A sense of community in the inner-city
POLICE, Wellington City Council and civil defence are backing an initiative to bring neighbourhood support groups to the inner city.
There has traditionally been a reluctance among apartmentdwellers to connect with neighbours in their ‘‘vertical suburbs’’.
But as CBD residents’ numbers grow, it’s hoped a sense of community could help drive down crime and help apartmentdwellers cope in an emergency.
Wellington community group Wellington Host Lions has begun a neighbourhood support initiative, which it hopes will make innercity life safer.
If it works, police say it would reduce crime and the burden on emergency services during major events.
Jonathan Maharaj, 30, a Lions member who lives in the Revolucion Apartments in Torrens Tce – the first apartment building targeted in the initiative – said a neighbourhood support group in the building meant neighbours could better support each other in a crisis.
‘‘You don’t have that opportunity to speak to people over the fence. In an apartment, the only time you ever see your neighbours is making your way into your apartment or in the corridors. Everyone seems to be doing their own thing.’’
A better sense of community meant people looked out for each other during disasters, he said, and noticed if strangers were lurking in the building.
But it wasn’t about ‘‘twitchy curtain’’ neighbours spying on one another, Sergeant Matt Boyce said. ‘‘It’s about neighbours knowing neighbours.
‘‘Wellington is a key. It’s a bit harder to get [neighbourhood support groups] in the city and get everyone on board.
‘‘For the police, it’s another crime prevention tool, or crime reporting tool. It’s a guardianship thing, neighbours taking care and looking out for another person’s property, who could have been a stranger in the past.
‘‘It’s something that’s worked in the suburban setting, and now it’s about marrying that up with the urban setting.’’
Census figures published last month show the inner-city population growing. From the Basin Reserve to the railway station, the population has reached 12,954, compared with 9294 at the last cen-
just sus seven years ago.
Wellington regional civil defence chief Bruce Pepperell said the recent earthquakes in the capital highlighted the importance of communities banding together.
‘‘It’s really good if we have a resilient community that’s able to cope and bounce back from an emergency. The real benefit is people coming together and helping each other,’’ he said.
Neighbours working together with food and assistance meant emergency services could better focus on major infrastructure problems, he said.
Wellington City Council neighbourhood development coordinator Angela Rampton agreed: ‘‘People are shaken-up after the earthquakes. In the event of an emergency or crisis, the first people on hand are your neighbours.’’