it would keep people in contact with each other just that little bit more. The best advice I can offer to people wanting to get involved is make it small to make it sustainable.

Check out our NDA 2013 video! It's a gorgeous little clip (if we say so ourselves!). Check it out and post, tweet, email and generally put it out there for the rest of NZ! Let's encourage NZ to jump on the bandwagon and become a whole lot more neighbourly in 2013!

Thanks to an exceptionally talented crew from AUT we have this fantastic NDA clip to present to you. Check it out and find out why getting to know your neighbours in 2013 (or any other year for that matter) is indeed a very good thing.

Story supplied by Dale.

The second of three NDA stories - straight from kiwi neighbourhoods... 

I have been involved with Neighbours Day from the start and for the last three years have organised an annual function for our street. For me it’s about doing something that is easy to organise and will get people together and talking. At our street party we eat together, drink together and talk. We hold the street party in the front of our house and if the weather is too bad we move inside.

I wouldn’t say there are barriers as such in our street that need breaking down, but I don’t think we talk with each other as much as we should. We drive in and out of our driveways without ever seeing or stopping to wave to anyone because we are all busy. I would at least like to know who is around me to be able to give them a friendly wave as I go by.

Since we started having a Neighbours Day function I definitely think people are more receptive to each other. People in our neighbourhood seem really pleased to see you when you approach them about the event and I hope this means that people are talking more between themselves.

I have learnt a lot since being involved with Neighbours Day and organising our street parties. Like I said, you don’t have to organise something big, it is about doing something easy to get people together. I have learned you must have a group of people driving the event and not just one person.

Next year I intend to connect with the people who have shown a real interest and host an event with them and encourage those people to connect with those neighbours close to them. I think you need to organise your event with a group of people and on the day have them door knock or phone all the neighbours to remind them that the street party - or whatever it is you have organised - is still on. I would want about half a dozen people on board to share the load. The best turnout I had was when I went to every house the morning of the party and reminded them about it.

I am very positive about the concept of Neighbours Day. I know more people are connecting around our neighbourhood as a result of our involvement in Neighbours Day. It is very important to have strong connections with your neighbourhood and there are a lot of benefits to come out of that. It should be about doing something more than just being friendly.

Thanks for sharing your NDA story Dale!

Story supplied by Barbara.

The first of three NDA stories - straight from kiwi neighbourhoods... 

It is often said that family and friends are an important part of our lives, but in reality neighbours are just as important!

We became involved in Neighbour’s Day through a chain of circumstances. The catalyst was when we met our new neighbours ‘to be’, Edison, Gia and their three children who had arrived from the Philippines the year before. They had suffered a house invasion in their previous rental property and were understandably anxious to move into what they felt was a new and safer neighbourhood.  They liked the feel of our street and we did our best to support their application - and it worked!

We invited other neighbours over for a welcome party shortly after they moved in. This led to an article in ‘The Aucklander’ relating the story, highlighting the important role of Neighbourhood Support, for which I am street coordinator, and mentioning the up and coming annual Neighbours Day. From there things kind of snowballed, the article prompted interest from TV 1 who wanted to pick up on our story as part of a documentary series and come and film our Neighbours Day celebrations.  At that point there was no turning back! So despite a tight schedule to organise things we all got stuck in; invitations were sent to the entire street, Neighbourhood Support generously provided funding for the all important “sizzlers” and loaned us a gazebo, folding tables and an extra BBQ.

Originally we had planned on holding the BBQ on a small reserve near our place with events and games to entertain the kids in particular. We set up the gazebo at 4.45pm, however 15 minutes later the heavens opened! Neighbours quickly seized the four legs of the gazebo and marched it up the street towards our garage, quite an amusing sight.

At this stage we still weren’t sure how many would turn up and whether they would all fit in so there was a rush to tidy the garage, make more room and procure a second gazebo. At last all was ready and there was nothing left to do but wait and hope for the arrival of guests.  We needn’t have worried. By the time the party had reached its climax there were about 30 people squeezed in and the conversations were reaching a crescendo. Apart from the sausages everyone brought along a dish to share. It was quite spectacular because we have so many different cultures in our street.

