Could you name all of the neighbours on your street? What about just the ones you live next to?

Well, Neighbours Day aims to rekindle closeness within neighbourhoods.

Neighbours in the Papamoa subdivision share a sunny afternoon together.

Neighbours Day Aotearoa is an annual celebration of neighbourliness on Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20.

Aiming to turn every community into a friendly, secure, and fun place to live, Neighbours Day is a chance to get to know the neighbours you live next to but don't necessarily associate with.

Bruce and Katrina Banks are planning their first official Neighbours Day in 2016, but it's not exactly their first time hosting a large neighbourly get-together.

The Banks have run a neighbours support group in their subdivision in Papamoa since 2014.

As the first people to move into the housing development, Bruce and Katrina set out to make a community of neighbourliness from the get go.

'We decided that as people joined us in the neighbourhood, and moved in week by week, we would basically go and see everybody and get a Neighbourhood Support group going.

'I don't think there's too many people I haven't met or I know them by first-name basis.”

Bruce says it was a bit of work, but he's slowly built a database of contact information, and of 95 houses currently in the subdivision, 75 are on the email list.

Their Christmas function last year drew more than 180 people, and was complete with Santa, a lolly scramble for the kids, cricket, food, and more.

Bruce says for Neighbours Day 2016 he's planning a similar do, provided the weather is fine and families are interested.

Funding was approved by the Tauranga City Council's Community Development Match Fund to the tune of $500 for Bruce's Neighbours Day event.

'If you put it out there and say it's a free event, that's what gets people there.

'If they just have to turn up with their chair and their umbrella and their blankeys, it's a good day for everybody.”

'It will be along the lines of a barbecue or sausage sizzle with a focus on the families and children because there's a lot of them in here now, and we'll get them along and get the kids involved rather than just an adult get-together with a chilly bin full of cold beers.

'The whole idea is to get the littlies involved, and they have a ball.”

Predicting 150-250 people will turn up, Bruce says people in his neighbourhood love the gatherings.

'People really do get together in the neighbourhood, it's great to see.”

Last year's Neighbours Day statistics show 90 per cent of people who got involved felt they got to know their neighbours better, and 134 organisations got themselves involved.

Bruce has watched his neighbourhood grow from his home to more than 90 houses – and he loves it.

'Everybody says the same thing, they want to live here. 'I've never lived in an area quite like this.”

To see if there's a Neighbours Day gathering in your area, visit: www.neighboursday.org.nz

Neighbours in the Papamoa subdivision share a sunny afternoon together

Saturday 19 March

29th Easter Book Sale

Held March 26, 27 & 28 at Seeka Coolstore, Harvard Way, Mt Maunganui (opp Classic Flyers). Books, CD's, DVD's, records & jigsaw puzzles. Rotary Club of Tauranga.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Women's meeting at St Andrews, Dee St 10-11am, children welcome. 0800 229 6757

Arataki Markets

Every Sat at Grenada St Park, off Girven Rd, Bayfair 9am - 1pm. Variety of quality foods. Pre-loved goods & more.

BOP Cochlear Implant Consumers

Meet at Houghton's residence, 3b Pacific Ave, Mount 10am - 12pm. Speaker: Pam Jordan - St John's Alarms. Email: [email protected] Subject: Cochlear consumers.

Car Boot Sale

Greerton Village School, Greerton Road 7-11.30am. Cost $5 per site. Shirley 577 1116 or 0274 146

Car Boot Sale

Evans Rd Community Church, 30 Evans Rd 8-11am. Car wash, food, free coffee with every sausage sold. $5 a space. Arthur 574 1822

Earth Hour

Celebrate your commitment to the planet with friends, family, community or work. www.earthhour.org

Free Clothing Giveaway Day

Clothes, shoes etc, in good wearable condition. No limit. Free sausage sizzle, drinks etc. Katikati Christian Centre, 11-13 Henry Rd 9am – 1pm.

Garage Sale

Otumoetai Sports & Recreation garage sale in the hall, Fergusson Park 8am. Proceeds benefit the Park Sports & associated groups.

Harbourside Carnival

Omokoroa Point School, 37 Hamurana Rd 4-7pm. Family entertainment, kids rides, market stalls, food, plants & produce. 548 0748 www.omokoroapoint.school.nz

Healing your Animal Companion

Learn simple Jin Shin Jyutsu sequences to use with your animal friend. At Sacred Journeys 10am – 2pm. www.sacredjourneys.co.nz or Sandy 0272 956 875 email: [email protected]

Katikati Bowling Club

Mixed roll up. Sat 12.45-3pm. Mon 9.30am - 12pm. Weds 12.24-3pm. Fri 1.45-4pm, & social roll up 4.30-6pm. google katikatibowls

Messianic Meetings

Every Sat at Hillier Centre, 31 Gloucester Rd, Mount 10am. Seek to unite together in our walk to put truth into action on a daily basis. All ages welcome. 544 7424 or 0210 226 3515

Neighbours Day Aotearoa

March 19 & 20. Get to know your neighbours. www.neighboursday.org.nz

Postcard Collectors Wanted

Any collectors interested in forming a group to meet monthly, share information, buy & sell postcards, attend fairs etc. Geoff 578 7088 or email [email protected]

Tauranga Airsoft Club Inc

Interested in Airsoft? Play games twice a month at TECT All Terrain Park. www.taurangaairsoftclub.co.nz

Tauranga Multicultural Festival

Historic Village, 17th Ave West 10am – 4pm. Music, dance, culture, food, Parade of Nations. Adults $6, children under 12 free. [email protected] or 571 6419

Tauranga Woodcrafters Guild

Opening of new workshop & clubrooms at Hewletts Rd Reserve, Mt Maunganui 1.30pm. Display of carving, wood turning, scroll saw work & more. Taurangawoodcrafters.org

Te Puke Scottish Society

Monthly dance at Te Puke Memorial Hall, Jellicoe St 7.30pm. Old time & sequence dancing with live band, good company & great supper. Entrance fee $7. AGM April 13 - more info at the dance. Valerie 573 7093

The Little Big Markets

Craft, food, music, art at Papamoa Domain, 561 Papamoa Beach Rd 9am – 2pm. Free admission.

Village Radio

Community radio broadcasting from Tauranga Historic Village 1368 kHz AM. Music of 1940's - 90's weekends 9am - 5pm, weekdays 10am - 5pm. Specialty programmes. www.villageradio.co.nz or 571 3710