Glen Eden, Auckland

1696 days ago

Making the most of your Easter staycation

The Team from Auckland Council

There are plenty of things you and your family can do this Easter weekend, with the majority done from the comfort of your home.

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1696 days ago

April Challenge Month

NumberWorks'nWords New Lynn

Here are our 2nd week of challenges. Might help fill in a bit of time and a great thing to do as a family.

1696 days ago

Schools won't re-open as soon as lockdown lifts

Brian from New Lynn

Education Minister Chris Hipkins is warning parents it would be wrong for them to assume that all schools will reopen as soon as the lockdown ends. "That's not going to happen," he told the Epidemic Response Committee this morning. Hipkins said parents would need to prepare to have … View moreEducation Minister Chris Hipkins is warning parents it would be wrong for them to assume that all schools will reopen as soon as the lockdown ends. "That's not going to happen," he told the Epidemic Response Committee this morning. Hipkins said parents would need to prepare to have their kids at home for longer than the four-week lockdown period. "It's going to be a progressive reopening of the system, rather than a big bang all at once." The same went for tertiary institutions and early childhood centres as well. Although Hipkins said that at level 3 there would be more flexibility, it would take a while for most schools to reopen. New Zealand is just past the halfway point in the four-week lockdown period – however the Government has always maintained that the lockdown can be extended. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has so far provided no confirmation as to whether level 4 would be extended. Hipkins said the key measure as to when schools would reopen would be based on health advice.
The Government was working on a number of different packages and initiatives in this area for when New Zealand goes back down to level three. Hipkins thanked the entire educational community for "keeping the system running" over the lockdown. "It's been incredibly difficult," he said. He also thanked parents who have their kids at home – "I want to take my hat off to them". Hipkins also had a message for those parents who are helping with their children's learning over lockdown: "Be reasonable of your expectations of yourself". He also warned parents to be "reasonable" when it comes to their expectations of their young children's productivity. So far, 20,000 work book packages have been delivered to kids so far – that number will jump to 60,000 next week, Hipkins said.
And the Government is gearing up to be in a position where it can deliver half a million workbooks across the country, he said. These were primarily for those students who don't have access to internet or the appropriate devices. If costs continue to be a barrier for learning, the Government would look into that, Hipkins said. "We will make sure it [cost] is not a barrier." Asked if the Government was planning on providing a support package for schools heavily impacted by the drop in international students, Hipkins said: "We will have to do some modelling on that". He pointed out that the wage subsidy scheme was available to those in the tertiary education sector.
But he said the Government will not subsidise international students.
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1696 days ago

Appreciation post

The Team from North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police

Thank you to all our essential service workers working tirelessly to ensure our communities are kept safe.

Issac is 81years old and was observed by a member of the public struggling to walk to the supermarket. A quick interaction with Isaac revealed he was in need of some intervention.

Community … View more
Thank you to all our essential service workers working tirelessly to ensure our communities are kept safe.

Issac is 81years old and was observed by a member of the public struggling to walk to the supermarket. A quick interaction with Isaac revealed he was in need of some intervention.

Community Constable Reuben Boniface ?‍♂️ was able to connect Issac with Age Concern Southland and with their assistance provide a care package of cooked meals and loaves of bread to help him through this time ? #kindnessgoesalongway

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1696 days ago

Lockdown leaves west Auckland family waiting for dad's funeral

Melanie Earley Reporter from Western Leader

Kia ora neighbours, a west Auckland family must wait at least a month before holding a funeral for their beloved dad due to coronavirus restrictions. Paul van Golstein, 60, died suddenly at home on March 24, the day before the country went into level 4 lockdown.

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1696 days ago

Cheap but good Wedding Photographer Auckland ! :)

Mark from Moments Photography NZ

I am still taking bookings for this year and 2021.
Experienced, Qualified, Professional & Creative.
Full Day Packages to Just a few hours from $395. ALL Welcome.
www.facebook.com...
markjensen001.wixsite.com...
I am also available for Family Portraits, Modelling, Maternity, Baby Photo's … View more
I am still taking bookings for this year and 2021.
Experienced, Qualified, Professional & Creative.
Full Day Packages to Just a few hours from $395. ALL Welcome.
www.facebook.com...
markjensen001.wixsite.com...
I am also available for Family Portraits, Modelling, Maternity, Baby Photo's and Event Photography !
Personal Portraits :)
Contact me today via email or facebook message :) thanks Markj. :)

1697 days ago

Are you OK?

The Team from North Shore, Rodney & West Auckland Police

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self-isolating, but there are some things you can do to feel better.

Even if you are not sick you may be feeling anxious about COVID-19. This is normal.

Reach out to your family and whānau, friends and… View more
Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self-isolating, but there are some things you can do to feel better.

Even if you are not sick you may be feeling anxious about COVID-19. This is normal.

Reach out to your family and whānau, friends and workmates. Sharing how we feel and offering support to others is important.

We want to remind you that if you or someone you know is struggling right now, there is free help available.

See below a list of helplines throughout New Zealand ?

Kia Kaha Aotearoa.

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1697 days ago

Auckland architecture wows

Colleen Hawkes Reporter from Homed

Here are some highlights from the shortlist for the Auckland Architecture Awards 2020. We have a particular soft spot for the tiny Point Wells Cricket Club by Pac Studio! And this new build in Remuera, Auckland.