Despite being involved with Neighbourhood Support we didn’t want the BBQ simply to be a recruiting process. Nevertheless people did enquire about it and by the end of the evening nine other families had signed up bringing the street membership up to nearly 70%.

Even with the initial fluster about having the event in the garage it worked out really well. Everyone had a great time and the last person didn’t leave until about 10pm. Everyone was unanimous about holding an event again next year. I told them it’s their turn next time! 

Thanks for sharing your NDA story Barbara!

We are so pleased to be able to announce the winner and runners up for our NDA story comp.

Congratulations to Victoria from Arch Hill, Auckland! A year's supply of Bell Tea will be making its way to you very soon!  

We'd love you all to read Victoria's NDA story as well as four other stories that proved to be stiff competition. We were very inspired by the stories that came across our desks and cannot wait for NDA 2013!

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WINNING entry

“People met people... New friendships formed”

What we loved about this story:

We are inspired by Victoria’s efforts in promoting NDA throughout her neighbourhood. Through Arch Hill’s ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ NDA initiative, she mobilised many neighbours to connect in creative ways, and also involved local businesses. We definitely agree, Arch Hill knows how to 'love thy neighbour'!  

Our Neighbours Day kicked off with a breakfast I hosted at my home to launch Love Thy Neighbour on Saturday. Tamati Coffey from TVNZ Breakfast broadcast live from 630-9am, it was an early start with all the camera crew arriving at 5am to set up! Great fun though, and lovely for everyone to meet each other ahead of the 'secret santa' project we're running on Neighbours Day. 

We had about 50-60 come by over the course of the morning (the oldest Robert at 70, the youngest, Piata-Aria at just 6 weeks). Luckily I had convinced the local cafe to help us out with catering and they pitched in with coffees and freshly baked blueberry muffins. Our local butcher chipped in too with a couple of kilos of bacon, our local green-grocer brought around an enormous basket of fresh fruit, and neighbours brought with them still warm croissants, gingerbread, banana bread and scones. I even spotted people exchanging recipes! It was a Monday morning feast! I had initially thought it would be a one off event, but it went so well we're committed to make it a regular thing.

Love Thy Neighbour was a Secret Santa style project for neighbours, except they didn’t have to stay secret. I invited residents to contact me if they wanted to be involved, then paired them with another household who had signed up. People were invited to tell a little bit about their household if they wanted to (a flat of three, a couple with four year old twins, someone with a dog named Dog). Each household was paired with another household, so the potential was to meet at least two households that live nearby.

And the locals made some huge efforts – lots of baking, treats for pets, plants, garden produce, chalk graffiti on neighbourhood walls (!), access to a Warriors season pass for a week and a cocktail lime tree were transported secretly and not-so-secretly around the narrow streets. So much thought went into the choices and presentation and now there are loads of happy pictures on the Facebook page and plenty of notes about how awesome those involved felt! So awesome in fact that many gave not once but twice – back to the household that gifted them as well as to their assigned one. After the weekend I did a prize draw, where people that had been involved had the opportunity to win prizes donated by friendly and very supportive local businesses. Cafe vouchers, tshirts, a meat pack, cleaning packs, beauty products, a cake and more. 

It was awesome. The whole thing. People met people. People treated people. And new friendships formed. I've been asked over and over again to do next year. I will! I loved it, I loved being a part of it. Arch Hill knows how to Love Thy Neighbour!

***

“We have started!” 

What we loved about this story:

We appreciate the way in which this street used NDA as a catalyst to involve their street’s young people and to connect different cultures. We are inspired by their plans to keep the neighbour relationships going by meeting monthly. 

We had a great 2 hours on Saturday in Marion Ave, Mt Roskill. It was advertised as a shared morning tea/lawn sale we did a total of 3 paper drops into the boxes the last one was a door to door invite.  Maybe 12 – 15 households turned up to show their support, meet others or just to buy. There were children present, and youth came. Some rang and said they were supportive but couldn't make it that day. Positive feedback so we would like to meet monthly. Thank you for the chance to promote getting to know our neighbours. Now that our street has started meeting we plan to meet monthly. It's amazing there were about 6 different ethnic groups represented, only a small percentage of the street however, but we have started!

