Community connections are being encouraged across Central Otago as part of Neighbours Day with special activities going on in Cromwell and Alexandra.

Neighbours Day, which takes place from March 18 to 27, aims to get more people connecting with their neighbours, either to introduce themselves if there is someone they have not met, to visit and say hi or to share something from their veggie garden.

This year’s theme is kai connections, which encourages people to engage with their neighbours through food - either growing, sharing or eating.

Connect Cromwell is getting involved in several ways with this years theme, including distributing free packs of fruit to encourage people to make a preserve and then share it.

There will also be the town's fortnightly crop swap and a community pantry behind Cromwell Community house.

Connect Cromwell community facilitator George Affleck said the preserve packs contain everything you would need to make jams at home including jars, fruit and a recipe.

She said the idea was to get together to make the preserves with a friend, neighbour or family member.

"The crop swap seems to attract different people each time. Then they might come back the next time and bring a neighbour along.

"We're also running a competition where people can message with a photo or story of spending time with a neighbour, and we've got three types of packs to give away to encourage neighbourhood connections."

George said the most exciting new community activity was the installation of 'disc golf' in Anderson Park.

Participants throw a disc at a target and then follow similar rules to golf.

A disc golf basket (or target) recently installed in Anderson Park in Cromwell. PHOTO: Connect Cromwell

"Sport Otago helped us with this - they're wanting to support fun active play and with disc golf we've hit the nail on the head.

"People were playing it while it was being installed."

George said the group plans to complete the signage for disc golf soon and undertake some education days for schools to promote the game further.

"There's nothing to stop people from grabbing a frisbee, grabbing a friend or some neighbours and having a go already."

Central Otago District Council’s (CODC) welcoming communities and neighbourhood support groups are encouraging recipe sharing – all you need to do is complete the recipe card on the back of this flyer.

You can email you entry, or drop it off at any council office or service centre. 

In Alexandra, Neighbourhood Support is joining forces with Welcoming Communities to run a street stall outside Paper Plus on Centennial Ave this Friday, March 18, from 10am.

Neighbourhood Support spokesperson Ruth McNamara said together with Welcoming Communities officer Deborah Beange she would be handing out flyers, encouraging recipe sharing and chatting to community members.

"We're hoping to be able to share some of Mayor Tim's home made fudge too! So we'd like to have people pop down and see us."

CODC Mayor Tim Cadogan has got his mum’s famous fudge recipe up as an example on the council website.   

“There was never a family event without Mum making her superb fudge, and even though she is no longer with us, my daughter Beccie always ensures there is some on hand when we get together. Easy to make and totally delicious!”

Free online sessions are running around the themes of sharing, giving and building.