Waitaki Neighbourhood Support was established at the end of July 2022, as a result of Stronger Waitaki seeing a need for such a programme in the Waitaki community.

Neighbourhood Support is a national organisation which has a Memorandom of Understanding with the Police and a close working relationship with FENZ, Civil Defence and St John. In Waitaki these organisations have embraced the concept and are fully engaged in the programme, so there is considerable collaboration and the appetite for Neighbourhood Support in the community has been overwhelming. In the first year, 450 houses have been joined up and 33 streets have become involved. Having signs and stickers up is an excellent deterrent of crime and having a supportive neighborhood means everyone can look after each other in an emergency and also feel connected in their everyday lives. Waitaki Neighbourhood Support can provide all the information and assist with getting groups established, but anyone can also join up as an individual, and benefit from the many programmes and initiatives that are run.