Carterton neighbours unite

A joint pitch over the establishment of a Carterton branch of Neighbourhood Support has been met with murmurs of support from Carterton councillors.
A presentation was made on the necessity of the programme to the Carterton District Council by Neighbourhood Support Masterton co-ordinator Sam Andrews-Paul, Masterton Community Council manager Sandy Ryan and Carterton police's Senior Constable Mia Wilton.
The trio put forward their case for a part-time co-ordinator for the town to facilitate groups and to push the Neighbourhood Support message.
Mrs Andrews-Paul said, in two years, Masterton had gone from having just 60 homes to more than 800.
She said the Carterton position would be part-time and cost the council about $16,000.
Ms Wilton said as a police officer she had seen the power of the organisation in other communities and was convinced it would both prevent future crime and "catch baddies" after the fact.
Councillors Bill Knowles and John Booth both said they would support the idea, with mayor Ron Mark saying the recent disasters in Christchurch highlighted the need for good neighbourhood connectivity.
As well as providing a means for staying in touch with and looking out for neighbours, the scheme kept an online database of which residents kept generators and other emergency equipment in case of a disaster, Mrs Andrews-Paul said.