Green Bay, Auckland

Wondering about something in your neighbourhood?

Wondering about something in your neighbourhood?

Whether it's a new building going up or a strange noise you keep hearing, ask your neighbours here.

1832 days ago

11 phrases that will make you more successful in any relationship

Baptist from Avondale

The importance of communication

What you say at work is almost as important as what you do at work. Learn the phrases that will help you sound smarter, more respectful, and ultimately help you succeed at the office.

Cancel meetings with tact

You have to cancel a meeting and come up with a … View more
The importance of communication

What you say at work is almost as important as what you do at work. Learn the phrases that will help you sound smarter, more respectful, and ultimately help you succeed at the office.

Cancel meetings with tact

You have to cancel a meeting and come up with a reason—or tell the actual reason. Excuses already sound, well, excuse-y, so to validate your behaviour it’s important to choose the right words. Gary Burnison, author of Lose the Resume, Land the Job, reported for CNBC that standard Stanford business practices include being honest whenever possible, and avoiding typical excuses such as “current meeting running late” and “got a fire to put out.” Instead, validate the significance of the missed appointment by saying “I understand how important this is…” or “I’m really sorry but I have to reschedule.” Then quickly move towards potential dates and times when you can make this happen. Setting an example is one of the best ways to build trust with your work colleagues.

Ask the question

Challenge your assumptions about others by asking a question instead of responding with a statement; this can be a powerful argument avoidance strategy in the workplace, according to Mack Shwab, an executive director at the Dale Carnegie Institute. He recommends getting in the mindset to be a more curious person by asking “Why do you think that?” to gain more information about a person’s stance instead of jumping to conclusions. Want to go even further in your career?

Make them think your solution is their idea

In every classic persuasion training, the “winner” has succeeded by making the other person think their solution was the other person’s own idea. Shwab says it’s no different now. To accomplish this, use more questioning strategies to get them to consider multiple points of view such as: “What would be the benefit if we go that way?” and “What would be the benefit to you if that happens?”

“Emphatically” admitting you’re wrong

We’ve all heard the deep significance of apologizing when you are wrong in a relationship. But the Carnegie institute specifically teaches doing so “emphatically.” For example, instead of just saying “I’m sorry,” elaborate a bit to ensure the other party really feels your emotion. You could say, “Hey, I’m really wrong about that and I’m really sorry.” The emphatic nature of this style of apology diffuses the other person more quickly and also creates a culture where it’s safe to admit mistakes. It’s also a best practice to outwardly say you forgive someone, instead of leaving them to wonder where they stand. It’s also key to not sabotage your own apology.

Avoid the “and/or/but” to demonstrate respect

After pursuing the other person’s viewpoint, it’s imperative to avoid the words “and,” “or,” and “but” to ensure the colleague or boss has felt thoroughly heard. Instead, replace these debate-oriented words with a pause and a breath, then say, “that’s an interesting idea. It triggered a thought in my head,” Shwab recommends. His strategy of separating your colleague’s suggestion from your presentation of your own idea demonstrates respect for them.

Kill them with kindness

We all have that colleague, but we don’t have to be that colleague. Using extreme friendliness with the toughest cookie in your department may not change their generally terrible demeanour towards the world, but you may be the person who, as Shwab calls it, “begins in a friendly way.” He compares it to how a dog acts when they can’t wait to see you, complete with the wagging tail. “You will be shocked by the way they change.” Simply starting with “How are you?” and caring can make a difference. You can even attempt small, intentional acts of kindness in your workplace to improve these relationships.

Acknowledge unsolicited advice

A suggestion is defined as an “idea or plan put forward for consideration.” When you receive unsolicited advice at work, responding with “thanks for the suggestion,” will preserve your integrity when you are annoyed and can simultaneously shut down the advice-giver while making them feel somewhat appreciated (maybe both). After all, their idea is out there for your consideration, not your immediate acceptance, right where advice belongs.

Getting to yes

Sometimes negative colleagues or bosses are simply in a sour mental place and used to saying no. You have the power to get them in a “yes” frame of mind before pitching an idea or requesting something through a series of questions about basic facts, Shwab says. He shares an example of trying to sell a widget in a proposal in which others are already against it. Asking a series of yes or no questions to present the positives will lead to more “yes’s.” “For example, you could ask ‘Do you think it will help our customer base?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you think the new widget would make us more profitable?’ ‘Yes,’” he said. Then you move into the potential problematic areas discussion with this yes mindset prepared.

