Using Neighbourly
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Sending private messages to Community Groups and Organisations
You have the ability to send a message directly to a Community Group or Organisation on Neighbourly at any time.
To send a private message to a Community Group or Organisation using your computer
Visit the relevant homepage for the group, which you can find by clicking the ORGANISATIONS tab underneath MORE in the green bar at the top of your page. Find the group you would like to send a message to and click their name
Select the CONTACT tab
Click on the SEND US A MESSAGE button
To send a private message to a Community Group or Organisation using your mobile device
Tap on the menu icon in the bottom navigation bar
Select ORGANISATIONS
Tap the Organisation to visit their profile page
Click on the blue MESSAGE button beneath the organisation name
Input your message and tap SEND in the top right corner
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Why do I see posts from community groups and officials?
Neighbourly has joined forces with numerous community organisations and officals to connect them with neighborhoods.
As such, you may see periodic updates from community groups and officials such as the police on the Neighbourly website. Such updates may relate to nearby road closures, safety issues or community events that are relevant to your neighbourhood.
Communicating with these organisations is entirely voluntary. You can choose to:
Contact officials via a private message
Unfollow organisational users if you’d prefer not to receive updates
Adjust the frequency of email notifications you receive by changing your emails settings
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How to post on Neighbourly
Once you’ve signed in to Neighbourly, you can easily post messages to your neighbours and others in your community. You can do this on your computer or tablet’s web browser, or by using one of Neighbourly's mobile phone apps.
To post a message using your computer
Visit your neighbourhood’s news feed. This is the page you start on when you first log in to Neighbourly
Click in the white box that reads POST A MESSAGE, EVENT, POLL OR URGENT ALERT TO NEIGHBOURS
Choose the neighbours you want to post to. This may be your neighbourhood only, your Nearby Neighbourhoods, or a specific group you are a member of
Add a subject
Write your message
Select a posting category
Upload an image or document if you wish to
Click the POST button
To post a message using your mobile device
Tap the NEW POST or POST A MESSAGE option on the home screen
Select the type of post you wish to make. MESSAGE is the standard format for making a post to your neighbourhood or a group you are a member of
From the first drop-down menu, choose the surrounding suburbs you would like to post to
From the second drop-down menu, choose the category your post is within
Add a subject, and write your message
Add a photo if you wish by tapping on the camera icon
Tap POST
You can also send a message to an individual neighbour by clicking on their name in your Neighbours Directory.
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How do I unfollow an Organisation?
To avoid seeing content from a particular Organisation on Neighbourly, you can unfollow their profile. Posts from this Organisation will no longer appear in your Neighbourly newsfeed.
To unfollow an Organisation using the Neighbourly website
Click on the name of the Organisation to visit their profile
Hover over the FOLLOWING button in the top right hand corner of the profile until it changes to UNFOLLOW. Click UNFOLLOW and you will no longer see content from this profile in your newsfeed.
To refollow an Organisation using the Neighbourly website
Visit the Organisation directory
Search for the name of the Organisation you wish to follow
Click FOLLOW - this Organisation’s posts will now appear in your Neighbourly newsfeed
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Thanking neighbours and liking their posts
You might have noticed a THANK and a LIKE button on Neighbourly. These are a simple and friendly way of letting a member know that you have read and/or enjoyed their message. In the words of one of our wonderful Neighbourly Leads - thanks is for agreeing, and liking is for showing appreciation. Whether you thank or like a message depends on the situation. Sometimes you might splash out and do both!
You can undo a 'like' or 'thanks' simply by clicking on 'Liked' or 'Thanked' beneath the post/message - this will then revert back to 'Like' or 'Thank', indicating that you have not liked or thanked the post.
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How do I edit a post?
If you make a mistake when posting on Neighbourly, or would like to make changes to your original message, you can easily edit what you have posted.
To edit a post using your computer or mobile app
Locate the post that you would like to edit. You can find this on your newsfeed or by clicking on MY NEIGHBOURLY at the top of the page and selecting MY POSTS from the drop-down menu.
Click the "..." button below the post
Click EDIT
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How do I delete a post?
At any time, you can delete a post you have made on the Neighbourly site.
To delete your post using your computer:
Locate the post you would like to delete. You can find this on your newsfeed or by clicking on MY NEIGHBOURLY at the top of the page and selecting MY POSTS from the drop-down menu.
Click the "..." button below your message
Select DELETE
To delete your post using your mobile app:
Locate the post you would like to delete. You can find this in the newsfeed or by tapping on ME from the bottom menu options.
