1060 days ago

Help us to "Light up Loneliness" by encouraging your local council to get involved.

The Team from Age Concern New Zealand

Loneliness is a growing issue for Kiwis of all ages. But the good news is, that it is solvable!


The NZ Coalition to End Loneliness is running a ‘Light up loneliness’ campaign this month to raise awareness and encourage action on loneliness across Aotearoa.

The New Zealand Coalition to End Loneliness is a growing group of non-profit organisations, businesses and researchers working together to end loneliness for individuals, in communities, and at workplaces in New Zealand.

They are now calling on Local Government to help them “Light up loneliness”.

“Imagine if every Mayor and Council across New Zealand helped promote the “Lets End Loneliness” website and made tackling loneliness a priority, using their own local community resources,” says Stephanie Clare, Age Concern New Zealand Chief Executive.

“It would be a gamechanger. Taking this issue out of the shadows, reducing the stigma and shame, and giving it light is the aim of the campaign” she says.

Social connection is a key factor for healthy, prosperous people, communities, and workplaces, but loneliness in New Zealand is increasing. In the March 2021 quarter 18.4% of New Zealanders felt lonely most, all or some of the time, up from 16.6% in 2018, and 13.9% in 2014.

“Many of us have experienced loneliness at some time in our lives and we know that feels horrible, but it can be addressed and solved. Together we can end loneliness for New Zealanders who feel isolated” says Sam Johnson, Founder and Chief Executive of Student Volunteer Army.

The letsendloneliness.co.nz website provides information on tackling loneliness and where to get help, as well as up-to-date news and research.

“The website is designed as a source of information which also links people to support services. We challenge every Local Council in New Zealand to create a link on their own websites to letsendloneliness.co.nz” says Sam Johnson.

The recent COVID-19 lockdown highlights that everyone can feel isolated and lonely. Catherine Hall, Chief Executive of Alzheimers New Zealand believes everyone should feel safe, supported, loved, and connected.

“Sadly, people often find family, whānau and friends take a step back just when they need them most. We stand alongside our coalition partners and with all New Zealanders, to make sure no one feels alone.”

Help light up loneliness! The campaign is not just for councils. Anyone can create a link to the letsendloneliness.co.nz or post a mention through social media channels to support the ‘Light up loneliness’ campaign.

Together we can end loneliness, one person, one community, one workplace at a time.

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More messages from your neighbours
14 days ago

This one was sent in by your fellow neighbour, can you figure it out?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What is first white then red and the plumper it gets the more the old lady likes it?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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1 day ago

Same Again Dan

Michael from Trentham

Who else besides me has gotten annoyed well before now with TVOne weather presenter, Daniel Corbett constant use of the term: SAME THING AGAIN.

Dan uses this term at least two-three times on any evening he is doing the weather presentation. A year ago and it wasn't in his vocabulary.

Ok, NZ is not a huge country and therefore the weather region by region, city by city can be pretty similar. But to use the same terminology when there is either no need to or many alternatives, rankles me anyway.

His weather colleagues have never used this Corbett habitual three worded expression.

Another thing Dan does with so much more repetitiveness of late is the frimmp, woosh, voomb sounds of noise he makes to describe rain, wind, impending climatic conditions or whatever.

Come on Dan. You weren't doing or saying these things in the UK.

19 hours ago

$50 garden centre vouchers!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Our winners this week have won $50 to spend at a local garden centre.
Congratulations to:

Cassie Arauzo from Cockle Bay

Elizabeth Williams from Hillcrest

Luke Shamy from Hornby

Mitchell Hopping from Wallacetown

Get in touch with our helpdesk team here if you're on this list! If you're not a winner, check back next week just in case.

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