A compliment plus a reason

We’ve all given and received meaningless compliments. “That’s amazing.” “Great job.” While they are appreciated, it’s so much more meaningful to demonstrate evidence for the compliment with specifics. To make it sound sincere, Shwab says, “You have to substantiate it with evidence…if you don’t give an example it loses all its teeth.” Being authentic is one of the best ways to give a meaningful compliment.

Repeat it back

Listening and relationship experts encourage reciting back someone’s words, in your own words, to ensure you have understood and to communicate that understanding back to the speaker. This can start simply with “What I hear you saying…” or “What I think you are saying…” and then discrepancies can be corrected from there before proceeding onto the real work. According to the Harvard Business Review, people only ever retain half of what you said, so this can ensure you remember at least that much.

Accept compliments graciously

A thank you with a period is more sincere than a “thank you so much” or an “I really appreciate it.” It’s the classiest way to receive a compliment, without any elaboration, self-deprecation (“Thanks. I didn’t work that long on the presentation.”) It demonstrates confidence and appreciation without cockiness or insecurity.

1831 days ago

Train timetable changes on the Western and Onehunga lines

Communications Team from Auckland Transport

On Sunday 17 November, the train timetables for the Western and Onehunga lines will be changing to provide earlier and later services. New timetables are live in Journey Planner and AT Mobile. Follow link for more info: at.govt.nz...

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1831 days ago

Celebrate Santa’s arrival at WestCity this weekend

WestCity Waitakere

Join the WestCity Explorers Fern & Nikau this Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November as we celebrate Santa’s arrival.

Enjoy a fun filled weekend of Christmas festivities including:
● Meet & take photos with Santa
● Receive a FREE Christmas activity pad with every Santa photo … View more
Join the WestCity Explorers Fern & Nikau this Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November as we celebrate Santa’s arrival.

Enjoy a fun filled weekend of Christmas festivities including:
● Meet & take photos with Santa
● Receive a FREE Christmas activity pad with every Santa photo purchased!
● Decorate and take home your own Gingerbread Man
● Decorate and take home your own Christmas hat
● Face Painting
● Balloon artist
● Jugglers
● WestCity Explorers handing out treats

Where: WestCity Waitakere Level 1, Centre Court 7 Catherine Street, Henderson, Auckland
When: Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th November from 10.30am – 2.30pm
Phone: +64 9 978 6700
Learn more

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1831 days ago

Cash for cars - get your wreck off the road!

The Team from AAA Auto Parts

Do you have a vehicle that is taking up space and becoming an eyesore? At AAA Auto Parts we dismantle and wreck cars. We will pay top cash whether your car is dead or alive!

* $300 - $3000 for small cars
* $700 - $10,000 for 4x4 utes, vans, 4WD, trucks and buses
* Same day removal
* Free … View more
Do you have a vehicle that is taking up space and becoming an eyesore? At AAA Auto Parts we dismantle and wreck cars. We will pay top cash whether your car is dead or alive!

* $300 - $3000 for small cars
* $700 - $10,000 for 4x4 utes, vans, 4WD, trucks and buses
* Same day removal
* Free quotes over the phone

We will beat any prices in the market by 10%.

Support your local business.
Give us a call on ** 0800 50 00 01 ** and we will be happy to have a chat.
Enquire now

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1831 days ago

Pushchair & Highchair

Marion from Titirangi

Pushchair and Highchair both in good condition.Had on hand for when the grandchildren came so not used all the time. Pushchair has a rain cover and winter/wind cover.
Free to a family in need..