Click the "..." button below your message
Select DELETE
If the Neighbourly team feels the material contained within the post breaches Neighbourly Guidelines, they may also delete the post. Get in touch if you need any assistance.
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Urgent Alerts on Neighbourly
What are Urgent Alerts?
Urgent Alerts are an easy way to hear about and communicate urgent crime and safety situations in your neighbourhood. These special messages are sent to Neighbourly members instantly via email as well as posted on the website.
Urgent Alerts are free to send or receive and are intended for rare cases where crime and/or safety is a concern and the community needs to be notified quickly.
Examples of Urgent Alerts include extreme weather warnings, natural disasters, road closures, missing people or a dangerous situation within your community.
Receiving Urgent Alerts
You can receive Urgent Alerts from your neighbours via email and/or mobile phone text message. To start receiving Urgent Alerts by text message, or to stop receiving them, simply edit your Email Settings or your Mobile Settings.
Sending Urgent Alerts
Urgent Alerts are designed to reach your fellow neighbours immediately via text message and email. SMS Urgent Alerts are ideal for local, time-sensitive emergencies that affect a single suburb (no more than 10,000 members).
While this is a free service, it is very important that all members respect this tool as it is reserved for times when information needs to be delivered in a time-sensitive manner. The Neighbourly team reserves the right not to send any urgent alert we deem inappropriate.
To post an Urgent Alert using your computer
Visit your neighbourhood’s noticeboard. This is the page you start on when you first log in to Neighbourly
Click in the white box reading POST A MESSAGE, EVENT, POLL OR URGENT ALERT TO NEIGHBOURS
Click on URGENT ALERT
Write your urgent message to your neighbours
Click REVIEW MESSAGE and review your message. If it is correct, click SEND
If your message is not correct, click the cancel button. This will allow you to write a new message. If you are planning to make only minor changes, we suggest you copy and paste your original message
To post an Urgent Alert using the Neighbourly App on your phone
Visit your neighbourhood’s noticeboard. This is the page you start on when you first log in to Neighbourly
Tap in the white box reading POST A MESSAGE
Tap on URGENT ALERT
Write your urgent message to your neighbours
Decide which suburbs to alert using the drop-down menu, then tap DONE
Click REVIEW and review your message. If it is correct, tap SEND URGENT ALERT
If your message is not correct, go back by tapping NEW URGENT ALERT. This will allow you to edit the message or write a new one.
Please note:
Urgent Alerts are limited to 110 characters (you can add more details later by replying)
You cannot delete an urgent alert once it has been sent
Neighbourly does pay for every sms alert sent, and therefore reserves the right to review each alert prior to sending to ensure it is a time-sensitive emergency.
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Reporting a post or reply
If you see a message on Neighbourly that you believe is inappropriate, please bring it to our attention by flagging it. The team at Neighbourly will assess the post and decide whether it breaches our guidelines and needs to be removed.
To flag a post using your computer
Locate the post that you would like to flag
Click the "..." underneath the post
Click REPORT THIS MESSAGE
Select your reason for flagging the post
Click REPORT
To flag a post using the mobile app
Locate the post that you would like to flag
Tap the "..." to the bottom right of the post
Tap REPORT THIS MESSAGE
Choose the reason for flagging the post
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Posting a photo or image
You can add a photo or image to any message you post on Neighbourly.
Uploading a photo using your computer
Click in the box reading POST A MESSAGE, EVENT, POLL OR URGENT ALERT TO NEIGHBOURS
Click the button in the bottom left corner with the PAPER CLIP on it
Select the photo you would like to upload and click OPEN
Select your neighbours, add a subject, add a message if you would like to include some information about the photo, and choose a category
Click the POST button at the bottom right
Uploading a photo using the mobile app
Tap in the box reading POST A MESSAGE
Tap MESSAGE
Using the drop-down menu you can amend the suburbs you are posting to. When complete, tap DONE
Using the drop-down menu you can amend the category in which you are posting. Choose the category and tap DONE
Add a subject and your message
Tap the camera icon
Tap on the photo you wish to share with your neighbourhood
If you want to take a new photo, simply tap the Camera Icon option at the top left of your camera roll to do so
Tap DONE in the top right-hand corner
Review your photo and edit if needed, then tap the green arrow to approve it
Tap POST
To post images on Neighbourly, ensure the file type is PNG, JPG or JPEG and that the image does not exceed 15MB.
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What are Groups and how do I create one?
