Residents from one Auckland street have collaborated to create a special momento of life in their neighbourhood during lockdown.
Annette Janes' and family during a themed dinner. Photo: Supplied / Annette Janes
Finch Street's Esther Harward asked her fellow Western Springs neighbours to share their thoughts on isolation, by leaving her a voice message.
They did, talking openly about feeling lonely and missing contact with other people, and the things they were doing to keep entertained. Harward then edited their responses into a six-minute audio isolation diary.
"When we went to alert level four it felt really weird so I thought it would be a good record of what it was like," she said.
"I wanted to record people's voices because you get more emotion in people's voices and it'll be interesting to listen back and hear that further down the track."
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Finch Street's community-mindedness is legendary in the neighbourhood, where there's an annual street Christmas party in its slip lane that even Mr Whippy attends. The gardening club for neighbours to tour each other's backyards is taking a break during lockdown.
Harward says four neighbours took part in her audio project.
"I thought lots of people would want to do it but it turns out Finch Street people are shyer than you think. Two people immediately volunteered and then another two needed their arms twisted."
Among neighbours sharing their thoughts on isolation was Annette Janes who has lived on Finch Street with her family - including two teenage sons - for nine years.
Every night they create themed international dinners, with costumes to match, and later post photos on social media.
Annette Janes and family Irish theme. Photo: RNZ / Annette Janes
"My family are amazing, they let me dress them up like crazy people every night. We go to some amazing destination and have these incredible international themes so that's what I get out of bed in the morning for," Janes said.
They have traversed the cuisines of Bali, England, Ireland, Hawaii, Thailand and Singapore when crab was on the menu (aka chicken and prawn stir-fry).
The family's photos show the effort they put in to going to these places within the confines of their home and backyard, posted with snippets including
"Hawaii was sooooo good but we needed the luck of the Irish to move to level 3, but we're still in level 4 in IRELAND to be sure to sure."
By the time the country drops to level three restrictions, the Janes family will have created 29 different themed dinners.
"When Jacinda announced the extra five nights I thought that's putting a bit more pressure on," Janes said.
"It's been a challenge because we can't go out and get anything so it's just what we have around the house and I think we've come up with some cool creative ideas."
Another neighbour, Neil McLeod, left a message for the audio project revealing it was going to be his birthday during lockdown.
"At 9 o'clock everybody came out onto the street and sang happy birthday, it was lovely. And people walking dogs sang along as well it was quite cute," he said.
Neil McLeod on Finch Street. Photo: Supplied
He said his arm was twisted to take part in the isolation diary, and he left a joke at the end about taking cold showers, something he enjoys about five times a day in the privacy of his front yard.
"I'm renown for having cold showers. I've got a cold shower out the front and I quietly go and have a shower, it's fully fenced."
He has lived on Finch Street for six years and said it is hard to pin down what makes the neighbourhood's community spirit so special.
McLeod hopes people will remember the benefits of a simpler life once restrictions are lifted.
"You know what I'm frightened of? That everybody's going to get on the same old track and start running that's what worries me."
Harward says her neighbours were honest in their responses and it will be a good record of lockdown life.
"I wasn't surprised that people felt isolated and lonely and missed the physical contact," she said.
"I'm really glad I have it now, it was fun to do and it's going to be interesting to listen back when the lockdown feels like a distant memory."
