Blockhouse Bay, Auckland

Explore more, worry less at Ryman

Explore more, worry less at Ryman

With Ryman’s lock-and-leave-style living, you’re free to explore without worrying about home maintenance or security.

65 days ago

Pet Crate / Cage (Dog Cat Rabbit etc)

Markus from Green Bay

Width 63 cm, Depth 47 cm, Height 55 cm, PICKUP ONLY in Green Bay (we live opposite Green Bay High School), or if you are outside Auckland then maybe a friend of yours in Auckland can do the pickup.

Price: $35

66 days ago

Aged Advisor People's Choice Award Winners - for the fifth time!

Murray Halberg Retirement Village

We're proud to be named Best Provider Nationwide - for the fifth time - at the 2024 Aged Advisor People’s Choice Awards for Best Retirement Village and Aged Care Facilities.

The high ratings and reviews we receive from our residents and their families reflects the effort our team puts … View more
We're proud to be named Best Provider Nationwide - for the fifth time - at the 2024 Aged Advisor People’s Choice Awards for Best Retirement Village and Aged Care Facilities.

The high ratings and reviews we receive from our residents and their families reflects the effort our team puts into providing the best possible experience for our residents.

Our passion is creating communities where our residents can thrive. Receiving this award for the fifth time tells us that we’re on the right track.

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66 days ago

Early childhood education resource books

Jude from Hillsborough

A collection of books for childhood education and special education.

- Early Childhood special education - 0-8 years, strategies for positive outcomes. By Sharon A. Raver
- A practical guide to early childhood curriculum. Fifth Edition. By Claudia Ellason and Loa Jenkins.
- Understanding … View more
A collection of books for childhood education and special education.

- Early Childhood special education - 0-8 years, strategies for positive outcomes. By Sharon A. Raver
- A practical guide to early childhood curriculum. Fifth Edition. By Claudia Ellason and Loa Jenkins.
- Understanding Child development. Fourth edition. By Rosalind Charlesworth.
- Challenging behaviour and autism. Making sense - making progress. By Philip Whitaker.
- At the cutting edge. The importance of Phonemic awareness in learning to read and spell. By Tom Nicholson.


Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough.

Price: $20

67 days ago

Bird house

Resene

It’s easy to create your own colourful bird house from an old wooden box and some Resene testpots. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions. Find out more

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67 days ago

5kg wood charcoal for BBQ

Anita from Blockhouse Bay

I have a few boxes each containing twenty 250g bags of wood charcoal for $10 a box.
(The bags are small - but at 250g each that adds up to 5kg in total)
Stock up for your summer BBQ

Pick up Whitney Street, Blockhouse Bay

Price: $10

67 days ago

Retaining wall posts - free

Anita from Blockhouse Bay

10 x retaining wall posts - H4 treated. Unused.
Size 1.8m tall - tapered - approx 150mm at the widest down to 120mm at the narrow end.
Have been stored outside for the past year.
Free - pick up from Whitney Street, Blockhouse Bay.

