Nelson named NZ’s most neighbourly city

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Nelson has won City of the Year thanks to the friendliness of the city’s neighbours.

The title was given after Nelson topped the rest of the country’s cities in the Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2016 campaign earlier this year.

Neighbours Day Aotearoa is an annual, nationwide campaign that saw over 1100 streets around the country take a weekend in March to get out and get to know their neighbours.

More than 65 streets in Nelson organised events, from street BBQs to inviting neighbours over for a cuppa, giving our city the highest per capita participation of any city in the country.

“Hundreds of Nelson residents reached out and got to know their neighbours, and we want to recognise and celebrate the effort they’ve made to help turn their streets into communities,” says Neighbours Day Aotearoa national project manager, Ashlee Gross.

In an appropriate community-focused style, instead of an awards ceremony, everyone in Nelson is invited to ‘Spring Fling’, a free public celebration at the local Burrell Park Community Gardens.

The City of the Year title will be officially awarded at the Spring Fling, with the celebration running from 12pm-3pm on Sunday, September 25.

Katie Hughes from the Tahunanui Community Centre, who are co-hosting the award celebration, says they are proud to be part of such an awesome community and are looking forward to the Spring Fling.

“Events like these are such a great way to meet people in our community in a friendly informal atmosphere, we encourage people to bring whanau and neighbours.

“This is a chance for the whole community to see the great work that the Burrell Park Community Gardens volunteers have been doing.”