FOSTERING COMMUNITY, BUILDING CONNECTIONS: NEIGHBOURS AOTEAROA 2024

The month-long celebration Neighbours Aotearoa returns for 2024, running from the 1st to the 31st of March, and encourages people from right across the motu to organise activities or events with their neighbours. Whether it’s a friendly wave, sharing tea or hosting a neighbourhood party, there are many ways, big and small, to get involved in your community.
 
This year’s theme ‘Growing Together’ is about connecting, nurturing relationships, sharing, and encouraging aroha where you live. It’s about growing skills, networks, memories, participation, and fostering a beautiful neighbourhood.
 
“We've seen many studies over recent years that tell us that the relationships and social connection we have promote wellbeing and a long life. Loneliness is a killer, literally. Strength and joy can come from ordinary people working together and helping each other in their streets and neighbourhoods. A lot of people around Aotearoa do this regularly and in so many different ways – we want that to spread into every community so that everyone can enjoy these benefits” says Neighbours Aotearoa Lead Connector, Lucette Hindin.
 
Now in its fourteenth year, Neighbours Aotearoa is dedicated to growing resilient and supportive communities. Starting in 2009 as a one day event, the initiative is now running for a full month for the second year in a row, creating a movement of people nationwide who are working through small and big acts to connect neighbours. Over the past five years more than three thousand people have organised an activity for Neighbours Aotearoa. And those are just the ones we know about!
 
In 2023 alone, over six hundred people from the top of the country to the bottom registered an event, activity or intention, with everything from sausage sizzles, street parties to a skateboarding competition. “It was amazing to see neighbours meeting neighbours – which is difficult to do in the city, and we hope the start of much more connection in our neighbourhood” said one Neighbours Aotearoa local community organiser.
 
To find out what’s happening in your area, find a local Connector, or organise your own Neighbours Aotearoa activity or event, check out the tools available to make organising easier at https://neighboursaotearoa.nz/
 
Neighbours Aotearoa is a collaborative campaign supported by an emerging group, the Neighbours Aotearoa Ngā Kaitautoko, and guided by Steering Committee members Age Concern, Lifewise, Inspiring Communities, Christchurch Methodist Mission, Wesley Community Action,  Kāinga Ora, and Auckland Council.
 
 
Downloadable resources available here.