Even as our online communities grow, Kiwis are keeping in touch with their real-life neighbourhoods, a new survey shows.

Nearly 70 per cent of New Zealanders know the names of three or more of their neighbours, and 92 per cent can name at least one neighbour.

About 77 per cent of those surveyed would recognise three or more of their neighbours if they saw them at the supermarket, and almost a third say they would be able to say hello to six or more neighbours if they came across them while grocery shopping.

And 60 per cent of us have been to a social event at a neighbours’ home, whether it was for a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a play date for the kids.

The findings are from The Know Your Neighbours survey, carried out by New Zealand muesli manufacturer Te Atatu Toasted.

It showed that almost all of us would ask a neighbour for assistance in an emergency – only three per cent of those surveyed would not be comfortable reaching out for help – and more than two thirds of us have a contact telephone number for one of our neighbours.

We are also happy to call on our neighbours in a kitchen crisis – 70 per cent of Kiwis would ask a neighbour to borrow a cup of sugar.

Te Atatu Toasted founder Clare Robinson was delighted by the results of the survey.

“One of our goals at Te Atatu Toasted is to give Kiwis access to wholefood nutritious breakfast options to enhance their health. But we know that good health is not just about diet and exercise,” she says.

Social isolation is harmful for our health - research shows that lacking social connections is as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day[i].

“Keeping in touch with our neighbours is a great antidote to loneliness,” Clare says.

To encourage even more neighbourly behaviour, Te Atatu Toasted is giving all online customers in November free cereal samples to share with their neighbours.

Head to teatatutoasted.co.nz to find out more.

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