Your neighbours could have similar interests to you and Groups are a great way to share this common ground. You can also use Groups to talk about important neighbourhood issues away from the main news feed.
Examples of Groups may be Neighbourhood Watch groups, street groups to connect with your immediate neighbours, sporting or animal interest groups, and social get together groups.
Please note: While groups do not need to be specifically relevant to your local community, they should be created with the intention of bringing people together in a productive and positive way. Groups should not be used to post conspiracy theories, misinformation or harmful content, and Neighbourly may remove a group if either its purpose or content does not contribute positively to NZ communities.
To create a Group using your computer
Click GROUPS at the top of your Neighbourly notice board
Click the Create a Group button
Add the Group name, define the reach of your group (your neighbourhood, regional or NZ-wide), add a description and select who can see your group's posts
Click SAVE GROUP
To create a Group using the mobile app
Tap the MENU button at the bottom of your screen
Tap GROUPS
Tap the + icon at the top right of your screen
Add your Group's name and description
Tap CHOOSE NEIGHBOURHOODS to restrict your group to specific areas. Tap DONE
If you wish for the group to be private, where it reads 'Is Group Private?' drag the cog to the right and it will become green. Simply leave this untouched to create an open Group
Tap ADD in the top right corner
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How do I join an existing Group?
Once you are a member of Neighbourly you can join any open Group available in your neighbourhood or request to join any closed Group.
To join a Group using your computer
Click GROUPS at the top of your Neighbourly notice board
Click the Group you'd like to join
If the Group is OPEN click the JOIN GROUP button
If the Group is CLOSED click the ASK TO JOIN button. The founder of the group will be alerted that you're trying to join. You will be notified by email of whether they have approved or declined your request.
To join a Group using the app
Tap the MENU button at the bottom of your app screen
Tap GROUPS
Find the Group you'd like to join and tap on its name
Here you can read the description of the group and tap JOIN
If the group is private, you can tap REQUEST ACCESS and you will be notified when you have been approved
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Open vs Closed Groups
As a member on Neighbourly you can choose to create a group for people who share similar interests, or you may be able to join an existing group. Groups may be open or closed and there are differences between the two.
Open Groups
Are open to anyone in your neighbourhood or nearby neighbourhoods
Allow neighbours to join a group without seeking approval
Allow any Neighbourly member to read the group’s messages regardless of whether they have joined the group
Have public member lists
Closed Groups
Are limited to those people a group moderator adds or approves
Neighbours not part of the group may apply to join, at which point moderators may choose to accept
Have messages which are only viewable by members of the group
Any neighbours who are not part of the private group as well cannot identify you as a member of a private group (unless you are a moderator, in which case you will always be listed)
Changing the status of your group
If you are a creator of a group, there may be times when you wish to change the status of your group from open to closed, or vice versa. When you are making the closed to open switch it is particularly important that you discuss this with other group members first, and clearly notify all members of when this change is going to be made.
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Using Neighbourly to help prevent crime in your neighbourhood
Crime prevention and community safety are the cornerstone of what Neighbourly is built on. Here are some tips on how your crime prevention group can get the most out of using Neighbourly.
Mention crime and safety when inviting your neighbours to join. Explain that Neighbourly can be a heap of fun if they want to get fully involved, but at the very least you would like them to be involved with crime prevention in the community.
Organise in-person events and meetings via Neighbourly. Organise a community crime watch meeting to get to know your neighbours so that each of you can keep a better eye out for each other.
Get urgent alerts via text message. By registering your phone number with Neighbourly, you can receive urgent alerts direct to your phone via SMS text message, as well as via email. Neighbours should send urgent alerts when they notice suspicious activity or serious safety issues. To be notified via text message, you must register your phone number on the mobile phone settings page.
Report suspicious activity or safety issues to your neighbourhood. It’s easy and fast to post a message or send an urgent alert to all your neighbours. If you send an urgent alert, Neighbourly will immediately send an email and a mobile phone text message to your neighbours on Neighbourly. Please note: You should always call 111 first in case of an emergency.
Create or join a private Neighbourly group for your crime prevention group. This option enables private crime prevention groups to have private conversations that are only visible to each group’s members.
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Hiding posts, unfollowing posts and muting members
HIDING A POST
From time to time there's likely to be something on your Neighbourly noticeboard that doesn't interest you. Hiding a post means you will no longer see it on your Neighbourly noticeboard nor in your Digest emails.
