NSNZ MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTER
—————————  DECEMBER 2018  —————————

Hi there,

Where has the year gone? It’s hard to believe December is already here with the promise of warmer temperatures and weekends spent at the beach on the way.

As we start wrapping up for the year it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and eagerness to ‘get away’ and forget what this time of year should be all about. Time to recharge our batteries, reconnect with neighbours, family and friends – and hopefully, lend a helping hand to those who could use some extra support over the holiday period.

This month we want to challenge our members to do just that. To come together and help those having a difficult time physically, emotionally, or financially. From elderly neighbours with no one to celebrate with to homeless families and those with disabilities struggling to just get by, reach out to someone who could use a helping hand and remind them what the holiday spirit is all about!


To get you started here is a quick list of 10 ways you might consider getting involved:
  • Share leftovers with a neighbour in need
  • Help to serve meals at a soup kitchen or community kai initiative
  • Purchase a toy to donate to a local children’s hospital
  • Host an ‘Orphan Christmas’ for friends far from home
  • Collect donations for a food bank or shelter
  • Bake cookies to give to someone who has helped you this year
  • Reach out to an older neighbour and offer to help with yard work or chores
  • Have a garage sale with the funds going towards charity
  • Foster a pet or volunteer at an animal shelter
  • Give ‘presence’ not presents to someone who could use the company
Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season…

The NSNZ National Office Team – Tess, Kelsey, Alivia and Emma

HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS: Please note the National Office will be closed from Friday, December 21st at 5pm – reopening again on Monday, January 7th at 9am. We’re looking forward to another amazing year ahead with all of YOU! 🙂
 
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How to tell if you or your family member needs help

Even if you are close to someone, it can sometimes be hard to tell how much emotional pain they are in and whether they need help; and it can be equally as hard recognising in it yourself. Often, it’s something small that can make you think something isn’t quite right – and more often that not, that hunch will be right. You might see it in yourself or in someone else, or someone could see it in you.

You might want to get extra support if they or you:

  • Don’t want to see their friends or no longer enjoy spending time with their friends and family
  • Stop doing things they used to love or don’t seem to be enjoying themselves
  • Can’t remember things, concentrate, or pay attention
  • Feel bad about themselves – guilty, worthless or ashamed
  • Have a big change in eating patterns or appetite
  • Have extreme mood swings
  • Feel hopeless or really sad, or cry a lot
  • Feel anxious, stressed, nervous or scared a lot and can’t seem to relax
  • Are not happy unless they’re using drugs or alcohol
  • Don’t take care of their appearance or personal hygiene
  • Have physical signs of injury or that they are hurting themselves
  • Have panic attacks – rapid heartbeat, unable to breathe, feeling dizzy and extremely scared or anxious all at once.
  • Take a look at this info about Where to get help when there is a Mental Health Crisis or Emergency happening around you
If you are more generally worried about the mental health of a family member or friend, but don’t know where to turn for help, the Mental Health Foundation is a great place to start to find the answers you need.


A NOTE FROM TESS


Our CEO, Tess Casey, shares her latest insights
[READ MORE]


NATIONAL CAMPAIGN


Helping Hands – Dec.1st to 31st
[LEARN MORE]


BE ROAD SMART


Road tips to make sure you arrive safely all summer
[LEARN MORE]


GOING AWAY?


Use this checklist to keep your vacant home safe
[READ MORE]


DECK THE STREETS


Spread cheer this Christmas with our FREE cards
[VIEW HERE]

   LATEST NEWS  
Joy Johnson from Neighbourhood Support Taupo accepting her ‘Good Sort’ Award.
The National Office team enjoying dinner out with some of the Napier NS committee.
Meeting with Hastings District Council and Police involved with Neighbourhood Support in the region.
Attendees of the marketing workshop held in Rotorua on Tuesday, November 13th.
Alivia, Kelsey, and Tess wearing their pins with pride around the National Office in support of White Ribbon Day which was held on Sunday, November 25th.
Christine Christie with Paul Wrigley from the NZ Police accepting her ‘Coordinator of the Year’ National Award during a morning tea in Western Bay of Plenty.
Attendees at the first CALD event in Masterton where participants met their buddy.
A happy bunch post lunch at the Central District meeting on Tuesday, December 4th.
>> Congratulations to Joy Johnson of Neighbourhood Support Taupo for being presented Harcourts Taupō’s latest Good Sort award! Joy has been actively involved in Neighbourhood Support for more than a decade and is a true national treasure for the invaluable mahi she has contributed to her community over the years. Thank you Joy for all that you have done and continue to do to make Taupo a better place to live.

>> Neighbourhood Support Masterton CALD program off to a tasty start! The first Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) event organised by Neighbourhood Support Masterton was recently held in the community. They had 20 attendees including volunteers and CALD residents. 4 CALD residents were paired up with their volunteers, with some having more than one assigned to them depending on their needs and requirements. During the night they also had an internationally-themed potluck where residents brought a dish reflective of the country they are from. Part of the night also included an ‘introduction handshake’ icebreaker to show cultural differences which was well received by all. Certain cultures are quite particular about how they meet and introduce themselves so the group wanted to show how easy it is to mistakenly interpret these greetings and to foster respect and understanding between the residents. According to NS Masterton Coordinator, Cathy Cameron, “It was fun and very interesting finding out how it is done throughout the world.” Overall it was a successful and fun night of amazing food from a diverse range of cultures including Mexican, Filipino, Dutch, Samoan, South African, Bahamian, Kiwi, British and Indian. Fantastic work Neighbourhood Support Masterton!

