About us
Thanks neighbour
By Melodie Tautau
- Graeme's compost along with a good dollop of horse manure grows a great garden and contributes to a friendly neighbourhood.
Central Hawke's Bay tenants Graeme and Lorraine are the sort of neighbours that help build thriving communities.
During the eight years they have lived in their Housing New Zealand home, Graeme and Lorraine have kept a friendly eye on their neighbours and are quick to offer them a hand and supply them with vegetables from their abundant garden.
Ten years ago, Graeme suffered a sudden illness and was unable to continue working. Eventually, when he and Lorraine had to move out of their home, they applied for a Housing New Zealand rental home.
The house they moved to had a large lawn and few trees - the grounds looked bare. Graeme had always had an interest in gardening so he and Lorraine worked out a plan to make the best use of their land.
"We planted flowers and shrubs out the front and started a small vege garden in the back yard," recalls Graeme. "Gradually my strength came back, and so each year, the vege garden got bigger."
Graeme and Lorraine never have to buy vegetables. What they cannot eat, store or freeze is given away to eight different families in the neighbourhood. Graeme has also helped several neighbours establish their own vege gardens.
He reckons good neighbourliness and gardening have something in common. "Treat the soil well and it gives you a lot in return," says Graeme. "Treat your neighbours well and there is a good chance they will be a good neighbour to you too."
Encouraging good neighbour behaviour
The vast majority of Housing New Zealand tenants are good neighbours, but those who aren't can have a huge affect on those who live around them.
Every tenant has the right to enjoy their home and has a responsibility to the community they live in.
Where there are serious problems, we now have a clear policy and ways to help deal with the situation.
The Encouraging Good Neighbour Behaviour policy will help us resolve issues between neighbours before they become out of hand.
In severe on-going cases of anti-social behaviour, or serious one-off instances, we have the ability to terminate tenancies by issuing 90 Day Notices.
In many instances, issuing a 90 Day Notice will be the end of a thorough process. It comes after all other options are exhausted for us to be able protect a tenant's neighbours' right to enjoy peace, comfort and privacy - then we have to act.