Free

1833 days ago

Auckland's 'creepy' Santa gets the sack

Brian from New Lynn

Auckland's Santa, which has proudly towered above Queen Street for almost 60 years, is being retired after this year's festive season. First installed in 1960 on the Farmers building on Hobson street the 19-metre statue has polarised Aucklanders. In 2011 he was named as the world's … View moreAuckland's Santa, which has proudly towered above Queen Street for almost 60 years, is being retired after this year's festive season. First installed in 1960 on the Farmers building on Hobson street the 19-metre statue has polarised Aucklanders. In 2011 he was named as the world's most unintentionally creepy Christmas decoration by Cracked.com. An attempt to retire him in 2014 was met with backlash by the public and a number of companies banded together to keep him going. A statement from Heart of the City, who owns the statue, said it was costing too much to maintain the weary Santa and it was time to retire him. "We know Santa is well-loved by many Aucklanders," said Viv Beck, CEO of Heart of the City. "But sadly, for a combination of reasons it is time to retire this model." "We love Santa too so it wasn’t an easy decision. However this is not the end of Christmas in the city centre. "We’re already underway in thinking about how Christmas could be celebrated here in the future, and in the new year we will involve the city centre community in exploring what Christmas 2020 and beyond could look like."
Santa will go up for the final time on November 10 and will be taken down on January 10. "We want to provide Aucklanders with the opportunity to say goodbye to Santa. Christmas is a time for joy and celebration and we’re sure many of us have fond memories of him," Beck said. Memories and photos can be uploaded to heartofthecity.co.nz, emailed to farewellsanta@hotcity.co.nz or shared on Instagram and Facebook using #FarewellSanta. They'll then be published to a dedicated page on heartofthecity.co.nz/farewellsanta.
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1832 days ago

Poll: Would you pay to use your neighbours' swimming pool?

The Team Reporter from Stuff

People rent out baches, rooms in their houses, their garages and car parking spaces, so surely hiring out swimming pools is the next logical step.

A new app lets people hire their private pools by the hour, but it hasn't come to New Zealand - yet.

To read more, click here.

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Would you pay to use your neighbours' swimming pool?
  • 28.6% Yes please!
    28.6% Complete
  • 71.4% No, that's weird.
    71.4% Complete
1561 votes
1832 days ago

Together with New Zealand Police we're shutting the gate on rural crime! 🐮❤️

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

Learn more about our new rural crime prevention signs, now available for purchase to the public, on our website: neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz or click the 'Read More' link below. 📰

#safercommunitiestogether

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1832 days ago

Have you had a plant stolen?

Mikaela Wilkes Reporter from Homed

Hi neighbours,

We're to keen to know if pot plant and garden thievery is still a common problem and what people are doing about it.

If you've had a pot plant or something else taken from your garden in the last year and would like to share, could you please email homed@stuff.co.nzView more
Hi neighbours,

We're to keen to know if pot plant and garden thievery is still a common problem and what people are doing about it.

If you've had a pot plant or something else taken from your garden in the last year and would like to share, could you please email homed@stuff.co.nz with your name, your neighbourhood and a quick recap of what was taken and how it happened.

We'd love to hear from you!

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1832 days ago

Auckland can build rockets - so why can't it afford Santa?

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, Love him or hate him, downtown Auckland's (and briefly Manukau's) 5-storey Santa appears doomed because of cost, after nearly 60 years. Should he be saved, and by whom? Read the story below:

(Please type NFP if your comments are not for print)

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1832 days ago

Poll: Should the government keep the 90-day tenant eviction notice?

Neighbourly.co.nz

People will have to put up with offensive behaviour from difficult tenants if the government goes ahead with plans to remove the 90-day notice period for evictions. What do you think? Should the government keep the 90-day tenant eviction notice? Vote in the poll below.

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Should the government keep the 90-day tenant eviction notice?
  • 80.7% Absolutely - I’ve personally dealt with bad neighbours
    80.7% Complete
  • 14% No - tenants could be evicted unfairly
    14% Complete
  • 5.3% I don’t have an opinion
    5.3% Complete
1381 votes
1832 days ago

After Armistice: dealing with the effects of war

The Team from Auckland Museum

As we commemorate the 101st Armistice Day, it's timely that we reflect on the aftermath of the First World War; not only the massive scale of loss, but also the ongoing suffering experienced by those who returned from the first industrialised war.

Arriving in back in Wellington, Colonel Evans… View more
As we commemorate the 101st Armistice Day, it's timely that we reflect on the aftermath of the First World War; not only the massive scale of loss, but also the ongoing suffering experienced by those who returned from the first industrialised war.

