Neighbourly celebrates massive milestone
Neighbourly is celebrating as it has reached a major milestone, welcoming its 750,000th member since its launch less than five years ago.
The New Zealand-made community website, which is owned by Stuff, debuted in 2014 with a handful of Auckland suburbs on its ranks. It is now New Zealand's second-largest online member community in New Zealand, with more than 27,000 local businesses using the website to reach customers, and more than 3000 community organisations spreading their messages.
Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher says the achievement recognises the value its members place in local connections and knowledge.
"Hitting three quarters of a million members in just a few years is remarkable - especially considering similar sites have popped up overseas without enjoying the uptake we've had here," she says.
"It really proves how community-minded Kiwis are.
Boucher says the Christchurch mosque attacks in March showed how much New Zealanders were prepared to come together to support one another.
"Neighbourly was a place people could turn to and process what happened. Noticeboards were filled with members showing their support, expressing their grief and coordinating events to fundraise for the victims,'" she explains.
"In fact, we consistently see acts of kindness on Neighbourly," Boucher adds.
There are 900 'Neighbourly Leads' on the social media platform - these are volunteers and regular users of the website who look after the neighbourhoods they are based in.
"That's a real point of difference between us and many other member communities. It encourages neighbours to connect and support one another every day.
Boucher says they have seen more than 23,907,596 welcome messages sent to new neighbours.
The site has continued to grow steadily, adding an average of 10,000 new members each month.
"While we have evolved, local still remains the core of who we are," says Boucher.
"Neighbourly will always be a home for conversations that celebrate our communities."