***

“28 neighbours, 8 children and 2 dogs” 

What we loved about this story:

This street’s example highlights the opportunity of using NDA to help build resilience amongst neighbours to work well together in times of need and crisis. We loved hearing about the plans to extend the number of Neighbourhood Support groups - once again, a fantastic preventative measure for this neighbourhood. We were also inspired by their example of sharing cups of tea while enjoying their street’s green space. 

We were impressed with the turnout for our Neighbours Day Aotearoa ‘Meet the Neighbours’ Coffee and Cake Afternoon Tea on Sunday 24 March 2012. 

We confirm attendance of 28 neighbours, 8 children and 2 dogs.  My special neighbour organised for a University lecturer and paramedic who volunteered his time to demonstrate the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine for us.  The demonstration was most informative and helpful to us all. Because early AED defibrillation before emergency service arrival doubles a victim's chance of survival we all agreed we would work together to assist a neighbour in need of treatment. We have two Neighbourhood Watch [Support] groups set up and are currently working on extending this number.

The children were spoilt with an Easter egg hunt in the grass and toys to play with and take their selection home. Our neighbours all enjoyed cups of Bell Tea, coffee and cakes in the sunshine at the end of our wonderful street, Park Rise which is on the boundary of the Pupuke Golf Course and Centennial Park on the North Shore.

*** 

“Circle of people around us” 

What we loved about this story:

We loved hearing about the effort made by these neighbours to connect with people living closest to them by extending manaakitanga and hospitality. Handmade invitations show a personal and creative touch. 

We had a breakfast this morning – cereals and fruit, homemade hot cross buns, tea and coffee.

We invited a “circle” of people from around us, three households of whom are new to our neighbourhood – 13 people in all came.

We handmade special invitations which we placed in people’s letterboxes about three weeks ago, inviting them to come.

A great time – good to meet the new neighbours, and it was interesting to find that people had common friends or relatives. Two of the newcomers have the same name – Merrin!

*** 

“Pancakes in the Park”

What we loved about this story:

This story showed how NDA can be a catalyst for small towns coming together. Sharing kai / food is a great way to connect with neighbours. 

E) We celebrated Neighbours Day on Saturday the 31st March 2012. We named it Pancakes in the Park and that is what we did cook and ate Pancakes in the Park. A brunch of pancakes, fresh fruit, cream and maple syrup along with tea, coffee and juice was relished by a least 80 people. 

The idea rose a bit of curiosity in our small town called Mangakino.  Along with great food we were fortunate to have visit us from Rotorua. Jill and Brian from the Travelling Tuataras they were amazing, a hit, they really got people interacting by playing the bucket drums and freestyle painting. Both the young and the elderly found themselves participating. 

To top it off the weather was stunning. People stopped sat around ate their pancakes, talked contributed, participated. A dot map and paintings all allowed for interaction and two wind socks were created one that says what we love about our neighbourhood in Mangakino and the other of things we would like to see here in the future. Neighbourhood postcards were made by the tamariki and a few names were added to a neighbours register for follow up on future neighbourhood events. 

Most importantly our Community was engaging with each other. We weren't just promoting Neighbours Day we were having an awesome Neighbours Day. The Town Park and square a place of minimal activity was buzzing and vibrant. The Mangakino neighbours were friendly, happy and engaging. A great result!

*** 

The NDA campaign team would like to extend a huge thank you to all who submitted photos to our photo competition. We loved your photos and found that narrowing down two winners was not easy!

After extensive deliberation (we're not kidding) we are ready to announce our two Canon photo comp winners!

The first winner is Rose Lawrence from Auckland:

Rose, we loved your photo. It represents the simple acts of neighbourliness that took place nationwide the weekend of Neighbours Day Aotearoa. Well done on winning a new Canon camera!

The second winner is Gary & Robyn Langstone from Karaka:

Gary and Robyn we loved the 'story' your photo catpured - neighbours of all ages gathering together for a cuppa on the weekend of Neighbours Day Aotearoa. Well done on winning a new Canon camera!

