Glendene, Auckland

Introduce yourself, neighbour!

Introduce yourself, neighbour!

Head to our Know Thy Neighbour page.

1659 days ago

Many Kiwis have lost jobs or taken pay cuts. So why are MPs still on full salaries? Jacinda Ardern's promised pay cuts for MPs yet to kick in

Brian from New Lynn

Two months after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised MPs would take a Covid-related pay cut to save millions of dollars they all continue to receive full salaries. Ardern declared in mid-April that she and her Government ministers would surrender parts of their salaries to show solidarity with … View moreTwo months after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised MPs would take a Covid-related pay cut to save millions of dollars they all continue to receive full salaries. Ardern declared in mid-April that she and her Government ministers would surrender parts of their salaries to show solidarity with Kiwi workers who were asked to make the sacrifice and help the economy. At the time, Ardern said the pay cuts for ministers, as well as top civil servants, would save roughly $2.4 million and were designed to "show leadership". However the Herald can reveal that the pay cuts have still yet to kick in - and will not start until July 9. She announced the pay cuts, which were to last for six months, on April 15. Ardern said then that while the fiscal impact was minimal, the pay cuts would show solidarity while other workers were facing pay cuts to get through the Covid-19 hit. "We feel acutely the struggle that many New Zealanders are facing, and so to do the people I work with on a daily basis," she said on April 15. "It stands alongside many actions taken by many people, private sector, citizens, to tackle the health and economic challenges of Covid-19." Around New Zealand, employees in many companies have been asked to take a pay cut – for the vast majority of them that happened almost instantly. But it will take took nearly three months to action due to the bureaucratic process involved in slashing the pay levels. Ardern's pay will drop from the equivalent of $471,049 a year to $376,840 for six months, according to the amended rules around MPs' pay. That represents a 20 per cent pay cut. The Deputy Prime Minister's pay also drops by 20 per cent; Winston Peters goes from the equivalent of $334,734 a year to $267,788. And all ministers go from the equivalent of $296,007 a year to $236,806 – also a 20 per cent reduction. MPs, who are not ministers, party leaders or chairs of select committees, have taken a 10 per cent, $16,000 pay cut –down to the equivalent of $147,565 a year. Act leader David Seymour is critical of how long it took for the pay cuts to come into effect. He said it showed that the Government didn't have a plan to put the idea into practise. "If we were talking about increasing MPs pay, it would have happened by now." Dame Fran Wilde, the chairwoman of the Remuneration Authority which sets MPs' pay and decides on any increases, said the process around pay cuts was complicated and lengthy. The authority was unable to start work on the pay cuts until the bill, which gave the authority the power to make the changes, went through the House. Because of the way MPs' pay works, the Remuneration Authority has the final say on pay levels. The bill made changes to the law governing MPs' pay to make the temporary up to 20 per cent six-month pay cut. That bill was passed unanimously in Parliament last month. Last month in an email to MPs – obtained by the Herald – Wilde said the authority was considering looking at a sliding scale for MPs' pay levels. But the final decision appears to be that MPs take a 10 per cent cut for six months. Asked about the delay, Wilde, a former Labour MP, said putting the pay cuts into effect has been a significant amount of work. The bill related to not just MPs, but also public sector bosses, mayors and councillors. She said that amounted to "many hundreds of people" receiving the pay cut and many members of the Remuneration Authority only work part-time. Seymour said New Zealanders had made extraordinary sacrifices and were feeling the serious economic pain of Covid-19.
"It's crucial that MPs show solidarity and share in those sacrifices."
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1656 days ago

Celebrate Success

NumberWorks'nWords New Lynn

Children love being recognised for their efforts and achievements – and we love to give them that recognition. We celebrate your child’s maths and English achievements, big and small. Tutoring at NumberWorks’nWords is based on success. Each child feels more confident about themselves as a … View moreChildren love being recognised for their efforts and achievements – and we love to give them that recognition. We celebrate your child’s maths and English achievements, big and small. Tutoring at NumberWorks’nWords is based on success. Each child feels more confident about themselves as a learner when they experience success. Tutors provide positive interaction, certificates are awarded and centre-wide celebration is given when students move up a level. You may have been in the centre and heard the clapping and cheering when this happens. It’s so rewarding to see the smiles on the children’s faces and how proud they are of their achievements.

