Being a good neighbour

A good neighbour is:

• considerate – respects people’s rights and privacy
• tolerant – understands that people have different ways of doing things and that is okay
• concerned – notices when something is wrong and does something about it
• responsible – for the actions of their families, guests and pets

We would like you to:

• talk things over when there are problems, listen to other people’s points of view, and try to come to an agreement that works for everyone
• keep an eye on neighbours’ properties when they are away and report any suspicious activity
• keep the noise coming from your place (music, parties, alarms, dogs, cars and so on) at a reasonable level, particularly at night
• be tolerant of neighbours’ children playing outside
• keep shared driveways clear
• keep your section tidy.

Sorting out problems

Even if you usually get on well with your neighbours, there may be times when you disagree. First try speaking to your neighbour, most problems can be solved by talking through them.

If the problem isn’t resolved, start writing down the details of the problem, including what happens and when it happens. This can help make it clear what is going on. Your notes will also be useful if you need to take the matter further.

If you can’t resolve the problem, you should report it to the proper authorities.

• If you think someone is in physical danger, particularly children, you should call the police immediately on 111.
  • 111 is the emergency number for Police, Fire and Ambulance.
  • 105 is the number for Police non-emergencies.
• If you have problems with loud noise, call the Noise Control Office at your local council.
• If you have problems with dogs, call the Animal Control Office at your local council.

If you do report a problem to the authorities, please also give us a call on 0800 801 601 to let us know about the issue.

What can Kāinga Ora do?

As we have a responsibility to the community, we don’t tolerate behaviour that interferes with the peace, comfort, privacy or safety of those living nearby.

Contact us if you need help with problems in your neighbourhood. We will work with you and anyone else involved to resolve the issue.