Your neighbour won't be notified if you choose to hide one of their posts, and hiding a post only removes it from your noticeboard, not from your neighbour's.
To hide a post using your computer or mobile app
Locate the post that you would like to hide
Click/Tap on the "..." at the bottom right of the post
Select HIDE THIS MESSAGE
UNFOLLOWING A POST
Unfollowing a post is an easy way to stop receiving updates on a post that you've interacted with. There are two ways to do this: 1) By clicking on Stop receiving immediate updates on this post from within your email updates, and 2) By selecting the Unfollow this Post option when you're signed in to Neighbourly.
To unfollow a post using your computer or mobile app
Locate the post that you would like to unfollow
Click/Tap on the "..." at the bottom right of the post
On your computer, click on UNFOLLOW THIS MESSAGE. On your mobile, tap on UNFOLLOW
Please note: to refollow a post, simply follow the instructions above but select FOLLOW THIS MESSAGE.
MUTING A MEMBER
Muting a member is a discreet way of blocking the content posted by a particular member of your Neighbourhood. They will not know you have silenced them and you will still receive important information they post in the case of an emergency.
To mute a member using your computer
Click on THEIR NAME in the Neighbourhood Directory (this will take you to their profile summary)
Click MUTE USER
To unmute a member, follow the steps above and click the UNMUTE button.
To mute a member using your mobile app
Tap on THEIR NAME in the Neighbourhood Directory (this will take you to their profile summary)
Click MUTE
To unmute a member, follow the steps above and tap the MUTED button.
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Recommending local services on Neighbourly
If you’d like to recommend a local service in your area, head to Neighbourly's Recommendations page within the Classifieds section. Your neighbours will be able to see all the great places you recommend, and you’ll be able to ask your neighbours for advice on their favourite local services.
To create the most neighbourly environment possible, we encourage members to focus on the good qualities of a service, such as affordability, reliability and quality of work. If the business you're wanting to recommend is a home-based business, eg handyman or babysitter, they might appreciate a heads up from you before you pass on their contact details to other Neighbourly members.
Please note - you must have actually used a business or service to post a recommendation. If you would like to recommend or promote your own business or services, please do this from your business profile.
To post about or request info on recommendations using your computer
Visit the Recommendations page, within the Classifieds section on Neighbourly
Click in the white box that reads POST A MESSAGE, EVENT, POLL OR URGENT ALERT TO NEIGHBOURS
Select RECOMMENDING if you would like to recommend a local business, or LOOKING FOR if you are looking for a recommendation
Select a category and sub-category
Choose the neighbours you wish to post to, plus enter your subject and message
Click POST
To post about or request info on recommendations using your mobile app
Tap in the white box that reads POST A MESSAGE
Select MESSAGE
From the first drop-down menu, choose the suburbs you wish to post to
From the second drop-down menu, tap RECOMMENDATIONS
Select either RECOMMENDING or LOOKING FOR.
From here, a list of categories will appear underneath for you to choose the category and then further subcategories for your recommendation
Tap DONE
Add a subject, write your message, then tap POST
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Adding an Event
Neighbourly Events make it easy to facilitate garage sales, street BBQs, craft markets, sports games and other community gatherings with your neighbours.
To create an Event on Neighbourly using your computer
Select EVENTS at the top of the Neighbourly homepage
Click the blue ADD EVENT button near the top left of your screen
Add the information about the event in all of the fields in the event form
To attach a photo or flyer to this event, click ADD AN IMAGE OR DOCUMENT to choose a file from your computer
To add a cover image to your event, click EDIT COVER IMAGE to choose a file from your computer (recommended size is 1200x300)
Click SAVE EVENT
To create an Event on Neighbourly using the app
Tap the MENU button which is along the bottom of your screen
Select EVENTS
Tap into the white box labelled NEW EVENT
Complete all fields in the event form
Attach an image by tapping the camera icon at the bottom right below 'description' - once you have selected your image/s tap the tick icon to confirm
To add a cover image to your event, tap SELECT COVER IMAGE to choose a photo from your mobile device
Tap ADD
Once you’ve added an Event it will be visible on the Neighbourly homepage and your neighbours will be able to RSVP. If you have invited only a specific group, or all of your nearby neighbours, these members will be able to see your Event.
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Adding an attachment to your post
When you make a post on Neighbourly you can add a PDF document, Word document or video or music file to your message.
