This article was first published in eMessenger in November 2018.
Neighbours Day Aotearoa – March 22 – 31 March 2019
2019 celebrates 10 years of Neighbours Day Aotearoa (NDA) with 10 days of celebrations. NDA has a distinctly Methodist heritage, built on work done by Takapuna Methodist Parish and Lifewise.
MCNZ Conference supported the decision to encourage all parishes to participate in Neighbours Day Aotearoa in 2019 and 2020.
The Methodist Alliance also encourages all parishes to become actively involved in Neighbours Day Aotearoa. This provides the opportunity for our church to connect with our local community, reduce social isolation and get to know our neighbours.
Here are some statistics about NDA:
· 97% of people are more likely to act as a good neighbour after participating in NDA.
· 85% reported they got to know their neighbours better
· 70% felt more likely or much more likely to ask their neighbours for help
· 52% felt more positive about their neighbours
· 51% met three or more new neighbours
Cissy & Sam, the Neighbours Day Coordinators, are running workshops across New Zealand. These are free interactive workshops for people who are planning a NDA event and there are great ideas shared. You can find one near you:
November 12 – Invercargill – further details to be confirmed
November 12 – Upper Clutha - further details to be confirmed
November 12 – Dunedin – Presbyterian Support Otago, 407 Moray Place at 10.30am – 11am
November 13 – Oamaru – Waitaki Community Gardens, at 3.30pm – 5.00pm
November 14 – Ashburton – Ashburton District Council Chambers Meeting Room, Baring Square East, at 10.30am – 12noon.
November 14 – Rangiora - further details to be confirmed
November 15 – Christchurch – WesleyCare Chapel, 5 Marblewood Drive, at 9-10.30am.
November 15 – Greymouth – Baptist Church, 76 High Street, at 3.00pm – 4.30pm
November 16 – Nelson – Tahunanui Community Centre, 55 Muritai Street, at 12.30pm – 2pm.
November 20 – Wellington – Innermost Gardens Hall, 31 Lawson Place, Mt Victoria, at 11.00am – 12.30am
November 20 – Paekakariki - further details to be confirmed
November 21 – Palmerston North – Hancock Community house, 77-85 King Street, at 9.30am – 11.00am
November 21 – Taihape - further details to be confirmed
November 21 – Masterton – Scouts Hall, Burling Park, Roberts Road, 1.30pm – 3.00pm
November 22 – Taupo – Lake Taupo Hospice, 29 Huka Falls Road, 12noon – 1.30pm
November 22 – Rotorua - further details to be confirmed
November 23 – Napier - further details to be confirmed
November 23 – Hastings – Hastings District Council Chambers, 207 Lyndon Road East, Hastings, at 1.00pm – 3.00pm
November 29 – Auckland – Manu Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park, at 9.30am – 2pm
December 3 – Kerikeri, Kaitaia & Rawene - further details to be confirmed
December 4 – Kaikohe, Dargaville, Waipu & Whangarei - further details to be confirmed
December 5 – Whangaparoa - further details to be confirmed
December 6 – Auckland - further details to be confirmed
December 7 – Cambridge & Pirongia - further details to be confirmed
Further details will be available here at http://neighboursday.org.nz/roadtrip/ and on Facebook, where you can also indicate you are interested in going to these events -https://www.facebook.com/pg/NeighboursDay/events/
There is more information, ideas and resources on the NDA website www.neighboursday.org.nz There are posters, and invitations you can download and some suggestions for what groups may like to do. These include a bbq or fiesta, an open day, a community concert, freecycle – a swap meet, repair café, movie night, or a community clean up.
The webiste has a quiz where you can find out what sort of neighbour you are – here is the link: http://neighboursdayaotearoa.org/what-neighbour-are-you/?
You can also find information, ideas, funding options, inspiring videos on NDA’s facebook site https://www.facebook.com/NeighboursDay/
If you would like to participate in NDA but don’t know where to start, feel free to contact me.
Ngā mihi nui
Carol Barron, Methodist Alliance National Coordinator, Carol@MethodistAlliance.org.nz
Comments