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Unleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go … View moreUnleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go all out! Check out some of the previous entires here.
Take part in the 2022 Resene Upcycling Awards. There are four great prizes worth $500 up for grabs: a $200 Resene voucher and a $300 Prezzy® card!
Retirement is an exciting time, filled with possibilities. Our fixed fee guarantee is one of the ways we provide financial certainty. Ryman residents love it as it helps them reduce rising living costs and surprise expenses.
Enjoy the quality amenities at every Ryman village and splurge a little… View moreRetirement is an exciting time, filled with possibilities. Our fixed fee guarantee is one of the ways we provide financial certainty. Ryman residents love it as it helps them reduce rising living costs and surprise expenses.
Enjoy the quality amenities at every Ryman village and splurge a little on yourself if you feel like it! Take up that hobby you’ve dreamed of or plan a holiday somewhere warm.
It’s easy to live life your way when you have freedom to do the things you enjoy. It’s another example of how we’re pioneering retirement living.
Popular cookie brand Mrs Higgins has recalled a specific batch of their product due to the possible presence of white plastic.
The cookies affected are the Mrs Higgins Shortbread Cookies in the 350g bag with a Best Before date of 4/10/22.
These cookies are found at all Countdown stores across… View morePopular cookie brand Mrs Higgins has recalled a specific batch of their product due to the possible presence of white plastic.
The cookies affected are the Mrs Higgins Shortbread Cookies in the 350g bag with a Best Before date of 4/10/22.
These cookies are found at all Countdown stores across New Zealand and customers can return these affected goods for a full refund.
This recall does not affect any other of the Mrs Higgins products.
Decorate small sunny nooks or bare walls with cute decorative hanging plant plaques and soothing Resene colours.
Find out how to create your own.
Every dollar counts towards that first home or retirement. Are you confident your KiwiSaver is performing or maybe like a lot of us you tend not to think about it!
Get a FREE KiwiSaver health check and go in the draw to win up to $10,000* from our partners National Capital. It’s easy as!
… View moreEvery dollar counts towards that first home or retirement. Are you confident your KiwiSaver is performing or maybe like a lot of us you tend not to think about it!
Get a FREE KiwiSaver health check and go in the draw to win up to $10,000* from our partners National Capital. It’s easy as!
Hate feeling obligated? You're not! The health check will let you know if there is a better KiwiSaver provider for you - it's up to you if you do anything about it. Why wait till you're 65, make sure your KiwiSaver is working for you now!
For delicious grass-raised beef New Zealand is the perfect combo. An ideal climate, lush pastures and innovative farming produces enough beef for Macca’s in New Zealand and around the world.
Our patties are 100% quality beef, and all that’s added is a dash of salt and pepper when cooked. We… View moreFor delicious grass-raised beef New Zealand is the perfect combo. An ideal climate, lush pastures and innovative farming produces enough beef for Macca’s in New Zealand and around the world.
Our patties are 100% quality beef, and all that’s added is a dash of salt and pepper when cooked. We partner with many Kiwi farmers who produce our beef, including those at the world-class Whangara Farms.
A wee while back we asked you, our awesome Neighbourly members to share the ways you save money!
We received a truck load of great suggestions, tips and methods!
More importantly, we saw how it helped other Kiwis discover new ways to help their households cut down on costs and make things go… View moreA wee while back we asked you, our awesome Neighbourly members to share the ways you save money!
We received a truck load of great suggestions, tips and methods!
More importantly, we saw how it helped other Kiwis discover new ways to help their households cut down on costs and make things go further. It made us so happy to see neighbours supporting neighbours.
Read 10 of the tips that we saw you sharing!
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There is immense pressure on the budget for Ashburton’s new library and civic centre, but it remains within its $56.75 million limit, the town’s mayor says.
The claim of a budget blowout in a submission on the annual plan drew the attention of … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
There is immense pressure on the budget for Ashburton’s new library and civic centre, but it remains within its $56.75 million limit, the town’s mayor says.