To upload a document using your computer
Write your message
Click the ADD AN IMAGE OR DOCUMENT button at the bottom left of the post (see little paperclip icon)
Select the document you wish to upload
Click OPEN
Click ADD ANOTHER if you wish to attach an additional document
Click the POST button in the bottom right corner to share your message with your neighbours
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Sending private messages
If you'd like to contact a neighbour on Neighbourly directly, you can send them a private message. This is a great way to send confidential information or to have conversations you'd like to keep away from your Neighbourly noticeboard.
Your Neighbourly inbox also allows you to:
Send a message to multiple members of your neighbourhood (group messages)
Review sent, archived and starred messages
Star messages you want to easily locate again
Delete messages you no longer want in your inbox
To send a private message using your computer
Either
Locate the neighbour you wish to send a message to in your Neighbours Directory, and click on their name to visit their profile
Click the MESSAGE button below your neighbour's profile picture on the left-hand side
Enter a subject and message
Click SEND
Or
Click the MESSAGES tab in the top navigation bar
Click into the white box that says New Private Message
Tap on SELECT NEIGHBOURS and find the neighbour/s you wish to message either by scrolling through or typing their name into the search bar. Once found, tap their name and tap DONE
Enter a subject and message
Click SEND
Your message will be sent to your neighbour's Neighbourly inbox. They will also receive an email to say they have received a new private message on Neighbourly.
To send a private message using your mobile device
Select the MESSAGES tab from the bottom of your app screen
Tap the white box at the top of your screen reading NEW PRIVATE MESSAGE
Tap on SELECT NEIGHBOURS and find the neighbour/s you wish to message either by scrolling through or typing their name into the search bar. Once found, tap their name and tap DONE
Enter a subject and message
Tap SEND in the top right-hand corner
Your message will be sent to your neighbour's Neighbourly inbox. They will also receive an email to say they have received a new private message on Neighbourly.
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Adding a profile picture
Adding a profile photo is a great way to personalise your profile on Neighbourly.
To add a profile photo using your computer
Visit your profile by clicking on MY NEIGHBOURLY at the top of the screen and select MY PROFILE from the drop-down menu
Click EDIT PROFILE
Next to "upload a photo", click SELECT PROFILE PICTURE
Once you've selected your photo and clicked Open, you will have a chance to crop the picture to the size you wish
Once you are happy, click SAVE at the bottom of the page
You will now see your photo in your profile.
To add a profile photo using your mobile app
Tap on the ME tab at the bottom of your screen
Tap SETTINGS under your current picture
Select ACCOUNT
Tap the blue writing that reads CHANGE PROFILE PICTURE
Choose where you'd like to upload your photo from and select the picture
Once you're happy with your choice, tap DONE
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Your tax obligations if you are selling things on Neighbourly
If you are a regular seller of items on Neighbourly it's important to consider whether your activity is taxable as a business, or not. This helpful page from the IRD sets out some general principles relating to online trade.
If you're running a business, your income is taxable and your business expenses are deductible. But if it's a hobby, you don't pay tax on your income and your expenses are not deductible. The "business or hobby" issue can be complex, and if you're not sure you should seek advice from your tax advisor or the IRD.
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How do I send a screenshot to the Neighbourly team?
A screenshot is an image of the display on your computer screen. If you're having a bit of trouble with something on Neighbourly, sending the Neighbourly team a screenshot is a good idea so that we can get a better understanding of the issue you're having.
To take a computer screenshot if you are a Windows user
On the screen you want to capture, simply hold down Ctrl and Print Screen at the same time then release both keys - this action has taken a virtual photo of the screen (a screenshot)
You then need to "Paste" this screenshot into a document, this could be Microsoft Paint or Microsoft Word.
Open up a new email and attach this document using the paperclip button.
Send us an email with the image to helpdesk@neighbourly.co.nz
To take a computer screenshot if you are a Mac user (OSX user)
On the screen you want to capture, hold down Command and Shift, then press 3
The screenshot will appear as a picture file on your desktop
Send us an email with the image attached to helpdesk@neighbourly.co.nz
To take a phone screenshot if you are an Iphone user
Go to the screen you would like to capture
Press and hold the Power button on the right side of your phone and click the front Home button at the exact same time.
Send us an e-mail with the image attached to helpdesk@neighbourly.co.nz
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Using Polls on Neighbourly
Polls on Neighbourly allow you to easily gather the opinions of your neighbours on a particular topic. Like posts on Neighbourly, polls can be shared with your neighbourhood, your Nearby Neighbourhoods or with members of a group you belong to. Any Neighbourly member with whom the poll has been shared can cast one vote, and the results are then displayed to other members of the neighbourhood or group until the poll is closed.
