Neighbourly launches partnership with council
Neighbourly co-founder Casey Eden (left) and RDC chief executive Geoff Williams (right) sign an agreement to work together to connect communities, while Mayor Steve Chadwick and co-founder Shane Bradley look on.
New Zealand neighbourhood website Neighbourly.co.nz and Rotorua District Council (RDC) announced a partnership yesterday (17 July) - a commitment to work together to create an even better Rotorua.
It is the first official partnership for Neighbourly and celebrates an innovative new way for Rotorua communities to connect with one another. It aims to support the Rotorua 2030 vision, goals and 2016 priorities, by promoting community engagement on Neighbourly alongside other initiatives to improve communication among Rotorua residents, neighbourhoods and wider communities.
Neighbourly launched across New Zealand in May after a successful two month pilot in Auckland. The site fosters interaction and conversation between neighbours and community organisations by creating an easy way for them to talk and share online through free and private websites for their suburbs. Neighbourly enables Rotorua residents to ask questions, share advice, make recommendations, plan events, discuss local issues and even find missing pets.
Both RDC and Mayor Steve Chadwick have Neighbourly profiles and join five other Rotorua organisations already using Neighbourly to connect with their local communities.
Neighbourly Co-founder Managing Director Casey Eden hopes the partnership will be a benchmark for future city launches across New Zealand.
This is an excellent example of a council with great local connections partnering with a company which has developed technology for them to further their community reach, he says. We commend Rotorua District Council on taking this leap forward; we're looking forward to working closely with their team to grow a stronger, safer and friendlier Rotorua.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says the site provides an excellent platform for the Council to support its Rotorua 2030 vision, in particular its focus on resilient communities.
Our goal of inclusive, liveable and safe neighbourhoods will be further supported by our use of Neighbourly, she says. As a social media platform we believe it will give our community the confidence to be more involved and form stronger connections with one another, in turn helping us achieve our community's vision for the future.
RDC will be using Neighbourly for engaging with local Rotorua communities, providing information on council-led events and meetings, keeping people informed about service interruptions and seeking feedback on issues.
Hundreds of organisations across New Zealand are already using Neighbourly as a free communications channel to connect with their local communities, including MPs, residents and business associations, crime and safety groups, community centres, schools, churches and more.
For more information visit www.neighbourly.co.nz. Community organisations can visit www.neighbourly.co.nz/community for more information.