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1698 days ago

"A message from Police: Have a safe Easter – at home

Brian from New Lynn

Police will be ramping up visibility in communities and on the roads including operating checkpoints over the Easter period, making sure people are safe and complying with the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions. We know many New Zealanders may have been planning to catch up with friends and family… View morePolice will be ramping up visibility in communities and on the roads including operating checkpoints over the Easter period, making sure people are safe and complying with the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions. We know many New Zealanders may have been planning to catch up with friends and family this weekend, or travel to traditional holiday destinations but we urge anyone who was planning to do this – please change your plans and stay home. To help ensure people know about the Health Act restrictions, Police will be out and about checking that people are travelling for essential purposes only. Officers will be visible in our communities and on the roads, including around popular holiday spots, and on the arterial roads to them, to make sure people are aware of the requirement that everyone in New Zealand need to stay at their current place of residence while the Level 4 restrictions are in place. Police will also be deploying checkpoints at a number of locations, in collaboration with local authorities and Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups. Our primary focus will be on reminding people if you don’t have to travel, then please don’t. It’s simple - travelling to and from different towns and cities risks spreading Covid-19, and puts lives at risk. Travelling to the bach for a holiday is not essential travel and it is not permitted. Police’s first step will be to educate, but if people continue to break the rules, Police will use their discretion to warn people, or if necessary, they could be arrested. We’re asking everyone to play their part this Easter, stick to the rules and stay home within their bubble – and keep themselves and their communities safe.
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1699 days ago

Meet Fonzie, the Cockatoo who spent 20 hours upside-down

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, He's famous on Instagram, but Fonzie the Cockatoo has a new claim to fame, after getting such a fright he landed on a powerline, giving his owner a 20-hour ordeal while he hung upside down. Read the happy ending :

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1697 days ago

Looking for inspiration?

Signature Homes

The team at Signature Homes West & North West Auckland wants to keep you entertained while at home with a free digital copy of our latest home design magazine, full of real stories from Kiwi homeowners.

If you’re thinking of building new, or just looking for some inspiration, Signature … View more
The team at Signature Homes West & North West Auckland wants to keep you entertained while at home with a free digital copy of our latest home design magazine, full of real stories from Kiwi homeowners.

If you’re thinking of building new, or just looking for some inspiration, Signature Style is a must-read! We have a wide range of House & Land Packages and home designs to suit your taste, budget, section and lifestyle.

We look forward to reconnecting with the community very soon, in the meantime please click to get your free digital copy of our magazine.

Dean & Amanda Pritchard
Signature Homes West & North West Auckland.
Find out more

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1698 days ago

Join us for lunch and some new ideas

Jo Haywood Reporter from Homed

Hey neighbours, it was great to see so many of you at our live lunch with NZ Home and Garden and NZ Gardener editors Naomi Larkin and Jo McCarroll. Thanks for stopping by :)

If you missed it, you can still drop in for a recap and see if Jo and Naomi answered your questions, here.

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1697 days ago

25 years evolves into Remote Covid learning

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

We were lucky!

Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.

And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be… View more
We were lucky!

Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.

And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be able to share in the achievements of our current students and graduates. The highlight has to be the magnificent dinner; an inspired menu created by our gifted chef, Finn Gybel and prepared under his watchful eye by the cookery students.

Fortuitously, the lamb arrived fresh from Pigeon Bay via Harris Meats in North Canterbury and after a number of dramas leaving us worried that it would in time. Finn's dish, where he wrapped the lamb in crepinette, to hold it together while cooking, was certainly a new technique that we had not used in the past.

It was a thrill to have veteran broadcaster, Carol Hirschfeld as MC for the dinner and lend her distinctive and thoughtful commentary to our story. Carol asked me who she could "interview" during the dinner. Victoria Biddick, our first enrolled student from 1995, Oliver Hay and Joelle Thomson all shared their unique perspective on their association with the school.

There is certainly some irony in the fact that as we were celebrating these 25 years, another significant challenge was about to explode. Drawing on my earthquake experience, where we relocated our students to my second business at the Duvauchelle Store and Café, I knew that we had to find a way to keep going.

As the Covid19 crisis escalated, I discussed with our tutors how we could teach the programmes online and with the cookery students cooking in their own kitchens at home. Again, I was fortunate that my son Oliver, computer systems engineer, and recently returned from his super yacht chef sojourn, decided that he wanted to work full-time at NZSFW. Oli then set about finding the best platform for the tutors to stream their classes live and to administer the programmes. We have used Google Classroom and the Hangouts conferencing software to do this and it's working well.

By Friday 20 March, we had amended our cookery timetables to focus on baking, pasta and dishes that were easier to prepare at home. The students then went home with a 5kg bag of flour, 2 kg sugar, 1kg butter, 12 eggs and other ingredients. We trialled the video streaming from NZSFW while we could and then following the lockdown, the tutors now continue from their homes. The logistics are much easier for Franck with his hospitality students!

For the cookery students, the model is they watch the demonstrations at home and later upload photographs of their cooking. It's not ideal, as the tutor cannot taste their food and sometimes the livestream is pixellated or cuts out but it's better that doing nothing. Plus, everyone gets to chat and socialise from the safety of their bubble. And with supermarkets open, we can continue to buy supplies. View Foundation cooking shots here. And Advanced Cooking here.

Stay safe and have fun,
Celia Hay

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