All votes on polls are anonymous, and the creator of a poll can close it at any time.
To create a poll using your computer
Visit your neighbourhood’s news feed. This is the page you start on when you first log in to Neighbourly
Click in the white box that reads POST A MESSAGE, EVENT, POLL OR URGENT ALERT TO NEIGHBOURS
Select the POLL tab
Choose who you would like to see your poll. This could be your neighbourhood only, your Nearby Neighbourhoods, or a specific group you are a member of
Add a poll title
Add a description
Enter your poll choices in the fields. You can add more than two answers by clicking the ADD ANOTHER CHOICE button
Upload an image or document if you wish to
Click the POST button
To create a poll using your mobile app
Tap the NEW POST or POST A MESSAGE option on the home screen
Tap POLL
Add a Poll title and description
Tap the bottom white box that reads ADD A CHOICE then tap ADD - complete this step until all poll choices have been added
Tap POST
To vote on a poll using your computer or mobile app
Locate the poll on your neighbourhood's news feed.
Select your answer from the available choices
Click VOTE
If you wish to remove your vote, simply click the VOTE button again.
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How to tag neighbours in posts and replies
When posting a message or replying to a post on Neighbourly, you might wish to mention the name of one of your neighbours to include them in the conversation, or to direct your reply to one neighbour in particular. Tagging a neighbour means their name will appear as highlighted in the post or reply, and they will also receive an email notification letting them know that they have been tagged.
Anyone seeing the message can click on your neighbour's name and visit their Neighbourly profile. You can tag anyone in your own neighbourhood and Nearby Neighbourhoods.
To tag a neighbour in a post or reply
In the message or reply field, type @ and your neighbour's name to generate a drop-down menu
Select the name of the neighbour you wish to tag
Finish writing your message and click/tap POST or REPLY or SEND
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Saving posts
If you've spotted a post on Neighbourly that you'd like to refer back to later, you can 'Save' the post.
To save a post using your computer
Click on the SAVE button at the bottom right of the post. The button will change to 'Saved!'
To find the post you have saved:
Click on MY Neighbourly in the top green Neighbourly bar
Select MY POSTS
Click the ALL POSTS drop down menu
Select SAVED POSTS
To unsave a post:
Click on the SAVED! button to remove it as a saved post
To save a post using the Neighbourly app
Tap the "..." button at the bottom right of the post
Select SAVE MESSAGE
To find the post you have saved:
Select ME from the tab across the bottom of your app
Select SAVED POSTS from the options above the post feed
To unsave a post:
Tap the "..." button at the bottom right of the post
Tap on SAVED! to remove it as a saved post
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What are Neighbourly pins?
At various times during the year, Pins are available for Neighbourly members to add to their profile. This is a way to show support for a particular campaign or cause.
To add a pin to your profile:
Click SETTINGS in the top right-hand corner of the noticeboard
Select PROFILE PICTURE PINS in the left hand toolbar
Select the pin you'd like to add to your profile and click the SAVE button
To remove a pin from your profile:
Repeat the above steps to locate PROFILE PICTURE PINS
Choose the 'No pin' option and click the SAVE button.
Please note: Neighbourly pins are available for set campaign periods and will be automatically removed from a member's profile when this campaign period ends.
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What can I do if I see a business review I disagree with?
Neighbourly has been designed to help bring communities closer together through positive interactions and discussion. To create the most neighbourly environment possible, we encourage members to focus on spreading the word about the many great businesses out there in our communities.
However, we know that from time to time a review of a business or service provider that is less than favourable may appear on your Neighbourly noticeboard. In the event that you disagree with an opinion or experience another member has shared, we ask that members show tolerance and respect, and assume good intentions in others when contributing to the conversation.
This goes a long way in helping make Neighbourly a positive platform for you and your neighbours to enjoy, and also encourages more of your neighbours to participate.
If you strongly disagree with a review, you could consider doing the following:
1) Share your own positive experience involving the business, focusing on what makes them great (their affordability, quality of work etc).
2) Contact your Lead for guidance.
3) Hide the message from your noticeboard.
4) Mute the member who has made the post.
6) Get in touch with the Neighbourly team. If you ever see a post or reply that you believe breaches the Neighbourly Guidelines, please report this message for review by the Neighbourly team. Just click the ‘...’ button below a message to report it.
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What about negative business reviews?
Neighbourly members are welcome to post their business reviews and experiences on the site. Negative business reviews will not be removed by Neighbourly unless they breach the Neighbourly Guidelines.
