Neighbourhood Support in Masterton will involve 1000 homes by the end of the year, according to co-ordinator Sam Andrews-Paul.
More than 900 homes are now signed up, representing 82 groups in the Masterton township and wider district.
Most groups range from six to 14 homes, although there are some places with justtwo and others as high as 19 or, in rural areas, 22 to 25.
Ms Andrews-Paul said the groups prove their worth in a crisis, whether that be earthquakes in Christchurch last year or a house fire in Lansdowne in this June.
After the Canterbury earthquakes groups of neighbours proved vital.
"Yes, everyone rallied together but those in Neighbourhood Support had an edge," Ms Andrews-Paul said. "They knew each other's names and faces; they knew which houses to check.
"In one case within three minutes someone was seen on the road with a flashlight, going home to home."
Likewise in Masterton in June, when a Bolton's Rd house was gutted by fire, alert Neighbourhood Support members were at the forefront of response.
Bolton's Road and Konini St both have Neighbourhood Support groups.
In an email to members, Ms Andrews-Paul highlighted the good things to have come out of the fire, including the fact that 20 emergency calls were made.
"At least eight of these came from NS members," Ms Andrews-Paul noted.
"It is great that there were multiple calls ... never assume someone else must have already informed emergency services."
Ms Andrews-Paul sends regular emails to members that include information from police about recent criminal activity.
However, she says Neighbourhood Support is not the same as the former Neighbourhood Watch, and the emphasis is not just crime prevention but community connection.
It's about "good, solid contacts with each other; it adds to the community resilience," she says.
Masterton man John Bunny is the contact for Masterton's newest Neighbourhood Support group, having signed up a good number of homes from his Lansdowne street.
He said there was a good response from flyers and a meeting attended by neighbours and Ms Andrews-Paul, and potentially two groups would be formed.
"It's a good way of being able to network, receive alerts and warnings ... make sure everyone is cared for."
