WHAKAPAPA //
Neighbourhood NZ is a registered charity that aims to provide meaningful social opportunities for long-lasting community impact and human connection. There is an obvious need to ensure that community development, social opportunity and charity involvement is accessible, inspiring and empowering for youth in Aotearoa.
Neighbourhood exists to create inclusive campaigns and events that aim to better both ourselves, our planet and those around us.
A team of 14 passionate young kiwis volunteer their time, allowing 100% of the money we raise to be donated directly to New Zealand charities or facilitate free and accessible events.
NEIGH
BOUR
HOOD
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Back in the winter of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, our founder Madeline Mason was toying with a socially innovative idea to create an organisation that facilitated inclusive, bold, progressive and creative events which enhance the wellbeing of young kiwis. After an intense few years battling depression, Madeline experienced first hand the value of safe community spaces that anyone can exist in and express themselves authentically. Madeline wanted to build a community that people could rely on, volunteer for and most importantly, belong to.
And that idea is now what we call Neighbourhood NZ.
We are Lawyers, Engineers, Marketers, Technologists, Biomedical Scientists, Administrators, Architects, Designers, Nurses and many more, but together we are ordinary people, with hope.
Hope for a safer, happier and more accessible Aotearoa, one neighbourhood at a time.
"Mental illness is complex. But looking after your mental health doesn't have to be."
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Madeline Mason
OUR MAHI
Neighbourhood is founded upon the concept of preventative wellbeing - the idea that community and connection can provide us with the tools to take good care of ourselves and stay well
No Small
Talk
— 2021 & 2022
The Kaupapa //
As a stand against Aotearoa’s painful suicide statistics in which males are significantly overrepresented, No Small Talk was birthed out of a desire to get men talking about the reality beyond lad culture and harmful stereotypes in our country. Each dinner series included 3-4 guest speakers, who bravely and openly shared their lived experience with masculinity, relationships, sex, career, substance abuse and emotions - to an audience of men and those that care about them. Our aim was to create a safe environment to talk about what is really going on, how complex this issue truly is and shine light on the many ways to find hope or seek help.
The tangible //
In total, 6 sold out, catered sit down dinners have been hosted across Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Our No Small Talk speakers included Joe Daymond (West Park), Brady Polkinghorne (The Kindness Institute), Ben Warren (BePure), Zane Munro (For All The Brothers), Cameron Haylock (Thanks Foundation), Tai Tupou and Matt Fenn (I AM HOPE).
Venues //
No Small Talk has been hosted at East Street Hall and MoveSpace in Auckland, Peak House in Havelock North, St Johns in Wellington, Six Ounces in Christchurch and Joe’s Garage in Dunedin.
We want education and awareness to be possible in any environment - from schools and podcasts to exhibitions and corporate environments, we want our experience of creative impact to be felt everywhere.
We are founded on the belief that looking after your neighbourhood - socially, environmentally and through fostering inclusive and genuine human connection - will ultimately lead to a more positive experience for us all.
We host events and start conversations to educate, empower and ultimately, do good in our 'hood.
OUR APPROACH IS INNOVATIVE, ACCESSIBLE & INCLUSIVE.
KAUPAPA
