Wanganui East's Hackett St has its problems, but it is better for the presence of a Neighbourhood Support Group, Arihia Hartley says.
She was one of many at yesterday's Seniors Safety Expo, organised by Wanganui Area Neighbourhood Support.
A mix of older and younger people came to the Wanganui War Memorial Centre to find out about all sorts of things - from dealing with computer scammers to riding mobility scooters. Many stayed to chat over a free cuppa and baking.
Ms Hartley said she moved back to Hackett St from Springvale about 18 months ago. Springvale was "a positive lifestyle", with flowers and gardens. Hackett St, by contrast, "felt insecure".
"There's been so many problems, people who needed some support, especially the children," she said.
From a volunteer and caregiver background, she called a meeting to start a Neighbourhood Support Group. Not many signed up at first, but now more than half the street has joined.
She's delivering messages and visiting people. Residents are now saying hello to each other in the street.
"It's more friendly, more secure. It's much better," she said.
Yesterday's was the first expo for seniors run by Wanganui Area Neighbourhood Support in a few years, field officer Trudi Deane said. The aim was to make Wanganui a safer and more caring place to live.
She got her husband Ian, a former community constable, to act as compere.
His safety advice to older people was not to let strangers into their houses. If people asked to use the phone they should take it out to them rather than letting them inside. He said it was good to have family calling in regularly and to get to know neighbours. And he reminded that mobility scooters should be used on footpaths, and not on roads.