Editorial: Next door so near yet so far | Wairarapa Opinion | Local Voices from Wairarapa, New Zealand

It's easy to write off as a big-city problem.

Elderly people who pass away in their homes and are left unnoticed for days, or even weeks, are generally city-dwellers - or at least, that's what we'd like to think.

So the idea that an middle-aged man from Greytown was left dead in his home for several days is saddening.

We'd all like to think we're good neighbours, that we keep an eye on the homes next door and look out for suspicious activity. We may even look after their pets and clear their letter boxes while they're away.

But we're also very aware of privacy these days too - our own and our neighbours'.

It seems to be more and more common to have large fences that shield your home from prying eyes.

Homes probably feel more secure and more private that way, but it also means neighbours and passers-by can't as easily keep a casual eye out for anything amiss.

If you can't see your neighbour's washing line, how would you know if the washing had been left hanging for days untouched?

I have a memory from about 20 years ago of my mother marching over to a neighbour's house, with me alongside in support, to confront a man seen in the backyard when we knew the family weren't at home.

These days, I wouldn't know enough about my neighbours, or their comings and goings, to know whether a person in their backyard was out of place.

And for most of my neighbours, I can't see their property.

I don't know whether my street has a neighbourhood watch scheme, but perhaps groups like that are a good way for neighbourhoods to find out about those living in their street who are more vulnerable, and who could do with someone popping in now and then.

Or even just to identify those who might be lonely and could use a friendly neighbour.