Kiwis Want to Know Neighbours but Rarely See Them

Kiwis Want to Know Neighbours but Rarely See Them

2014 Good Neighbour Survey results revealed

Most Kiwis want to know their neighbours better but there are hurdles preventing them from doing so, according to a recent survey by neighbourhood website, Neighbourly.co.nz.

Neighbourly’s inaugural Good Neighbour Survey shows that 85.5 per cent of respondents want to know their neighbours better* but many are hindered by not ‘seeing them around much’ (70.8%). Keeping to oneself or shyness (25.5%), busyness (20.5%) and recently moving to the area (20.2%) were also identified as reasons preventing neighbours from getting to know one another better.

Other comments provided included ‘high fences’, ‘language barriers’, ‘working long hours’, ‘mental illness’ and ‘leaving it so long it had become awkward’.

Only 12 per cent of respondents know more neighbours now than they did growing up, with 42.4 per cent knowing a few or a lot less.

Neighbourly Co-founder Casey Eden says he wasn’t surprised to discover that many Kiwis know fewer neighbours compared to their childhood.

“Life is increasingly busy meaning we’re often away from our neighbourhoods; in many communities our neighbours are nowhere to be seen. Because of this, we’re simply not forming the bonds we had with our neighbours back in the day,” he says. “One of the main reasons Shane and I created Neighbourly was because we also didn’t see our neighbours around. It’s not that we didn’t want to interact with them, we just didn’t bump into them, and popping around to say ‘hi’ was a bit too daunting.

“Neighbourly helps connect neighbours online, leading to connections in the ‘real world’. It gives those who are a little shy or busy the chance to learn more about their local community and meet the people who live close by - as well as breaking down other potential barriers, such as language. It’s worth noting that 70 per cent of respondents said they weren’t aware of gatherings in their neighbourhood. We’re confident that Neighbourly will change that as more neighbours plan their street get-togethers and community events through the site.”

The top reason for wanting to know our neighbours better is to create ‘friendlier, more social places to live’ (83%), followed by ‘safer places to live’ (81.1%)*.

“Posts about crime and safety always get a huge response on Neighbourly so it’s encouraging to hear that members understand that knowing more of their neighbours better can help build safer communities,” adds Eden.

Neighbourly launched in June 2014 and now has a membership of over 57,000 members. Auckland suburb St Heliers is about to hit 1000 members - the first suburb in New Zealand to reach this milestone. Tawa (Wellington) and Remuera (Auckland) are in second and third position respectively.

Summary of results from the Good Neighbour Survey
• 90% believe it’s important to have an easy way to communicate with their neighbours
• 85.5% want to know their neighbours better
• 70.8% cite ‘not seeing their neighbours around’ as the reason for not knowing them better
• 42.4% know a few or a lot less neighbours compared with when they were growing up
• 78.6% have at least one neighbour they can borrow a cup of sugar from
• 70% aren’t aware of gatherings in the neighbourhood
• 81.4% would like a Neighbourly sticker for their letterbox to identify their Neighbourly membership

Neighbourly surveyed 1381 Neighbourly members in October 2014 to learn more about what New Zealanders think makes a good neighbour. For more information on Neighbourly visit www.neighbourly.co.nz

*Respondents could select more than one response to this survey question.

Neighbourly launched across New Zealand in June after a successful two month pilot in Auckland. The site fosters interaction and conversation between neighbours and community organisations by creating an easy way for them to talk and share online through free and private websites for their suburbs.

About Neighbourly.co.nz
Neighbourly is a free and private neighbourhood website for New Zealand. Using Neighbourly, neighbours create websites for their communities to exchange recommendations on local services, ask questions, plan events, discuss local issues - and get to know one another. By creating more real world connections between neighbours and their community organisations, Neighbourly aims to build stronger, safer and friendlier places to call home.

Based in Newmarket, Auckland, Neighbourly was founded by internet entrepreneurs Casey Eden and Shane Bradley as a way to help them connect more closely to their neighbourhoods and the people living within them. For a 90 second introduction to Neighbourly visit www.neighbourly.co.nz/video. For information on becoming a Neighbourly Lead go to www.neighbourly.co.nz/community/lead. For more information about the Neighbourly backstory visit www.neighbourly.co.nz/about-us.

ENDS

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