Loneliness is a distressing emotional state of not having meaningful connections with others. This study looked at levels of loneliness in Auckland, using data from Statistics NZ and Auckland Council. The most lonely and isolated are people living in the central city (Waitemata Local Board area) with 14% lonely most of the time. This is significantly higher than the level for the Auckland Region (9%). Youthline explains the typical; symptoms of loneliness as being withdrawn and quiet, crying, sleeping too much, eating and drinking too much, and sitting around doing nothing. The report was presented to the Waitemata Local Board which authorized its community development staff to develop a programme of alleviating loneliness.