With “Neighbours Month” kicking-off nationwide in March, local Whāingaroa businesses are getting ready to help the community celebrate it – offering prizes as a way of encouraging local people to connect with their neighbourhood.
The month-long celebration is an initiative run by community organisers Neighbours Aotearoa and aims to get people from across Aotearoa to organise activities or events with their neighbours.
Whāingaroa-based connector Julia Cardwell is supporting neighbourhood connections across the Waikato and says she is looking forward to seeing how Raglan locals come together to celebrate their community over the month.
“I live in Whāingaroa so I really want to activate this kaupapa here,”
“Even though we already have an amazing culture of community connection and civic engagement, there is always more that can be done,” she says.
“This year the theme for Neighbours Aotearoa is “Growing Together” and one way to think about it is growing or nurturing existing relationships within our neighbourhoods, and planting seeds for new connections to flourish. “
“Whether it’s a friendly wave, sharing tea or hosting a neighbourhood party, there are many ways, big and small, to get involved,” Julia says.
Local businesses already have strong connections and relationships within Whāingaroa and want to give back to the community that enables them to grow and thrive, says Julia.
“When I approached these businesses and asked if they would donate a voucher to support Neighbours Whāingaroa they were excited about an opportunity to give back to their community.”
“While we are so grateful for the support of these local businesses, we also know the benefits of nurturing relationships within neighbourhoods go beyond winning a gift voucher,” says Julia.
“When our new neighbours Luisa and Gabe first moved in next door, they came over and introduced themselves and since then we have shared food, cups of tea, and baby clothes.
“The other neighbours around us have also shared their delicious home grown fruit with us as well as tools.”
With loneliness and isolation on the rise, Julia says it’s never been more important to connect with people that live nearby.
“Connecting with neighbours is free and can lead to multiple benefits including improved health and wellbeing and neighbourhood cohesion, which can, in turn, lead to neighbourhoods having more agency to affect the things that matter to them.”
“This March do something to get to know your neighbours and let us know about it on our Facebook event page or by getting in touch via our website – and be in to win great prizes from awesome local businesses,” Julia says.