Free

67 days ago

Why so many New Zealanders are moving to Australia

Brian from Mount Roskill

We caught up with people who made the move to Australia to ask how they've found it – and whether anything would make them come home.
Steve* had heard the stories. He knew many New Zealanders were taking the plunge and heading across the Tasman. Still, the publicist and musician was … View more
We caught up with people who made the move to Australia to ask how they've found it – and whether anything would make them come home.
Steve* had heard the stories. He knew many New Zealanders were taking the plunge and heading across the Tasman. Still, the publicist and musician was sceptical about how good moving to Australia really could be. "I was definitely nervous," he says.
In May, Steve and his fiancée packed up their things, left Tāmaki Makaurau and made the move to Melbourne. Five months on, they have no regrets. "I'm almost having to stop myself becoming an Australian evangelist," he says. "It is so, so good."
They didn't know it at the time, but the couple have become part of a mass exodus, as record-breaking numbers of New Zealanders leave Aotearoa in search of more money, better opportunities and improved lifestyles overseas.
For Steve, he says almost everything he'd heard from others making the same move has come true. "It's awesome," he says. "I have no regrets."
'It’s day and night'
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A Consumer NZ investigation, published in May 2024, asked New Zealanders from all walks of life living in Australia how they had found their move. They told us they were enjoying cheaper property prices and rent, reduced living expenses, including cheaper food, transport and energy costs, and higher wages. Statistics backed this up.
Steve says he's already reaping the benefits of a much cheaper lifestyle, especially when it comes to food. "It's day and night," he says. "We've got this amazing Greek supermarket and we fill up two massive bags of fresh produce and it will be A$20 (NZ$22) ... Halloumi is crazy cheap."
The pair have found their transport costs have gone down too. With two trams and a bus stop near their home in Thornbury, just a short ride outside of Melbourne's central city, they have no need for a car. "You can get anywhere you need to go really easily," he says. "You can tram anywhere you need to go."
The only downside they’ve experienced is the demand for rental properties. While looking for their two-bedroom apartment (which costs them $A550, or NZ$605, a week), they attended open homes with queues of up to 30 people.
Other than that, the move has been entirely positive. Steve’s partner has been able to advance her career, and he’s enjoying more opportunities for his musical ambitions.
What the statistics say
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According to new data from Stats NZ, more people are leaving Aotearoa than ever before. Between August 2023 and 2024, 134,300 residents left the country, which is “provisionally, the highest on record for an annual period”.
The latest provisional statistics on those moving to Australia also remain high, with 28,600 New Zealanders departing for Aus between March 2023 and March 2024.
Why are they going? In May, Consumer spoke to Johanna Smith, who runs the website movingtoaustralia.com. She blames the exodus on variables people have always left Aotearoa for: a search for higher wages, a lower cost of living and more affordable homes.
“You've always been able to afford to buy a home in Australia, and that has not been a reality for the majority of New Zealanders for years,” she said. “Now that the food and the petrol is so high as well, it has definitely made people think, 'Oh flip, maybe I should actually do it.'”
Consumer’s Sentiment Tracker survey data from July backs that up. When asked how confident they were in our economy over the next 12 months, 39% of respondents reported feeling “pessimistic” or “very pessimistic”, while only 26% were optimistic.
Another 37% anticipated their savings would decline in the following year , while only 27% believed their savings would increase. And, 31% reported their standard of living had declined, while just 18% thought their standard of living had improved.
What about those we spoke to last time?
================================
In New Plymouth, Jose Litre, along with his wife Julieta, their son and their dog Rollie had struggled to save for a trip back home to Argentina, despite earning good salaries. So, 2 years ago, they moved into a near-new four-bedroom home in South Australia that cost them A$500,000 (NZ$551,888)
When Consumer catches up with Litre, he’s in Argentina, finally making his first post-Covid trip back home. Their circumstances have changed: his wife is studying after losing her job, but Litre says they’re still able to live comfortably on his income.
“We're very happy with our decision,” he says. “Our son is excelling at school, which is just a 15-minute bike ride from our home. The area we live in, about 30 minutes north of Adelaide, is growing rapidly with new homes and businesses being developed. The economy seems to be booming here – shopping centres are busy, and people continue to spend despite the rising cost of living and interest rates.”
Litre’s colleagues share stories about how hard it is to find a rental property, backing up Steve’s claim that demand is high. And he says the cost of living has increased over the 2 years they’ve been in Australia. “Overall, our circumstances are good, but I don’t want to give the impression that everything is perfect,” he says.
When Consumer last spoke to Amy Potter, she’d just lost her job in Australia as a publicist for a video game company . At the time, she admits a conversation came up about moving back to Aotearoa. It was quickly nixed. “At the end of the day I have bought a house, and now have a dog too, here in Australia and it would not be a good time to sell with the market and economy where it is.”
She also wanted to stay working in the video game industry. “There were still 10-times the opportunities in Australia than I was seeing listed in New Zealand in my industry,” she says. “The scale of Australia is just more conducive to opportunities than New Zealand within the video games space.”
Potter soon found a new job, working for New Zealand-based game asset publisher Synty Studios. The company lets her work from Sydney, and she’s very happy with her decision to stay.
Smith says that’s a new trend she’s noticed over the past few months, with New Zealanders taking their jobs with them when they move to Australia. “I’m definitely still busy [with inquiries],” Smith says. “I'm getting more enquiries from visitors who are planning on moving to Australia while continuing to work for their New Zealand employer.”
‘We're definitely here for good’
========================
In Melbourne, Steve says their move has been so successful he’s about to make it permanent. He’s considering applying for residency, and “closing my New Zealand bank account”. He says, “We’re definitely here for good.”
But there’s one thing he does miss, something that many who have made the move say: his friends and family. A recent visit from his parents helped soften the blow, and he and his partner will return to Aotearoa in January for their wedding.
“If I didn't have that thing coming up that would feel more distant and more sad,” he says.
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www.consumer.org.nz...
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68 days ago

Hand bags

Mary from Glendene

5x bags for sale 2 still new good condition

Negotiable

68 days ago

Be Loved this Spring! 25% off SPCA dog adoption fees ends this Sunday

The Team from SPCA Auckland - Centres & Op Shops

Until Sunday only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide. So many of these dogs and puppies are still waiting … View more
Until Sunday only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide. So many of these dogs and puppies are still waiting patiently for their forever families, who - we’re crossing our fingers - will walk through our doors this weekend.

