VALUING CONNECTION: NEIGHBOURS AOTEAROA - MARCH 2023

Neighbours Aotearoa is a month-long initiative from the 1st to the 31st of March 2023, which encourages people to organise an activity or event for their community around this year's theme ‘Let's Share!’ 
 
Every person up and down the country, from Kaitaia to Ōtepoti, is invited to do something small (or large!) to get to know a neighbour a little bit better. From local get-togethers like book clubs and plant swaps to bigger events like street parties and workshops, and longer term projects like establishing a pātaka kai or tool library - neighbours are getting together to connect, to support one another and share. 
 
Neighbours Aotearoa has evolved and grown since its initial one day event in 2009: after later expanding to ten days, 2023 will see the initiative span the entire month of March and beyond. 
 
This community movement has been successful in supporting communities for thirteen years, with people appreciating the opportunity to share and connect. 
 
“There is a huge benefit to neighbours: to know each other, keep connected and help each other, give a friendly wave.  Knowing your neighbours makes your street safer and a more caring place to live.” Manawatū - Whanganui
 
The change to month-long activities supports a vision to make longer-term and more deeply ingrained changes to the social fabric of Aotearoa. 
 
“We want neighbourhoods to have the ability to act, shape, and influence the things that matter to them. This might be something that filters out beyond the month of March, therefore having a year-long support network like Neighbours Aotearoa is needed.” - Cissy Rock, experienced Community Developer.

Neighbours Aotearoa has a number of ‘Connectors’ who are available for interviews: Rachel (Ahuriri/Napier, Hawke's Bay) who has a history of organising community beach clean-ups; Melissa from Tāmaki Makaurau - who can speak Spanish and French, and Mandarin Chinese - is there to help facilitate with Auckland’s diverse and growing communities. Originally from Amsterdam, Sacha (Wellington) understands the importance of making a new place feel like home and is excited by the prospect of helping others participate.   
 
‘If, year by year, we can support more and more people to participate in their neighbourhoods and communities in ways that they devise and that work for them, we're doing a lot to support our people through what could be an increasingly difficult period (economically, environmentally and socially). And it all starts with a smile, a wave, a cup of tea - just opening our eyes to who is around us and making that first connection.’ - Lucette, Lead Connector (Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland)
 
Neighbours Aotearoa, is dedicated to growing, connecting and strengthening neighbourhoods across the country and offers an opportunity for people to practise aroha (generosity) and manaakitanga (hospitality) with people they want to connect with. It also includes sharing whakaaro (knowledge) and pūkenga (skills). 

Neighbours Aotearoa is a collaborative campaign organised and supported by Age Concern, Lifewise, Inspiring Communities, Christchurch Methodist Mission, New Zealand Red Cross, Wesley Community Action,  Kāinga Ora and Auckland Council.