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We want to see your game-day photos and we have prizes to give away!
Whether you're getting dressed up in your All Blacks finest, have an impressive rugby-themed snack collection or have made a Rugby World Cup shrine in your living room, we want to see it all on Neighbourly!
To be in to… View moreWe want to see your game-day photos and we have prizes to give away!
Whether you're getting dressed up in your All Blacks finest, have an impressive rugby-themed snack collection or have made a Rugby World Cup shrine in your living room, we want to see it all on Neighbourly!
To be in to win, simply post your photo on Neighbourly along with the word: RWCfan
Go, Team!
We can all appreciate a good family cat but cats aren't known for toeing the line. New Zealand currently has no national cat management plan, allowing domestic and stray cats to roam and breed as they please. This can lead to the death of native species, not to mention … View moreWe can all appreciate a good family cat but cats aren't known for toeing the line. New Zealand currently has no national cat management plan, allowing domestic and stray cats to roam and breed as they please. This can lead to the death of native species, not to mention creating nuisance for neighbours. Do you think some laws should be in place for our feline friends?
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
Subscribe to NZ Gardener this month and receive a Free Earths Botanics Gardeners Hand Cream worth $24 thanks to Matakana Botanicals. It’s hand cream made by gardeners, for gardeners. This offer is only available until October 1, so get in quick. T&Cs apply.
Every issue of NZ Gardener is … View moreSubscribe to NZ Gardener this month and receive a Free Earths Botanics Gardeners Hand Cream worth $24 thanks to Matakana Botanicals. It’s hand cream made by gardeners, for gardeners. This offer is only available until October 1, so get in quick. T&Cs apply.
Every issue of NZ Gardener is packed with amazing New Zealand stories, plus subscribers save money every month!
Happy Gardening,
The team at NZ Gardener
Have a poppa, nan, koro, grandma or g'dad who rocks the digital world?
Nominate them to WIN a $150 Prezzy® card! Nominate them now and tell us why they deserve to WIN.
Compare broadband and power bills with NZ Compare to save big and stay connected in the digital world.
*Entries … View moreHave a poppa, nan, koro, grandma or g'dad who rocks the digital world?
Nominate them to WIN a $150 Prezzy® card! Nominate them now and tell us why they deserve to WIN.
Compare broadband and power bills with NZ Compare to save big and stay connected in the digital world.
*Entries close 2 Oct 2023.
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton residents say the region's roads are their biggest gripe, but a research expert says people are just choosing it as a “default’’ response.
Two-thirds (66%) of respondents, of the 873 residents surveyed, listed roading as the … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton residents say the region's roads are their biggest gripe, but a research expert says people are just choosing it as a “default’’ response.
Two-thirds (66%) of respondents, of the 873 residents surveyed, listed roading as the primary reason for dissatisfaction.
Key Research managing director Mike Hooker, who presented the results of the annual residents' survey, questioned the response.
“It’s a perennial issue for the council and it’s also what we refer to as a default attribute,” Hooker said.
“When residents are struggling to give a reason for dissatisfaction, they are defaulting to the roading network.”
The residents’ road satisfaction levels were the opposite of the council’s end-of-year performance report, which recorded the district's sealed local road network as being 98% smooth.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron said she was “fascinated” by that figure, and asked for an explanation.
Roading manager Mark Chamberlain said the smoothness figure was produced “by a machine that goes round and measures roughness”.
“While there are faults on it, the overall network is very good,” he said.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said the council knew the community was dissatisfied with the state of the roads, especially the number of potholes.
The roading network suffered from back-to-back wet winters and now, coming off a drier winter, the contractors hope to get ahead of the problems, Riach said.
“With additional resources, additional attention, and a little bit of luck from the weather, we are optimistic we can improve perceptions of the network.”
The satisfaction with the sealed roads increased up 2% to 26%. Last year's result was the lowest it had, with pothole issues.
The residents’ survey asked what the council should spend more on.
Hooker said this resulted in the “default attribute”, with 61% pointing to roading.
The council resealed 4.9% (75km) of the network in 2022/23, which came down to funding, Chamberlain said.
The survey also highlighted that Ashburton residents were more satisfied than those outside the town boundary, Hooker said.
“If you live in the Ashburton township, you are much more likely to be satisfied with every attribute that we measure than those that live in the rest of the district.”
Again, roading was the example, with Ashburton having a 33% satisfaction level with the state of the roads, while the rest of the district was at 15%.
A heart-healthy diet doesn't have to mean you give up dessert entirely. Our chocolate brownie is deliciously rich, easy to make and sure to be a hit for the entire whānau. Try it for yourself today!
Kia ora koutou, It’s Natalie here from Whakaata Māori (formerly Māori TV) and I’m excited to tell you about this fabulous new TV show called "West Coasters".
It's an intimate documentary series that gives us a peek into the lives of a Māori community here in the rugged Te… View moreKia ora koutou, It’s Natalie here from Whakaata Māori (formerly Māori TV) and I’m excited to tell you about this fabulous new TV show called "West Coasters".
