Initiatives, Ideas + Inspiration
Huatau
NS Community Engagement Projects
Adopt-a-Drain
SMALL ACT, BIG IMPACT
A Neighbourhood Support NZ initiative that encourages communities to become more resilient and less prone to flooding by helping neighbours keep an eye on the drains in their streets.
The initiative runs alongside a Neighbourhood Support street group, strengthening both community connection and local preparedness.
Emergency Readiness
We want to ensure that in the event of a future emergency, residents in your street/group have a plan to be prepared. Our guide aims to coordinate information in one place in case of an emergency.
Resources include an Emergency Readiness PowerPoint presentation, our Neighbourhood Emergency Resilience Plan, an 'Important Numbers' list and an editable 'Local Trades & Services' template.
Mind Your Business
Building connected and resilient business networks through Neighbourhood Support and partnerships.
The purpose of this project is to align with our NZ Police Outcomes Agreement, bringing together and supporting connected networks of businesses - including Commercial, Industrial and Retail - enhancing connections, resilience and ability to reduce retail crime and prepare for emergencies.
Neighbourhood Support collaborates with NZ Police, FENZ, and local Emergency Management agencies, to provide business owners with the necessary tools and resources to build their safety and resilience.
Resources include a project plan, a PowerPoint presentation and CPTED information.
One Love: Ready Neighbourhoods
Building connected, emergency-ready neighbourhoods one street at a time.
Developed through a year-long funded partnership contract scoping, listening, and building alongside community & NSNZ membership organisations
One Love originated with The Cause Collective, a street-level initiative already bringing streets together across Mangere & Otara - We are onboarding the One Love Whanau and scaffolding what they already have with emergency preparedness, a natural and welcomed progression & ongoing collab with TCC.
This is not a new idea looking for a home. It is a proven model ready to scale with new tools to support.
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Reach out to Kahlia (NSNZ) if you would like to learn more - email Kahlia
Te Hono Friendship Cake
Te Hono is a living starter that multiplies and must be shared. Every 10 days one household becomes four. In just a few rounds a single Te Hono could move through an entire street network - a reason to knock on a door and proof that your neighbours will show up!
This beautiful initiative is proudly supported by our The Cause Collective, Neighbourhood Support New Zealand & Auckland Emergency Management whanau.
Resources include the distribution plan, a starter guide, a cake recipe, tips for sucess, Te Hono poem and photos.
3 Steps for Life
Sign up for a free one-hour training session with Hato Hone St John to provide the "3 Steps for Life" CPR and AED training for your members and community. Find out more info on Hato Hone St John's website here.
Neighbourhood Support Whakatane, Taupo and Cambridge have all held these before if you would like to reach out for advice/feedback.
NS Initiatives and Event Ideas
Coffee with a Cop
Partner up with your local Police station, Community Patrol and local cafe to set up a Coffee with a Cop event.
Coffee with a cop gives the opportunity to the community to come along and have a chat in a stress free environment, as often when you are dealing with the police it is in an emergency situation. They can also give people an opportunity to speak about reporting crime and suspicious activity to the police, as some of the public can be hesitant of dialing 111 as they are unsure if it warrants calling.
Neighbourhood Support Carterton, Lower Hutt and Whakatane have held these before if you would like to reach out for advice/feedback.
Safer Plates / Tool Engraving
Pair with your local hardware shop to do a Safer Plates and/or Tool Engraving event.
Number plate thefts are very common, so these events give members of the public an opportunity to have their number plates screws changed to safer screws. Having your tools engraved with your drivers license number gives you a better chance of recovering your tools if they are stolen and this will also link a criminal with a theft if recovered.
Neighbourhood Support Waitakere hold these events regularly if you would like to reach out for advice/feedback.
Podcasts
Neighbourhood Support Waitaki have partnered with Dan Lewis from Real Radio to host a monthly interview with NS coordinator Christine Dorsey. The most recent one was on planning for a Civil Defence emergency. Give them all a listen here.
Eileen Hawkins from Neighbourhood Support Cambridge sat down with Senior Constable Deb Hann, the Cambridge Community Liaison Officer from New Zealand Police. Together, they explored vital strategies and insights on how we can band together as a community to safeguard against crime and antisocial behavior. Read more and take a listen here.
Our wonderful NSNZ Ambassador Senior Constable Bryan Ward (from Bryan and Bobby) has launched the 'Neighbourhood Support Report' on his weekly chat on More FM Rodney!
"Every week Nick Rado Comedian and I (Const Bryan) catch up on More FM Rodney 88.9 and I have people say but we can't hear the show where we live .....well good news! 'The Neighbourhood Support Report with Const Bryan and Nick Rado' podcast happens weekly with a huge thanks to More FM Rodney 88.9 for making it possible.
Tune in for 5-7 mins once a week get some crime prevention, community wellbeing or just some great chat from Nick and Bryan
Here's the link to the podcast episodes - what are you waiting for!
WEconnect programme
Neighbourhood Support Masterton's WEconnect programme provides support to Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) residents by linking migrants and refugees up with a local neighbourhood ‘buddy’ (police-vetted volunteers) for a minimum of 3 months. The buddy’s role is to make participants feel welcomed and settled in the community by informing them of where to go locally for information and advice, offering support with learning English and government paperwork and to provide a friendly, trusted face in their neighbourhood. Buddies are assisted by Masterton Neighbourhood Support Coordinator, Cathy Cameron, throughout the process.
As part of the programme, Cathy also provides Neighbourhood Support messaging in easy to understand English around emergency preparedness, community well-being and crime prevention to ensure participants are equipped to be safe, resilient and connected as they begin their new life in New Zealand.
Emergency Expo
In September the Greenhithe Emergency Resilience Group held their third biannual Greenhithe Emergency Expo. This is a local event drawing together agencies in the emergency preparedness, response and recovery space.
People were encouraged to take part in fun interactive activities, learn about preparedness, meet first responders, check out their vehicles and connect as part of recovery and resilience after an emergency.
It was a highly successful event with a fabulous community response all helped by a lovely sunny day.
Agencies involved included the local Greenhithe Fire & Emergency NZ (FENZ) brigade, Auckland Emergency Management, local Police, Community Patrols, St John, AREC, RNZAF with their Whenuapai fire fighting vehicle, FENZ Rural, Surf Lifesaving NZ and Neighbourhood Support Greenhithe.
GrandFriends NZ's initiative: Chatty Café Scheme
GrandFriends NZ is a nationwide charitable trust dedicated to reducing social isolation and strengthening intergenerational connection. They match older adults (GrandFriends) with families and individuals seeking meaningful, supportive relationships — creating a modern-day “surrogate family.” Chatty Café New Zealand is a national initiative led by GrandFriends NZ, designed to reduce loneliness and strengthen community connection.
Participating cafés host a designated “Chatty Table” where customers know they are welcome to sit, chat and connect with others. Each Chatty Table is supported by trained volunteers who help welcome people, start conversations, and create a safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable to join in. Chatty Café tables will create simple opportunities for human connection, helping people feel seen, valued, and part of their community.
For more information:
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Chatty Cafe Presentation for Neighbourhood Support
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Contact Jo Hayes (CEO): jo@chattycafe.co.nz | 021 475 428
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If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, venue or partner, please complete this form, and they will be in touch.
Event Calendar
Need some ideas for events? Check out our events calendar for a list of national and international events such as Pink Ribbon Day, Shake Out, Volunteer Week, Earth Day, Crime Prevention Week and many more!