>> National award for Orion Street neighbourhood group. A little bit of love has gone a long way to making Papakura’s Orion Street a champion. [Click here to read more]

>> It’s easy to be green. As the New Zealand government continues to eye a nationwide ban with many grocers and retailers already adopting ‘bring your own bag’ policies, NSNZ has decided to stay ahead of the curve and phase out single-use plastic bags from our resources in order to improve our approach to sustainability. We are currently exploring greener options such as reusable canvas totes and paper bags and will keep our members updated once a new option is ordered and in stock.

>> Nearly a third of Kiwis want to know their neighbours. Almost one in three New Zealanders say they want to know their neighbours but feel they haven’t had the opportunity, according to new survey results. The survey of the general public was commisioned by YMCA across Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and gathered responses from over 800 people about how they feel in their community. [Click here to read more]

>> Interested in receiving Neighbourhood Watch Australasia Journals? You can now request to have these mailed directly to your group! [Email Anne Collishaw to learn more]

>> Cissy and Sam from Neighbours Day Aotearoa have wrapped up their road trip! We had Neighbourhood Support members take part in workshops hosted in Dunedin, Ashburton, Wellington, Masterton, Auckland and other towns in between.

>> A Police Pasifika Strategy has recently launched. The New Zealand Police and the Police Commissioner’s National Pacific Advisory Forum have launched “O Le Taeao Fou – Dawn of a New Day – the Pasifika National Strategy” to guide how police will work with New Zealand’s Pasifika communities. [Click here to read more]

>> Something lost or vandalised? You can now report it online. Members of the public can now make reports online through a new reporting tool on Police’s website. The current offering is being run as a trial with plans to expand the service so people can make other non-emergency reports online.
[Click here to learn more]

>> November and December have been busy months for our National Office team who were on the road again in beautiful Rotorua, Carterton, Napier, Hastings, Harewa and Palmerston North. On November 13th, our Communications Advisor – Alivia, was in Rotorua running a marketing workshop for Bay of Plenty District members. It was great to get feedback on our resources and help to teach more members how to better promote the work that they are doing through social media.

On November 14th + 15th, Alivia joined our CEO – Tess, and Community Advisor – Kelsey, for a road trip up to Carterton for a Rural Crime Prevention meeting. We listened to great presentations from local Wellington District Police, FMG, CPNZ and Masterton Neighbourhood Support which left us feeling more inspired than ever on ways we can support our rural communities.

The team then headed on to Napier and Hastings where we met with members in both areas including Napier Neighbourhood Support Area Coordinator – Jenny Middleton and her committee, John Roberts from Hastings District Council, and even ran into Minister of Police Stuart Nash who seems to get around even more than we do!

Most recently, on December 4th our team headed to Hawera to attend a meeting with our Central District members which also included an award presentation ceremony for Luke Ryan-Henderson (Volunteer of the Year) and Andrew Cotter from Fire and Emergency NZ (Partner of the Year) – recipients of National Awards which were announced at our October AGM in Wellington. Following the presentation attendees enjoyed an amazing Christmas lunch spread organised by Wendy Foreman, Area Coordinator for South Taranaki Neighbourhood Support.

The following day on December 5th Tess, Kelsey, and Alivia were in Palmerston North to attend a meeting with members. It was also great to spend time with NS staffers Siân Bullen and Toni Ferris, based at the Palmerston North Police Station, who go above and beyond to ensure Neighbourhood Support continues to thrive in the area.

We’ve had a great time connecting with our members on the ground in their areas and seeing how we can continue to grow and evolve the organisation to best suit the needs of our staff, volunteers, partners, neighbours, and community.

Thank you to everyone who met with our team and hosted us along the way!

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Let us toot your horn! For any Neighbourhood Support updates, events, or announcements that you would like to see shared nationally, please email our Communications Advisor, Alivia Prattas – photos and videos are always greatly appreciated.
   GET INVOLVED   
As part of this month’s National Campaign we are teaming up with Safelet, the personal safety bracelet, to take part in their Adopt A Safelet program which aims to donate Safelets to vulnerable women around New Zealand to ensure they are connected, protected and safe.
How does Safelet work? The bracelet connects to your mobile phone via a free app and with the “push of a button” your nominated guardians (friends, family and neighbours) are instantly alerted to your whereabouts and that you need assistance. Guardians can listen to a live recording of what’s happening and can respond accordingly to get you the help that you need. It’s an “out and about” wearable and discrete alarm so you are connected and protected wherever you may be.

Individually or as a group you can raise money to Adopt A Safelet, doing your part to help keep Kiwi women safe. Any and all amounts are welcomed – even if you don’t raise enough to adopt an entire bracelet!

To learn more about getting involved, please contact:
Sharron Jones, Director of Safelet New Zealand

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 03 348 7919 | Mobile: 027 279 7966

Interested in getting a Safelet for you or a loved one? As a thank you to our members, Safelet is offering $40 OFF any of their bracelets this holiday season. Just use the code HELPINGHANDS at checkout to receive the discount immediately.
www.safelet.co.nz
   JUST FOR LAUGHS