Lisa and Dan

For Lisa and Dan, the first 2020 lockdown was a lonely experience. Living in a Wellington City apartment, they didn’t know a single soul in their building. When the world retreated behind closed doors, the lack of connection felt like a heavy silence.

Determined to find a different "normal" when they moved to Lower Hutt later that year, they decided to break the ice early. They fired up the BBQ and sent out invitations to the street. That one afternoon changed everything.

What began as a few burgers on the grill sparked a three-year ripple effect. Today, the street is a hive of activity. From spooky Halloween celebrations to the upcoming Easter egg hunt, the residents don’t just live next to each other—they create together.

The benefits go far beyond social events. There is a genuine culture of reciprocity; when Lisa’s zucchini plants struggled this summer, a neighbor arrived with a surplus from their own thriving garden. “It was such a great gift to receive!” Lisa says. This "looking out for each other" has also brought a renewed sense of safety; when local burglaries occurred, neighbors didn’t hesitate to share camera footage with the police to find a resolution.

To keep everyone in the loop, the street uses a hybrid approach: a lively Facebook group for quick chats and hand-delivered flyers—translated into Cantonese and Mandarin—to ensure their Chinese-speaking neighbors are never left out.

The connection is still growing. With a local grass reserve nearby, one neighbor recently brought out a haul of giant games from the Toy Library for a community afternoon. Now, Lisa is working with the Council to transform part of that green space into a Community Garden. With a little help from Seeds to Feeds this spring, they hope to grow even more food to share.

In a street of 34 houses and roughly 85 people, the silent days of lockdown feel like a distant memory. By simply "teaming up" with those next door, Lisa and Dan have turned a row of houses into a true home.