The claim of a budget blowout in a submission on the annual plan drew the attention of district councillors at the hearings last week, prompting mayor Neil Brown to refute the claim.
As a member of the project control group, Brown said there had been no mention of a budget blowout.
“We mentioned we have lost some time and there is certainly pressure on the budget, but there has been no budget blow out.”
The project’s completion has been pushed back from the end of this year into 2023.
What those delays will cost is still to be determined.
Council chief executive Hamish Riach said Covid restrictions and now supply chain issues are “impacting pressure on costs and the forecast completion date, which is now expected to be in the first half of 2023”.
“The project is still within budget, which includes the sum previously set for contingencies, though it is fair to say there are real financial pressures, and costs are being very closely monitored.
The project had an amended budget of $51.6m in the council’s 2018-28 long-term plan, but that was then increased to $56.75m to allow for contingency, due to the uncertainty around the impacts of Covid.
The budget includes $20m from the Government’s ‘shovel ready’ project funding.
Brown said that funding was not paid in a lump sum but was paid in instalments as milestones were reached in the construction.
The construction timeline is the project's overbearing issue due to industry’s widespread supply chain issues, with materials like timber and plasterboard in hot demand.
Riach said that was a major pressure on the project’s timeframe but “where possible, we are trying to minimise those issues by ordering well ahead of time”.
Several submissions called for cutbacks on the Library and Civic Centre, but Brown said consultation on the project was completed three years ago and construction was already halfway through.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
“I’ve never heard such a pathetic lot of drivel.”
Councillor Stuart Wilson pulled no punches in his critique of a joint Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail update on the Walnut Ave upgrade project.
Waka Kotahi director regional … View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
“I’ve never heard such a pathetic lot of drivel.”
Councillor Stuart Wilson pulled no punches in his critique of a joint Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail update on the Walnut Ave upgrade project.
Waka Kotahi director regional relationships James Caygill said the project remained on track as planned.
“I can understand community frustration at what looks like delays between the road component of the project and the level crossing of the project.
“This is the way the project was always planned to roll out. It hasn’t been delayed.
“But being in the middle of it is like being in the eye of the storm.”
KiwiRail’s southern network services manager, Mark Heissenbuttel, said they had been aligned with Waka Kotahi on the project all the way through and its design was progressing.
He said to prepare the crossing, the complex design required a specialist skill set and they “need to understand the design of the actual roading network and have that fully locked down before we can start our design”.
Heissenbuttel said while the design was progressing, the concrete slab installation was booked in for August 26 and needed a month to cure. As soon as that was complete “we can start the process of upgrading that track”.
“We are confident and committed in the November time period of having that work completed,” Heissenbuttel said.
That didn’t fly with Wilson.
“It’s like putting the walls of a house up and then saying we’ll start designing the roof,” he said.
“It looks to me like NZTA is finished and [KiwiRail] should have been ready to go to pour your concrete.”
He said Waka Kotahi’s plans must have been finished months ago as it had finished its physical work, but KiwiRail “haven’t even started physical work, let alone finished your planning”.
Caygill and Heissenbuttel both reiterated that the two parts of the project could not be completed safely at the same time, and rail was always scheduled to follow the road works in the project, with a completion date in November.
“To complete the planning work at the KiwiRail end is not a quick process,” Caygill said.
The complexities in its design takes time from when the roading plan was completed, he said.
However, he conceded the timing of the two parts of the project could have been better communicated.
As for the temporary intersection, Caygill said the upgrade to the water filled barrier forming the temporary roundabout, had made a substantial improvement.
He reassured the council that Waka Kotahi would continue to monitor the traffic management and safety aspects at the site.
Councillor Carolyn Cameron suggested looking at moving the temporary road crossing further north of the roundabout, as it was causing safety issues, which Caygill said he would look into.
The councillors also expressed their hope that the concerns and issues being experienced during the Walnut Ave project would serve as a lesson, as Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail ramp up planning for a similar project in Tinwald due to start next year.