Runners up:

We couldn't resist posting a small selection of photos that were submitted that we also loved. Great shots that celebrate friendships, food, fun and even random acts of neighbourly kindness... (with thanks to: Samantha Davey @ Crave cafe, Donald Jessep, Sue Thirkettle, Jennie Leng, X, Fifi Colsten, Angela Brooker, Victoria Dawson-Wheeler, Anthony Reilly).

Kia ora, Malo e Lelei, Talofa Lava, Namaste, Ni Hau, Salaam Malaikum, hello! 

I had the enviable task of attending several neighbourly activities over the NDA weekend (including our own street party of course). By Sunday night I had eaten my way through several sausages, blown up countless balloons, chatted with many neighbours across Auckland, and most importantly, witnessed dozens of strangers transforming into neighbours. 

If you were one of the many, from across the country, who got involved in NDA 2012, we would love to extend a huge thank you and congratulations for taking part. Thousands of people rolled their sleeves up and did something to connect with those living close by. The result? Countless people found that although getting to know those next door took some courage, it was simple, easy and well worth the effort.

For example, Roland Goos from Wellington told me, “The highlights were meeting people from different countries and connecting with a family who lives a few doors down. We’d often walk past their house and hear the kids. Turns out we have a lot in common (like we’re both handymen) and we’re going to get together again.” Simple acts of connection can begin to transform a street into a thriving neighbourhood.

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to be involved with three Neighbours Day campaigns. From small beginnings in Auckland (2009) to now a national celebration gaining momentum each year, we believe NDA has a bright future as a catalyst for enhancing neighbour relationships. Support from Local Councils and Mayors across NZ has increased, with some even offering small grants to contribute towards streets’ NDA activities. Countless numbers of local community organisations have actively promoted the NDA message. Without the commitment of our campaign team and everyone else involved, NDA 2012 would not have had the reach or impact we’re hearing about. 

Good news stories are powerful. This year it’s been fantastic to see the number of local and national media outlets get behind the message of NDA. The Waikato Times featured several stories about neighbours through their ‘Waikato neighbour of the year’ competition and the Marlborough Express actively got behind NDA featuring many examples of heart-warming neighbour stories. Uplifting stories about the positive influence neighbours have on our lives can inspire us to act and follow in others’ footsteps. Keep an eye on the NDA website for more stories throughout the year.

I was touched by Kathryn and Paul Butler’s NDA example from Auckland. They visited several older neighbours in Council-owned apartments living alone on their street. “We met eight new neighbours plus chatted with our immediate ones. We got a great response.” The Sunday Star Times featured their story and also carried out a survey. I was struck by one of the respondent’s feedback: “We are an elderly couple with our only child three hours away from us, and are very lonely but find all our neighbours are so busy doing `their own thing', that all they can be bothered with is a friendly wave." Neighbours like Kathryn and Paul are changing this. I hope that NDA has helped more of us to move beyond the friendly wave.

Our inboxes are full with feedback from elated neighbours from all across the country – Northland to Invercargill. As well as hearing stories of residents saying hello and meeting neighbours for the first time, we’ve heard from many others who organised morning teas, pizza parties, hangi, chalk drawing contests, street games, BBQs, pot-luck (shared) dinners, pancake breakfasts, cricket matches, craft sessions, street clean-ups, tree planting, music competitions, and picnics all in the spirit of building stronger neighbour relationships. 

For the rest of the year our challenge is to try and keep the connections alive. We’ve heard that as a result of NDA, some are planning to start regular walks with a neighbour, offer to help a neighbour going through a difficult time, host another neighbours’ morning tea, organise a mid-winter pot-luck, and plan a street spring festival. Some have told us they’re already thinking and planning how to celebrate these newly formed relationships over NDA 2013 (23-24 March). 

Whatever you plan to do to keep the momentum going in your own street just remember, everyday can be neighbours day. We can all start somewhere to be the change we want to see in our neighbourhoods. 