Please note that the Neighbourly team is unable to determine whether information in a review is true or false, and posts are reviewed in the context of the Neighbourly Guidelines.
If you believe any post or reply breaches these Guidelines, please report it to the Neighbourly team for review.
If you believe a review or other content posted by a Neighbourly member is harmful in any way, you can submit a complaint to the Neighbourly team.
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Posting about suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood
If you're aware of some suspicious activity happening in your neighbourhood and you would like to inform your neighbours, it's important to stick to the facts. Identifying characteristics could include clothing, age, build, ethnicity or gender but the focus of your post should be on the behaviour that raised your suspicions.
When posting or replying to comments on Neighbourly, please avoid making assumptions about a person’s character or intentions based on the physical appearance you or others have described.
Can I post photos of suspects on Neighbourly?
Sometimes members obtain photographs or CCTV footage which they believe is evidence of suspicious activity. As Neighbourly is not a crime reporting platform, we strongly recommend that our members speak with their local police and seek their advice before sharing these images on Neighbourly.
Because youth are subject to different proceedings than adults, Neighbourly members should never post images of youth or suspected youth (under 18) on Neighbourly. If individuals in your photos or footage could be under the age of 25, or if you are in doubt as to a person's age, we advise you not to post photos. You may find the following links useful:
NZ Police http://www.police.govt.nz/
Crimestoppers http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/
Victim Support http://www.victimsupport.org.nz/
Community Patrols http://www.cpnz.org.nz/
If you are in doubt please get in touch with the Neighbourly team and we will be happy to guide you.
If you believe a comment or post breaches the Neighbourly Guidelines, you can flag it for the Neighbourly team to review.
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How can I get my posts noticed on Neighbourly?
If your post has travelled a bit further down the Neighbourly noticeboard, rest assured that your neighbours will still be able to find it on Neighbourly.
Typing a keyword into the Neighbourly search bar is a quick and easy way to find posts about a particlar topic.
Members can also save your post to refer to it at a later time, or visit your profile to find all the posts you have shared with your community.
Here are few ideas to get your posts maximum attention:
Attaching images to your posts ensures that they are eye-catching. Posts with images receive a better response from your neighbours.
Vary the length and style of your posts. Short, simple posts are generally more engaging and are more likely to attract responses.
Ask for your neighbours’ thoughts and opinions - most people love sharing these. The more replies your post receives, the longer it will stay near the top of your noticeboard.
Keep it friendly - and local. Using expressions like 'hi neighbours' or 'hello [suburb]' make your posts more relevant and conversational.
A note on 'bumping' posts:
Bumping posts is the practice of replying with the word 'bump' or a full stop '.' to make a post jump to the top of the noticeboard. To ensure members' Digest emails and noticeboards are full of genuine comments, we encourage members to write a reply below their post to share a little more information, rather than 'bumping'. This will get you the 'thumbs up' from fellow members.
If it's been a few weeks since you last posted, you may feel it's a good time to start another post.
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Disabling replies on posts
Replies on all Neighbourly Posts are automatically disabled after 30 days, however you may choose to disable replies on your post for one of the following reasons:
You're receiving too many comments on your post and feel the conversation has run its course
You think the conversation is getting off track (eg neighbours arguing) and wish to bring the discussion to a close
The issue your post is about has now been resolved
You simply want to alert your community to something and aren't interested in replies
To disable replies on your post using your computer or mobile app:
Locate the post
Select the "..." button below your post
Select DISABLE REPLIES
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How do I mark an item as sold?
When you have sold an item you're advertising on Neighbourly, you can mark it as sold to let your neighbours know it is no longer available. Replies on your post are then automatically disabled, however your post can still be found on the Noticeboard and under My Posts.
To mark an item as sold using your computer:
Locate the listing you would like to update
Click MARK AS SOLD
To mark an item as sold using the Neighbourly app:
Locate the listing you would like to update
Tap the '...' button
Tap on the option reading MARK AS SOLD TO...
Select the member who has purchased the item
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Can I bump posts on Neighbourly?
Bumping posts is the practice of replying to your own post - usually with the word 'bump' or a full stop '.' to make the post jump to the top of the noticeboard. To ensure members' Digest emails and newsfeeds are full of genuine comments, we encourage members to write a reply below their post to share a little more information, rather than 'bumping'. This will get you the 'thumbs up' from fellow members.
If it's been a few weeks since you last posted, you may feel it's a good time to start another post.