1658 days ago

This small lovely cat needs a home...

Esther from Avondale

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MABEL! WE THINK WE'VE NOW FOUND HER A SUITABLE HOME.
Mabel is a small black and white cat of 1-2 years of age. She loves people and is extremely affectionate. She has been spayed, vaccinated and microchipped and is in good health. She needs a home.
View more
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MABEL! WE THINK WE'VE NOW FOUND HER A SUITABLE HOME.
Mabel is a small black and white cat of 1-2 years of age. She loves people and is extremely affectionate. She has been spayed, vaccinated and microchipped and is in good health. She needs a home.
Mabel was abandoned by one of our neighbours when he moved back to Australia just before lockdown. She was malnourished and neglected. We took her to the vet to have her spayed etc and have been feeding her over lockdown, but cannot keep her.
We have let Mabel inside from time to time, and she is not litter trained. She needs someone who is prepared to train her and give her lots of love. Please message me if you are interested in giving Mabel a home or want to find out more. If you're interested, you are very welcome to come and meet Mabel before deciding.
Thank you,
Esther

1656 days ago

Impress your neighbours with this garden feature

The Team from Resene ColorShop Henderson

A simple yet stylish herb planter that uses four differently sized terracotta pots and a selection of cool Resene colours.

Make the most of this weekend with this easy step by step project idea from Resene. Find out how to create this quick and easy project yourself.

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1660 days ago

Have you been to Haast?

Trupti Biradar Reporter from Stuff Travel

A journey to New Zealand's most remote town reveals some remarkable landscapes. Would you go?

1656 days ago

Are you subscribing to get our free gardening advice?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

In this week’s issue we prune raspberries and brambles. It’s time to get garlic in the ground, grow broad beans (even if you loathe them), raise native trees and shrubs from seed, propagate shrubs by layering and sow onions direct or in trays.

Plus Hilton Carter’s guide to pets vs indoor … View more
In this week’s issue we prune raspberries and brambles. It’s time to get garlic in the ground, grow broad beans (even if you loathe them), raise native trees and shrubs from seed, propagate shrubs by layering and sow onions direct or in trays.

Plus Hilton Carter’s guide to pets vs indoor plants from his book Wild Interiors. Enter NZ Gardener’s Houseplant Heroes competition and be in to win Vegan Fertiliser from Yates and NZ Gardener’s Pruning Made Easy.

Delivered every Friday to your email inbox, Get Growing digital magazine offers seasonal gardening advice from the NZ Gardener magazine's team of experts. Each week we answer your burning questions on raising fruit and veges and tell you the top tasks to do in your backyard this weekend. Subscribe here:

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1657 days ago

Rare opportunity to buy into Alan Turing apartment building in Grey Lynn

Mikaela Wilkes Reporter from Homed

The owner of a 1.5-bedroom apartment on the third and top residential floor of the Turing building, developed in 2014, is cashing out to try to cash into her "villa dream" in the suburb. The 27 apartment owners share a rooftop deck with panoramic views of Auckland City, the western bays, … View moreThe owner of a 1.5-bedroom apartment on the third and top residential floor of the Turing building, developed in 2014, is cashing out to try to cash into her "villa dream" in the suburb. The 27 apartment owners share a rooftop deck with panoramic views of Auckland City, the western bays, Waitakere Ranges and North Shore. To read more click here.

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1656 days ago

Prospa National Winner - Waikanae Beach Four Square!

Prospa

Quoc Tran proud to be serving his customers and the local community!

Quoc Tran loves being a Kiwi and greets every customer into his shop with a broad grin. A friendly smile, a positive can-do attitude and is passionate about running his store. That’s Tran’s simple but effective recipe for … View more
Quoc Tran proud to be serving his customers and the local community!

