Neighbours Aotearoa community grant
“I lived here for a while now, today is my first time to get to know my neighbours name and where they are coming from.”
Neighbours Aotearoa, formerly known as Neighbours Day, is a community initiative that is all about growing, connecting, strengthening and celebrating neighbourhoods across the country. Community Waitākere has facilitated events to promote Neighbours Aotearoa in West Auckland since 2016. Our role is to assess and distribute funds to applicants on behalf of the Waitākere Ranges, Henderson-Massey and Whau local boards.
“Many families from the community came and enjoyed the fun day. The children loved the free bouncy castle and the jousting arena. Around 250 people came throughout the afternoon - which was a great turn out for our small community.”
These events have grown and expanded from one day per year to an entire month, typically held around March-April. The idea is to encourage people to get to know their neighbours by hosting an event and inviting those residing around them, with the intention of building stronger connections amongst our local communities. This can take on many formats, including open days for existing community groups, people inviting others living on their street over for a BBQ and kōrero, planning neighbourhood resilience groups or having a whole block party.
“In the spirit of community building, everyone shared their contact information, leading to the creation of a WhatsApp group. The group will serve as a platform for future interactions, allowing members to plan monthly activities and workshops. It was worth spending money on ladies’ art and craft and morning tea.”
Applications for Neighbours Aotearoa 2025 will be open soon. Watch this space for more information!