10 little ways to celebrate Neighbours Day!
In celebration of our 10 year anniversary, we're holding Neighbours Day Aotearoa over 10 days (March 22-31, 2019), AND we've also come up with 10 Little Ways for individuals to celebrate, and 10 Big Ways for groups to celebrate! We think there's something to inspire just about everyone to participate in Neighbours Day Aotearoa next year - so check out how you can join in, share it with your friends, and don't forget to register your events!
Let us know how you’re celebrating Neighbours Day Aotearoa in 2019 and you could be in to win. Registering an event, no matter how small, puts you in the draw to win a $100 prezzy card or limited edition Neighbours Day Aotearoa t-shirt, plus it helps us know how many neighbours are connecting.
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
Walking your dog or your dog walking you in Tikipunga
Here are two great places to take your pooch out and about in Tikipunga - Beasley Park and the Hatea River walk.
Beasley Park, Tikipunga
Beasley Park is a suburban park close to Beazley Crescent. It is a calm place to play off-leash with a good variety of shade, sun, slopes and flat spaces. It is a quiet neighbourhood park with an interesting central waterway to explore.
Hātea River Walk
The Hatea River walkway is a dog-friendly place for on-leash exploring, with a forested walkway passing through several parks and suburbs starting from Otuihau/Whangārei Falls in Tikipunga and leading all the way to the central city at Riverside (about 6 kilometres)
There are well-established pathways (your dog must stay on leash and stick to the paths). Expect lots of passing foot-traffic - including kids.
Take a picnic, a ball, or other park activities. You will need to take rubbish home with you.