Caygill said as the project was still in detailed design he was unable to confirm any proposed timeline on the Tinwald project.
Mayor Neil Brown quipped it may be better to start with the rail component first.
You’ll never forget those important shopping items or appointments with these write-on boards made using Resene FX Write-on Wall Paint.
Find out how to create your own.
Fa’afetai mo le agalelei fa’atua’oi literally translates to "thank you for your neighbourly kindness". We think that's a pretty special way to show your appreciation for a neighbour. Happy Samoan Language Week!
Vision College’s NZ Certificate in Business (Administration and Technology) is the perfect way to retrain for modern office systems. If you’re looking to work in an administration role, run the admin side of your own business, or upskill, this is the programme for you!
This hands-on … View moreVision College’s NZ Certificate in Business (Administration and Technology) is the perfect way to retrain for modern office systems. If you’re looking to work in an administration role, run the admin side of your own business, or upskill, this is the programme for you!
This hands-on programme will help you to grow your knowledge, understanding and skills using the Microsoft Office Suite. It covers Microsoft computer applications, business report writing communication skills and document creation.
We are enrolling now for our June intake! Visit our website to enrol or to find out more.
We're getting some amazing entries from gardeners obsessed with their indoor plants, and we're enjoying their stories too. There's still time to send us your entry for our Houseplant Hero 2022 competition. You could win some great prizes, and (of course) more houseplants!
Get 30% off the normal retail price of Resene wallpapers at your local Resene ColorShop until 20 June 2022.
Choose from thousands of wallpaper designs in the Resene Wallpaper Collection – everything from nature and geo inspired designs to textured and plain wallpapers – there really is … View moreGet 30% off the normal retail price of Resene wallpapers at your local Resene ColorShop until 20 June 2022.
Choose from thousands of wallpaper designs in the Resene Wallpaper Collection – everything from nature and geo inspired designs to textured and plain wallpapers – there really is something to suit all tastes!
Excludes wall decals, WallPrint and clearance items. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.
View the full collection at your local Resene ColorShop or get a taste of the latest wallpaper release and trends online.
From local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor is confident the town’s proposed second Ashburton River Bridge will find favour with the Government but “there is no guarantee.”
Neil Brown met with Finance Minister Grant Robertson at a post-budget event in Timaru last week,… View moreFrom local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Ashburton’s mayor is confident the town’s proposed second Ashburton River Bridge will find favour with the Government but “there is no guarantee.”
Neil Brown met with Finance Minister Grant Robertson at a post-budget event in Timaru last week, where he was told the bridge was in the budget.
“He said ‘your second bridge is in the budget’ when I asked him about the billion-dollar infrastructure spend,” Brown said.
With the treasury forecasting $61.9 billion of infrastructure investment over the next five years, Brown said that while Robertson’s assurance the bridge was in the Government’s budget plans was good news, it wasn’t a guarantee.
Brown hopes a concrete commitment to the project will hopefully come later this year.
The Ashburton District Council is in the process of finalising the third stage of the business case, a detailed design including costs, which will be presented to the council at the start of August.
“Once that has been approved by council, I’ll head off to Wellington with it to present it to the prime minister and deputy prime minister to see where we stand.”
The case for the bridge is clear, it’s one of connectivity and resilience for not just the town but the entire South Island Brown said.
What is up for discussion is how the bridge will be funded.
The new bridge has been estimated to cost about $40 million and the council has budgeted 20%, about $8m, in its long term plan as its contribution to the project, and will hope to secure the remainder from the Government.
As the Chalmers Ave site is not a state highway, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency would normally only fund up to 51% of the project, leaving 29% of the estimated cost to be determined.
Brown hoped the business case would convince the Government to meet that shortfall and said he would be pushing for the project to start as soon as possible.
In all likelihood it will be included in Waka Kotahi’s next three year work plan – the National Land Transport Programme, starting in 2024.
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