Family find help over their fence

When the Colhoun family, Antony (left), James and Catherine had their car stolen, neighbours Huia Mana and Richard Marrah kindly offered them rides. Photo / Michael Cunningham

For two neighbouring families in Whangarei there are no wars - just a great sense of neighbourly spirit.

When the Colhoun family woke last Friday to find their car missing they were devastated - the car was a lifeline for the Raumanga family.

"My mother has leukaemia and my brother has mental health issues. We need that car to go to different appointments, we use it every day and it's mainly getting mum and my brother to appointments," James Colhoun said.

After going to their next door neighbour's house to see if they'd heard anything the night the car was stolen, the Colhoun family said they were surprised to have been offered rides from people they'd "never really met".

"It was the first in-depth conversation I'd had with them," said Mr Colhoun.

"They said to us 'wherever you need to go we can take you just let us know'."

Mr Colhoun said they had been neighbours in Dallas Place for about a year but had only exchanged the odd "hi" on occasions.

Their neighbours Huia Mana and Richard Marrah said they hadn't given helping their neighbours a second thought.

"We just did. We didn't really think about it. It was nothing to us I mean if I had my car stolen I'd hope someone would do the same."

Ms Mana knows the importance of having a car for medical appointments, so she was happy to help.

"My partner is on dialysis so we know how important a car is for appointments."

Ms Mana and her partner also helped to find what they believe may be the stolen car. After putting a post on Facebook with the car's details and registration Ms Mana received a call from Mr Marrah's cousin who believed he'd spotted the vehicle.

"He was driving through Huntly and said he thought he'd seen the car down there," she said.

Mr Colhoun said he couldn't describe how grateful he was to his neighbours.

"It's just amazing, it really makes you put your faith in the community." he said.