Tearing down the fences

Photo / Thinkstock

There are no physical fences around most of a dozen houses that share one common driveway in the Auckland suburb of Birkenhead - and the residents are determined not to put up "social fences" either.

As in many Auckland neighbourhoods, they have come from many corners of the globe: Korea, India, Iraq, Britain and native Kiwis.

But this diverse bunch have gone out of their way to get to know each other. This weekend they will be one of hundreds of such groups celebrating New Zealand's second national "Neighbours Day" - in their case with a morning tea tomorrow.

"It's like old-fashioned neighbours used to be," said a retired nurse who did not want to be named but helps to hold the group together.

When Indian couple Hemant and Hina Thakkar moved in seven years ago, she baked them a cake.

When Natalie Allen, 29, had her first baby seven months ago, the nurse knitted baby beanies and booties.

And the neighbours look after her in turn. Online video producer David Wright, 33, hauls her recycling bin up to the street. Sometimes Korean chef Young-Chieh Lee helps her with the bin.

"He's training his two sons to do the same," the nurse said.

Somebody brought the Allens' bin in from the street too for three months after baby Reggie was born.

"I still don't know who it was," Mrs Allen said. "It would just turn up outside our garage."

"We use our numbers because sometimes we can't pronounce the names properly. I always say, 'I'm Number 4,"' the nurse said.

When the Thakkars moved in, they delivered a letter introducing themselves to the other houses and received "really good feedback".

"Most people came back saying thank you for your note and welcome to the patch," said Mr Thakkar, a 40-year-old social worker.

The neighbours look after pets and gardens when anyone goes on holiday, repaired someone's mailbox when things were being stolen out of it, and keep an eye out for intruders.

"I just feel safe," Mrs Allen said. "After I had my son I was at home by myself, my husband was working, the door was unlocked. I was lucky to know there was someone around."

Rebecca Harrington, a North Shore community worker who organised the first Neighbours Day in Auckland in 2009 and is now the national co-ordinator, said most people wanted to know their neighbours but many needed a catalyst such as a special weekend to do it.

"We have heard from people in parts of Auckland where people are very connected with their street and their neighbours," she said.

"But of course there are other areas where people feel very disconnected and don't know anyone because they are surrounded by high fences and automatic-opening garages where you can't get to the front door."

She hopes Neighbours Day will help to bring some of those fences down.

Neighbourly ideas

Eat together
* Pancake breakfast.
* Street BBQ.
* Potluck dish from your personal heritage.

Have fun
* Get the kids to make cupcakes.
* Music jam session.
* Pamper party with facials, foot soaks and manicures.

Share resources
* Lend ladders, tools, books, toys.
* Swap things you no longer need.
* Share home-grown produce.

Keep safe
* Exchange phone numbers.
* Start a neighbourhood support group.
* Get online
* Start a neighbourhood Facebook page.

Source: www.neighboursday.org.nz