Visit www.spca.nz... to start your journey together.

72 days ago

Dream Sleep Destination: Mountains or Beach?

Beds4U Avondale

Hey Neighbours,

Would you rather sleep in a cosy cabin in the mountains ?️ or on a sandy beach by the sea ?️?

Imagine wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket, surrounded by nature, with the fresh mountain air lulling you to sleep. Or, falling asleep to the calming sound of ocean waves, … View more
Hey Neighbours,

Would you rather sleep in a cosy cabin in the mountains ?️ or on a sandy beach by the sea ?️?

Imagine wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket, surrounded by nature, with the fresh mountain air lulling you to sleep. Or, falling asleep to the calming sound of ocean waves, the soft breeze, and the feeling of sand beneath your toes.

Which one sounds like your dream escape for a perfect night’s rest? Let us know your favourite!

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82 days ago

Be Loved this Spring! Reduced fee dog adoptions at SPCA start today

The Team from SPCA Auckland - Centres & Op Shops

From 5-20 October only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide, waiting for their happy forever after.

Visit … View more
From 5-20 October only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide, waiting for their happy forever after.

Visit www.spca.nz... to start your journey together.

68 days ago

? WIN the Inspire Plush Bed! Enter Beds4U's October Giveaway Now! ?

Beds4U Avondale

? Beds4U October Giveaway Alert! ?

Ready for the best sleep of your life? Now’s your chance to WIN the luxurious Inspire Plush bed from Slumberzone! ?️?


We’re giving away this premium bed, known for its plush comfort and incredible support. It's the ultimate combination of … View more
? Beds4U October Giveaway Alert! ?

Ready for the best sleep of your life? Now’s your chance to WIN the luxurious Inspire Plush bed from Slumberzone! ?️?


We’re giving away this premium bed, known for its plush comfort and incredible support. It's the ultimate combination of coziness and durability—perfect for elevating your sleep experience.

How to enter:
1️⃣ Visit snooze.beds4u.co.nz...
2️⃣ Answer a few quick questions on the entry form
3️⃣ Cross your fingers and prepare to snooze in style!

✨ Why the Inspire Plush? ✨

Soft, cloud-like comfort
Perfect support for a restful night
Proudly Made in New Zealand
? Don’t miss out! The giveaway ends October 31st, so enter now for your chance to WIN!

Tag your friends and spread the word! ?
#Beds4UNZ #InspirePlushGiveaway #DreamBigSleepBetter #NZMade

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68 days ago

New Lynn Bowling Club - 3 Reid Road, New Lynn, Auckland 0600

Aggie from New Lynn

NEWS FLASH - Rafa our New and exciting chef from Brazil will be serving up some awesome Kiwi Classic's starting today.

Please pop on in and say a warm hearty Hello to Rafa, nice friendly guy, share a drink or 2 with family and friends.
All are welcome


Kitchen Hours
Friday to Sunday
View more
NEWS FLASH - Rafa our New and exciting chef from Brazil will be serving up some awesome Kiwi Classic's starting today.

Please pop on in and say a warm hearty Hello to Rafa, nice friendly guy, share a drink or 2 with family and friends.
All are welcome


Kitchen Hours
Friday to Sunday
12 to 2pm Lunch
5pm to 9pm Dinner

On behalf of NLBC we welcome you Rafa 🙂 See less

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69 days ago

Sweeten the pot

The Team from Resene ColorShop New Lynn

Show your potted plants off in a self-decorated container using Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path or Resene Sandtex. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.

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69 days ago

Labour Weekend roadworks on SH16 Newton Road

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport

Newton Road westbound on-ramp will be closed from 9pm Friday 25 to 5am Tuesday 29 October while our team replace a bridge joint. Please expect delays when travelling through the area. Find out more

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