Buy one, give one for Kiwi families in need
Hi Neighbourly members, we all love a bargain, but buying a gift that really gives back seems like a much better way to kick off the holiday season, don’t you think?
We’re not sure who decided that Black Friday was suddenly a ‘thing’ down in our part of the world, so, as us Kiwis tend to do, we thought we’d put our own spin on it instead. One that is much more focused on community over consumerism, and equally about giving as it is about getting.
Curious?
Kicking off today and running through 'til Monday 2 December, we are doing our annual buy-one-give-one campaign.
That means for every Christmas Gift Box or Christmas Cracker set purchased, we’ll also give one to City Missions and food banks across the country to support families in need. Our aim is to give back to an organisation within the community that each of our customers live in.
The best part? There’s no car park congestion, over-crowded shopping malls or #walmartfights involved. You can shop online from the comfort of your own home, with the knowledge that you’re also doing good for fellow Kiwis in their own community.
You could say that our version of Black Friday is in fact a whole lot more colourful, adding brightness to what might otherwise be a fairly bleak Christmas for many families in New Zealand.
Together, we can make Christmas a bright and tasty time for families in need - and that sounds like a pretty good deal, don’t you think?!
Whether you’re buying for an avid foodie, a wannabe masterchef, a time-poor parent, or a student who needs help to step their signature spag bol up a notch, our Christmas Gift sets are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, are all gluten-free, with no MSG, and all-natural!
You’ll find more information about Raptor Naturals, our Christmas Gift Boxes and our Christmas Crackers on our website - www.raptornaturals.co.nz
Thanks for your support
Rachael and the Raptor Naturals team
Poll: Are quality products on the decline?
Gift-giving looks a lot different these days when you can pick up super-cheap goods made overseas. But do they last?
Do you have any old items like appliances, electronics or clothing that have stood the test of time? Share below!
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91.5% Yes
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7.8% No
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0.8% Other - I'll share below
Only the Sharpest Minds Will Get This Riddle… Are You One of Them?
I twinkle and glow, guiding paths in the snow.
I’m not the sun, moon, or star in the sky,
yet on rooftops and trees, you’ll see me up high.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Hanmer’s Soldiers’ Block restoration remains on track
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Work remains on track for the opening of an iconic Hanmer Springs building, as local leaders eye up a future Weta Workshop exhibition for the site.
Hurunui Tourism product development manager Graeme Abbot says the restoration of the former Soldiers' Block in the Queen Mary Historic Reserve is progressing, ahead of its planned official opening on Anzac Day.
‘‘It will be a very important day for the town. That building has been sitting there since 2003 not being used, so to have it back in use is important for the town.’’
The Soldiers’ Block was opened in 1916 to rehabilitate soldiers returning from World War I, and was later used as a drug and alcohol treatment facility.
The site also has cultural significance for Ngāti Kurī.
When the building opens it will have a small historical display of information about the building’s past use, Abbot said.
Longer term plans are to create an interactive experience called ‘‘A Place of Light and Life’’ in partnership with Weta Workshop to tell the story of the site.
But it will require the community to raise a further $6 million.
Abbot said the newly formed Queen Mary Historic Reserve Charitable Trust Hanmer Springs has been working behind the scenes and plans to kick off its fundraising effort over the next few months.
‘‘We are excited by the challenge and the work we have done should set us up well.’’
Last week the Hurunui District Council voted to appoint mayor Marie Black as its nominee on the trust for a three-year term.
‘‘As a long-term resident of the Hurunui district, I'm incredibly passionate about this project and want to see it fostered and grow to be a really important part of our shared history,’’ she said.
Black recently visited Belgium on Remembrance Day with Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon and a delegation from the Rangiora and Amberley RSAs.
She said the visit gave her ‘‘great insight into what this project could potentially do for this district’’.
Black joins Abbot and Hanmer Springs locals Mark Inglis and Jason Fletcher as trustees.
Council chief strategy and community officer Judith Batchelor said Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura has been invited to appoint a trustee, while the trust deed allows for the appointment of three more trustees.
Batchelor said the trust was established to fundraise and provide input into the design of the interactive visitor experience.
The council has also agreed in principle to lease the Soldiers’ Block building to the trust to support the ongoing project.
The $3.6 million restoration project is being funded by a Lotteries grant, $1.5m from the Government’s Better Off funding, development contributions and a grant from the council’s Earthquake Prone Buildings Fund.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.