An estimated 29,000 New Zealanders are completely alone.
While most have at least one or two people they are close to, one per cent of Kiwis aged 15 or over say they have no supportive family or friends, according to research from Statistics NZ.
The New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS), conducted over a year, asked almost 9000 respondents whether they had any friends or family who helped and supported them.