It's an intimate documentary series that gives us a peek into the lives of a Māori community here in the rugged Te Tai ō Poutini region of the South Island. What sets it apart is its authenticity, showcasing their deep connection to the land and their dreams for the future. The Arahura River, flowing through their ancestral lands with its revered pounamu, plays a central role. It's a show that'll truly move you – don't miss it !
West Coasters – Mane Monday 7.30pm on Whakaata Māori or streaming on Māori+
Hi there,
We're compiling a travel piece on great honesty boxes and roadside stalls around NZ, and would love to hear your favourites. Is there somewhere you enjoy stopping off at for fresh fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs, flowers, or something else? It would be great if you could … View moreHi there,
We're compiling a travel piece on great honesty boxes and roadside stalls around NZ, and would love to hear your favourites. Is there somewhere you enjoy stopping off at for fresh fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs, flowers, or something else? It would be great if you could share it's location and what makes it a standout. Please put 'NFP' (not for publication) in your comment if you don't want it or your name to appear in the article. You're also very welcome to email me at lorna.thornber@stuff.co.nz
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Final days to get your tickets for a chance to win this brand-new, fully furnished home in Glenbrook, Auckland. Worth over $1 million and built to perfection by Jennian Homes, this home features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen plus walk-in pantry, two beautiful living rooms and is only a … View moreFinal days to get your tickets for a chance to win this brand-new, fully furnished home in Glenbrook, Auckland. Worth over $1 million and built to perfection by Jennian Homes, this home features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen plus walk-in pantry, two beautiful living rooms and is only a short walk away from Glenbrook Beach with stunning views out to Āwhitu Peninsula.
Make this property your permanent residence, a holiday home, rent it or even sell it – it could be all yours! Be in to win by purchasing your tickets today – only $15 each.
Congratulations to our $100 Mitre 10 prize winners this week:
Sonia Lewis of St Albans
Hinemoa Henderson of Taupo
Ryan Dunseath of Te Atatu Peninsula
Tāmātī Kaiwai of Clouston Park
Sarah Bullard of Nelson
Winners, you can claim your prize here before the 24th of October. Enjoy!
The Rugby World Cup is underway, are you a fan?
New Zealand's All Blacks have won the RWC three times - 1987, 2011 and 2015. Do you remember these? Whether you were in the grandstand or on the couch, tell us what you remember of these historic moments...
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Criticism of consultation methods are being considered ahead of one of the biggest engagement processes for Ashburton District Council: the long-term plan.
Considering how to engage with the community is almost as important as what is consulting … View moreBy local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Criticism of consultation methods are being considered ahead of one of the biggest engagement processes for Ashburton District Council: the long-term plan.
Considering how to engage with the community is almost as important as what is consulting on, democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham (pictured) said.
“It’s a consistent challenge and focus for us to ensure that people are engaged throughout the community.
“We are reviewing ways to improve this, despite the resourcing constraints we have.”
The council’s approach to consultation came under fire during the recent economic development strategy (EDS).
Several submitters suggesting that the draft EDS lacked cultural diversity and was light on business responses, considering it was an economic strategy.
Some submissions also questioned if there had been enough engagement before the draft was produced.
The EDS draft was formed with input from businesses and groups that were engaged in the process through a series of workshops and conversations since 2021, Durham said.
“These stakeholders helped to form the intent and action points in the draft document.”
What wasn’t clear in the strategy was who those stakeholders were and what exactly they had added.
“We are always conscious of ensuring draft documents are concise and clear to be readable to the community.
“We will consider how best to provide this information in the future.”
Council chief executive Hamish Riach said the consultation process looked at whether to go to the community with a blank piece of paper or prepared draft as the starting point.
The council could engage with a lot more people to form any draft but “a really deep participatory approach would require significantly different resourcing”, Riach said.
Strategies and policies are generally developed with some pre-engagement to help shape the draft document and then consultation to refine it, Durham said.
“The balance is always in ensuring the right conversations, with the right people at the right time.”
The council had a "pleasing response" to its pre-engagement for next year’s LTP process, with more than 900 responses to the survey and workshops, Durham said.
That number could bode well for when the LTP draft is released for consultation next year. The 2021-31 draft LTP only received 431 submissions.
Durham said that figure was low but it reflected the work of the pre-engagement undertaken for the last LTP.
Council officers are preparing business cases and activity plans to be considered for the LTP.
“This work will continue over the next 10 months,” Durham said.
Lighten and brighten a dull, old wooden floor with Resene Colorwood Whitewash.
Find out how to get the whitewashed look in your home with this easy project.
If you felt the recent earthquake, your first thought was probably the safety of your loved ones. So now’s the time to think about protecting them by making your home quake safe.
The good news is there’s a lot you can do right now, like securing tall and heavy furniture, and getting a … View moreIf you felt the recent earthquake, your first thought was probably the safety of your loved ones. So now’s the time to think about protecting them by making your home quake safe.
The good news is there’s a lot you can do right now, like securing tall and heavy furniture, and getting a builder to look at your chimney. Everything you need to know is at Toka Tū Ake EQC’s site.
Don’t wait for the next earthquake to shake you into action, get started now.
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