Sometimes people find themselves overwhelmed by a practical need without the means or support of others to make it through. This is where “Good Neighbour Mahi” comes in. From neighbourhood projects to shared community resources, Good Neighbour provides practical support that empowers people to thrive.
The community has practical needs that aren’t being met
While there is a network of support agencies in NZ, it’s often the practical needs that go unmet. Neighbours don’t help neighbours the way they did 50 years ago.
Practical tasks like backyard work, firewood, and home maintenance can become overwhelming for people facing illness, hardship, or limited support. Left unaddressed, these challenges can lead to isolation, declining wellbeing, and even housing insecurity.
Good Neighbour provides practical support and connects people with wider services to help them regain stability and move forward with confidence.
Below are real ways we can help you.
Neighbourhood Projects
These needs can range from emergency house moves into safe housing or clearing out an overgrown backyard due to health limitations. Good Neighbour approaches every practical assistance offered with a hand up not hand out approach. It is for this reason that we take the time to wrap around further support to address the underlying challenges. Perhaps it’s budget mentoring or something simple like having access to a lawn mower or weed eater.
After the overgrown hedges were removed, and my hot water system was repaired, I have gone from living in darkness to light. I can dream again. I visited my counsellor a week after Good Neighbour had come to help and she noticed my stutter had gone. We thought it was because of the brain injury but now know it was the stress I was living in. I can have hot showers again! The stress being lifted has even helped repair my relationship with my daughter. We just didn’t know how to cope. Now I can see a future again.
In your street
Good Neighbour is out in the neighbourhood every Wednesday and Thursday, visiting different streets with property maintenance gear and a BBQ, creating opportunities for community connection and neighbourly support.
Through this, they work alongside more vulnerable communities, offering practical guidance such as how to use council kerbside services and supporting tenants to better care for their homes. It also gives residents the opportunity to prepare their homes for property inspections and helping to restore mana.
Good Neighbour’s goal is to see some of the city’s more vulnerable streets become places where people feel proud to live.
Firewood
Too much usable wood is going to landfill while homes remain cold. We’re changing that by turning waste into warmth for those who need it most.
While usable logs are not suitable for the construction industry and sent to landfill, many Tauranga households are struggling to access enough firewood to heat their homes through the colder months. Good Neighbour bridges this gap by rescuing these logs from the port and processing them into usable firewood at our dedicated depot. This initiative serves a dual purpose — providing free firewood to households in need, while also selling firewood to the wider community to help fund our ongoing programmes and extend our impact.
Lawn mower lending
In keeping with Good Neighbour’s goal of being a hand up, not hand out; Good Neighbour offers a lawn mower lending program to empower whānau to maintain their property independently.
Annually, hundreds of Tauranga families benefit from the practical support of volunteers through Good Neighbour. It’s neighbours helping other neighbours, creating friendships and supporting each other to create a stronger, more resilient and connected Tauranga community.
Mobile shower & laundry trailer
Partnering with local community meal providers around the Western Bay, we support people experiencing homelessness by providing a facility where they can enjoy a hot shower and laundry facilities.
We have a team of people at Good neighbour gathering clothes and other supplies that we can offer those using the facilities as well.
Even if you don't need it, you may know someone who does.
A request we recieved: "Can I borrow and mower and weed eater, it’s not for me it’s for my neighbour, she has recently lost her Dad, my grandson and I want to mow her lawns”.
“Just wanted to touch base and say THANK YOU SO MUCH as some of your volunteers tidied up the backyards of some of our single mums’ properties. We can’t say thank you enough! What an immense blessing to our mum’s, the recipients of your generosity. What a beautiful organisation and again thank you.” – Mai, Flying Solo
"I'd just like to say thank you for my firewood. The man who delivered it was very nice and the load i got i really appreciate the whole experience. Thankyou so much."
“Just dropping a big thank you to yourself and the team for organising such an awesome day for us! Some great feedback from our team who said they all really enjoyed getting stuck into the project and learning more about Good Neighbour. Such a feel-good day!” – Brodie, Classic Group
“I had your incredible team around my house yesterday, helping me to clear my garden and build a washing line. They were amazing, friendly and fun. Not once did I feel embarrassed about the way my garden looked. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you do.”
Even if you don't need it, you may know someone who does.
A request we recieved: "Can I borrow and mower and weed eater, it’s not for me it’s for my neighbour, she has recently lost her Dad, my grandson and I want to mow her lawns”.
“Just wanted to touch base and say THANK YOU SO MUCH as some of your volunteers tidied up the backyards of some of our single mums’ properties. We can’t say thank you enough! What an immense blessing to our mum’s, the recipients of your generosity. What a beautiful organisation and again thank you.” – Mai, Flying Solo
"I'd just like to say thank you for my firewood. The man who delivered it was very nice and the load i got i really appreciate the whole experience. Thankyou so much."
“Just dropping a big thank you to yourself and the team for organising such an awesome day for us! Some great feedback from our team who said they all really enjoyed getting stuck into the project and learning more about Good Neighbour. Such a feel-good day!” – Brodie, Classic Group
“I had your incredible team around my house yesterday, helping me to clear my garden and build a washing line. They were amazing, friendly and fun. Not once did I feel embarrassed about the way my garden looked. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you do.”
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