Arriving in back in Wellington, Colonel Evans pointedly reminded the soldiers of those left behind: “Remember,” he said, “When you go ashore you are not heroes. The heroes lie in France”. Having lost their comrades in the thousands, the soldiers hardly needed to be reminded of their 'luck' in making it through. Yet for those who survived, the physical and mental toll of the war was immense and for many unspeakable. Each service person confronted the psychological and emotional impact of a war unprecedented in its violence in their own personal way.

One soldier who suffered through his war service was Private Ivor Norman (Norm) Fleet 31249. A bushman who enlisted in Taumarunui, Fleet fought with the Wellington Infantry Regiment and received gunshot wounds to both legs during a clean-up operation at Bellevue Spur on 22 October 1917. His right leg was later amputated and he eventually returned to New Zealand where simply carried on with his life, marrying Elsie Petley in 1928, building his own house and forging a long and productive career. Norm rarely spoke of the war and relatives only recall seeing him in tears as his nephews left for the Second World War; a small clue to the pain that returned servicemen held inside. Like Norm, millions suffered silently in the aftermath. Today we honour their service and acknowledge the immeasurable suffering that came from it.

Lest we forget.

Find out more about Armistice Day and the Museum's collections here. www.aucklandmuseum.com...

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1833 days ago

URGENT! The government is seeking to rush through new terrorism legislation in FOUR days

Blanche from Titirangi

The government is seeking to rush through new terrorism legislation - they have given just FOUR days for the public to make submissions (due Sunday, 10 November!). This rushed process is a serious violation of the democratic process, and the law is unnecessary.

mailchi.mp...
MAKE A SUBMISSION
View more
The government is seeking to rush through new terrorism legislation - they have given just FOUR days for the public to make submissions (due Sunday, 10 November!). This rushed process is a serious violation of the democratic process, and the law is unnecessary.

mailchi.mp...
MAKE A SUBMISSION

We are encouraging people to make a brief submission to Parliament opposing the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill for the following reasons

Here are some points you can make in your submission:

The government is rushing through legislation, curtailing public input into legislation that severely restricts human rights including right to freedom of movement and fair trial rights. This is an unacceptable process in a free and democratic country.
The government says control orders are necessary because the existing Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA) may be unable to secure a prosecution. The government was told 11 years ago that the TSA needed significant changes. Thus far, neither a Labour nor National-party led government has sought to address this. Now it is rushing through legislation to fix a hole that they haven’t bothered about for more than a decade.
If a relevant person is engaged in criminal activity or poses a risk to New Zealanders then-existing criminal law (for threats or acts of violence) is sufficient to prosecute them. Imposing preventative punishment on someone (such as a curfew) based on what they might do runs contrary to our justice system.
The Terrorism Suppression Act already states that any person who joins a designated terrorist organisation is liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to 14 years. Such a person need not have committed any terrorism offences - membership in and of itself is sufficient.
The government is allowing the use of secret evidence, and although it says it will assign a lawyer to look at that evidence, it still means a person may have no way of knowing what the claims against them actually are or who is making them.
The basis of terrorism designations is not neutral or objective: designations are political by their very nature - one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter so to speak. Would Nelson Mandela have been subject to a control order in his time? In some cases, New Zealand’s designations are based on politically-biased source material.
It isn’t clear how much “risk” a person must pose in order to be subject to a control order.


I encourage you to follow the link and make a short submission to show the government the voting public want fair and open government with proper consultation, four days is not appropriate for law making on such an important topic!


mailchi.mp...

1832 days ago

God's Master Plan #8 Today 6.45pm

Christadelphians New Lynn

FREE 8 Week Bible SEMINAR In Your Area
‘There must be more for me to learn about the Bible story and that can involve my family?’
We agree. The Gospel Message, is usually only heard at Christmas and Easter but it can be the truth about life & death - yours.
Join us as we explain the Key … View more
FREE 8 Week Bible SEMINAR In Your Area
‘There must be more for me to learn about the Bible story and that can involve my family?’
We agree. The Gospel Message, is usually only heard at Christmas and Easter but it can be the truth about life & death - yours.
Join us as we explain the Key to God’s Master Plan and the Gospel Message of living for ever. Free Study Book for you to keep. Bring this Invite with you. Registrations: 6.45pm
‘Learning God’s Master Plan Seminar ’

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