Neighbourhood Week - keeping community spirit alive

Christchurch Neighbourhood Week, which encourages local residents to get to know the people who live close to them, returns from 27 October to 4 November.

To help facilitate community-spirited events, Christchurch City Council’s Community Boards are offering a small subsidy to those who want to run community events.

Mayor Bob Parker says “Neighbourhood Week is about saying hello to your neighbours, chatting to them over the fence, inviting them in for a cuppa or hosting a local gathering. It’s a time to get to know new neighbours, reaffirm acquaintances with old neighbours and about making our local communities strong.”

Past events organised by the community have included barbecues, morning teas, street parties, shared dinners, working bees, colouring competitions, family fun days, pizza or desert evenings, kite flying, neighbourhood planting days, open days at community centres and community gardens and community walks. If it brings your neighbourhood together, then your local Council Community Board would like to hear from you.

Neighbourhood Week is a Christchurch initiative that was first held in 1998. It is now promoted throughout Canterbury.

To apply for reimbursement of costs relating to your neighbourhood event, pick up an application form from Christchurch City Council Civic Offices in Tuam Street, from one of the open Council Service Centres or libraries or download the form from the Council website.  The subsidy is a refund of expenses rather than a payout before the event runs.  Residents and groups need to apply for this by 31 August 2012.

For more information about Neighbourhood Week visit the Council website, call 03-941 8999 or email neighbourhoodweek@ccc.govt.nz.