Kia Kaha Aotearoa, let’s keep building on what we’ve begun; we are a neighbourly nation.

Rebecca 

NDA Campaign Manager 

Neighbourliness: the relevance of local connections to mental wellbeing and positive mental health summarised.

By Amanda Bradley, Northern Development Manager, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that neighbourliness helps to build positive social capital and contribute to the improved wellbeing of communities, whanau and individuals (Hothi, Bacon, Brophy & Mulgan, 2011). The Mental Health Foundation is interested in the links between social capital and its potential to support flourishing communities and to improve positive mental health.

The New Zealand Families Commission has stated that “the more social capital that exists in a community, the greater the capacity of that community to build further stocks of social capital for the wellbeing of the collective.” (Goodrich & Sampson, 2008, p. 42) The Mental Health Foundation believes that local community projects and campaigns like Neighbours Day Aotearoa, can contribute to improving trust amongst neighbours and increasing feelings of belonging and social connectedness in local communities, all of which help us flourish and live meaningful lives.

Current Situation

The New Zealand Social Report (Ministry of Social Development, 2010) describes social connectedness as “the relationships people have with others and the benefits these relationships can bring to the individual as well as to society” (p. 110). It uses six indicators to measure social connectedness; telephone and internet access in the home, contact with family and friends, contact between young people and their parents, trust in others, loneliness, and voluntary work. Most of these indicators show improvement over time and compare reasonably well internationally. Inequalities though are still evident, for example Maori, Pacific and Asian people are more likely than European to experience loneliness, a risk factor for developing depression (e.g. Hagerty & Williams, 1999).

There is evidence to support that some populations are more at risk of the effects of social fragmentation (for example loneliness and mental illness) including; children and adolescents (Morgan & Haglund, 2009), older people (Gale, Dennison, Cooper & Sayer, 2011; Walker & Hiller, 2007) and unemployed women (Ivory, Collings, Blakely & Dew, 2011).

Recommended Evidence Informed Approaches

Build Local Connections

Thriving neighbourhoods are connected

Local communities, including neighbourhoods, play a significant role in wellbeing and our daily connections with others. Active engagement in neighbourly acts that build social connections and social support can create buffers to chronic stressors and help us conform to healthy social norms, therefore having a positive impact on life expectancy (Holt-Lunstad, Smith & Layton, 2011).

The Mental Health Foundation encourages opportunities (formal and informal) to build relationships and connections in local communities with the goal of improving the positive mental health of populations. 

Create Opportunities at a Local Level for Cooperation and Participation

Thriving neighbourhoods are resilient and sustainable

It is well established that the environment has an influence on wellbeing; pollutants and negative features e.g. unkempt parks and playgrounds, noise and rubbish, can act as psychosocial stressors as well as affect our physical health (Carter, Williams, Paterson & Iustini, 2008). When communities are empowered to act on and address such issues, a sense of control and self-determination over local circumstances contribute to feelings of belonging and wellbeing (Hothi, Bacon, Brophy & Mulgan, 2011).

Facilitate Trusting Relationships

Good neighbourhoods are safe

Feelings of trust and belonging are an essential part of a safe neighbourhood and contribute to building social capital (Goodrich & Sampson, 2008). Neighbourhoods with high levels of trust are cooperative, community minded and resilient. Trust at a local level can be evident in simple neighbourly acts e.g. keeping an eye on children playing or feeding your pets when someone goes on a short holiday (Goodrich & Sampson, 2008). When local community relationships are built on acceptance, respect and trust, it is easier to collaborate on projects that work towards improving local quality of life, creating a sense of control and influence over the circumstances of the neighbourhood (Hothi, Bacon, Brophy & Mulgan, 2011).

Summary

The Mental Health Foundations vision is for a society where all people flourish and we view mental health as a positive resource that can lead to individual and family and whanau resilience and improved social relationships, and allow us to respond effectively to the global challenges before us. It makes sense to support the promotion of simple activities like neighbourliness that build local connections, nurture trusting relationships and create opportunities for local participation and cooperation all of which build social capital and positive mental wellbeing.

To read the full version (including all references) of this report please visit here.