Neighbourliness survives

Residents of Walbrook Cres in Oamaru took their chairs and headed out to their front lawns for a "happy hour" on Saturday.

After the impromtu gathering, the residents have decided to make it a daily ritual for the next month. While still remaining in their isolation bubbles, it was a chance for people to connect with each other, resident Vince Mortimer said.

"It's just checking everyone's in a good mental state, and it takes your mind off all the bad stuff," he said.

As nobody was going anywhere for the month, it was a good chance for people to get to know their neighbours, and make sure they were coping with the lockdown, he said.