"It's a very important part of the city. It brings people together. We have two social occasions a year and we know people better. You know who they are and their children so when you do see someone loitering or in a car driving slowly, you take more notice."
Mr Martin was coaxed into being part of Neighbourhood Support by his wife Judith, who was the Day Place street co-ordinator. They now share the duties, which include meeting new neighbours and signing up them up to Neighbourhood Support.
"We feel more secure, the neighbours are looking after one another."
He said he was confident the group could recover from this and find funding for a second co-ordinator, which he said was important for it to achieve.
The group receives $40,000 a year funding from the Rotorua Lakes Council, as well as other funding.
Council spokesman Jean-Paul Gaston said: "The council certainly values the work Neighbourhood Support does in our community and apart from being a funder, provides support as and when needed.
"Council staff have offered to help Neighbourhood Support find funding from other sources.
"The council also has involvement with Neighbourhood Support through the Treasure Rotorua initiative, a group of organisations collaborating on crime-prevention work and community-safety projects.
"A part-time Treasure Rotorua Safe Community co-ordinator, who is funded by ACC, is based at council and is working with groups towards greater community ownership of safety issues and collaboration of safety efforts," Mr Gaston said.
Neighbourhood Support Rotorua
* Founded 1995
* Currently has membership across 9000 households, or 37 per cent of the district
* 750 businesses in business network
* Safeguard Your Handbags initiative
* Invisible marker pens project
* New Neighbourhood Watch signs
* Safer Plates project to com