Quoc Tran loves being a Kiwi and greets every customer into his shop with a broad grin. A friendly smile, a positive can-do attitude and is passionate about running his store. That’s Tran’s simple but effective recipe for success running a local business.

Tran operates Four Square Waikanae Beach and is hailed as the “ultimate friendly shopkeeper” by his customers. Now Tran has been recognised for his dedication to the community by being named the country’s National Winner in the Prospa Local Business Hero Awards. Tran is a proud winner of a prize package worth $10,000!

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Nomination Quotes - "Quoc Tan of Waikanae Beach Kapiti coast.
An exceptional guy who has worked very hard (& his wife too) since arriving in NZ from Vietnam. They operate a hugely friendly & now smartly updated Four Square superette. A very necessary & important store at Waikanae Beach."

"Quoc and his family are an integral part of our community"

"Quoc Tan - he represents all that embodies the very core of the reason NZ is proud to call itself an all-embracing, multi-cultural melting pot"
Find out more

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1656 days ago

We’re here!

Nido

Hello Westies!

After 19 months of construction, the big blue building, Nido is finally (half) open!

Our founder, Vinod Kumar has been a retailer in West Auckland for over 30 years.

Nido is so proud to have made its home in the West. Vinod has already seen and met so many of you in the … View more
Hello Westies!

After 19 months of construction, the big blue building, Nido is finally (half) open!

Our founder, Vinod Kumar has been a retailer in West Auckland for over 30 years.

Nido is so proud to have made its home in the West. Vinod has already seen and met so many of you in the store and we thank you for your support.

Nido is New Zealand’s largest retail store providing Kiwis all they need for their home.

Currently, only Stage 1 is open where you will find homewares, bedding, kitchenware, accessories and more. Stage 2 will boast 100 showrooms of furniture, a cafeteria and even a house!
Visit now

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1659 days ago

Auckland drought: Can you shower in 4 minutes?

Mikaela Wilkes Reporter from Homed

The Government wants Aucklanders to save 20L of water a day. But what does that mean at your house?

Buying efficient appliances and fixing one-off leaks can make huge water savings, but so can small changes to daily habits. If every Aucklander showered in four minutes, we'd save 80 million … View more
The Government wants Aucklanders to save 20L of water a day. But what does that mean at your house?

Buying efficient appliances and fixing one-off leaks can make huge water savings, but so can small changes to daily habits. If every Aucklander showered in four minutes, we'd save 80 million litres of water a day.

Check out the full list of ways to cut down your water use here.

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1657 days ago

Fabric Clearance Saturday 20 June 10.30am to 12.30pm

Ellie from Blockhouse Bay

The West Auckland Resource Centre is clearing out an overstock of recycled and donated fabric for all those crafty creatives who love to sew. Cash donation only no EFTPOS. Bring some boxes or bags to put your resources in. You'll find us at 2B Seabrook Ave New Lynn in the school building … View moreThe West Auckland Resource Centre is clearing out an overstock of recycled and donated fabric for all those crafty creatives who love to sew. Cash donation only no EFTPOS. Bring some boxes or bags to put your resources in. You'll find us at 2B Seabrook Ave New Lynn in the school building opposite the Centre.

Fabric Sale 200620.pdf Download View

1657 days ago

Next Glen Eden Probus club meeting

Barrie Lee from The Combined Probus Club of Glen Eden

We welcome all visitors to our next meeting Friday 26 June 2020, Ph Brian (09) 838 5857

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1660 days ago

Should Council contract cleaners wait longer for Living Wage?

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, Hundreds of low-paid cleaners and security staff who work at council-facilities, but through contractors, had hoped they would be paid the Living Wage this year. Should Council budget cuts delay that? Read the story below:

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1657 days ago

Needing 6 dinning chairs

Talia from Avondale

Needing 6 dinning chairs
If you have some please message me on Facebook www.facebook.com...

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