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My Neighbourly emails take a long time to arrive...
If you are expecting an email from Neighbourly and haven't received it within 5 minutes, it might have lost its way and ended up in your junk folder.
If you are an Xtra user you will experience delays with email notifications, particularly when trying to reset your Neighbourly password. Neighbourly sends these emails as soon as they are requested, however Xtra has some trouble receiving them on time - they may arrive in your inbox several hours later.
If you need to reset your password straight away, please contact us and we can help you out.
You can change which email address you use for Neighbourly notifications in your Account Settings.
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What are public posts?
Public posts are messages that can be seen by people beyond your Neighbourly community - by both Neighbourly members and non-members. Whenever you make a post on Neighbourly you are given the choice to make this a public post.
You might wish to post publicly to:
Share events such as fundraisers, garage sales, community fairs or school productions you would like to promote far and wide
Help locate missing pets or items that may have been lost beyond your neighbourhood
Advertising a house for rent or something for sale
Share your Neighbourly content via other social media channels / email / newsletter / website
Where are public posts displayed?
Public posts are displayed on a neighbourhood's public noticeboard (known as 'public notices').
Are replies on public posts also public?
No. Only Neighbourly members can see replies. To view replies on a public post, members need to sign in to Neighbourly first. Non-members will need to create an account.
Will a public post share my personal details?
Members beyond your own neighbourhood and non-members will only see your name, suburb and profile picture.
To make a public post
Click in the white box that reads POST A MESSAGE, EVENT, POLL OR URGENT ALERT TO NEIGHBOURS
Choose the neighbours you want to post to (ie the newsfeeds where you would like your message to appear)
Tick the box next to 'Public message'
Add a subject
Write your message
Select a posting category
Upload an image or document if you wish to
Click the POST button
Please note: If you wish to exchange personal or sensitive information or continue a public post conversation privately, it's best to private message a member instead.
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How do widgets work on Neighbourly?
From time to time you might spot your personal details, such as your name and address, in an advertisement on Neighbourly. These are called 'widgets', a form of customised display advertising which share information unique to you and your neighbbourhood.
We build widgets in conjunction with organisations and businesses, such as Stuff Fibre and AMI, who have an important message to share on Neighbourly.
No information has been passed on to our partners to build these widgets. Your details are only visible within your Neighbourly account and are not accessible to advertisers.
REMEMBER: you are the only one that can see your name and address being displayed. Each widget is unique and customised to you!
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Contacting your local publication and submitting "What's On" events
If you're wanting to contact your local community newspaper to share an upcoming event, media story or a letter to the editor, you can do this using your verified Neighbourly account.
To submit a What's On event
Visit www.neighbourly.co.nz/whats-on (or click here). You will be prompted to sign in to Neighbourly if you're not already logged in, or create your account
Select the publication you wish to submit an event to
Add venue details, date and time of your event
Add an event title
Add an event description (30 words or less)
Click SUBMIT EVENT
Please note that your event may be edited to meet guidelines and events are published at editor's discretion.
If your event is recurring, please create a new submission for each event. As each event will appear on the Neighbourly website, please limit your submissions to one per week and avoid submitting multiple events at once.
If your event gets cancelled and you want to stop the event from being published, please submit the event with *Cancelled* in the heading so this information can be forwarded to the relevant paper for you.
To contact a community newspaper
Sign in to your Neighbourly account, then click on PUBLICATIONS in the top navigation bar (or click here)
Locate the publication you wish to contact. If you're wanting to contact a newspaper beyond your local area, untick LOCAL PUBLICATIONS to view all newspapers
Click on the publication
In the middle navigation bar, click on CONTACT
Use the drop-down menu to select your reason for contacting the publication (Letter to the editor, News tip, Out and About, Message our reporter, Message our vet about your pet)
Write your message
Click ADD AN IMAGE OR DOCUMENT if you wish to include an attachment
Click SEND MESSAGE
Please note that a verified Neighbourly profile is required in order to contact your local newspaper using the platforms above. If you need a hand with your address verification or getting set up on Neighbourly, please get in touch and we'll be happy to help.
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Why can't I see a 'Message Seller' option on my item for sale? Every other listing has one but not mine!
When you post an item you're selling or giving away in Neighbourly Market, your neighbours will be able to private message you about your item, using the 'Message Seller' option at the bottom of your listing.
The reason why you can't see this option on your own listing is simply because there is no need to message yourself!
This is the case for all members viewing their own listings on Neighbourly.