☀️🏄Enjoy the fabulous long weekend🏊☀️
May you and your friends and family enjoy the lovely long weekend ahead of us.
Please be careful on the roads & remember to plan your trip, especially if you have children in the car with you. 🚗🚙
Try to avoid travelling in the worst times between 9am - 4pm, this is when all the cars will be nose to tail and tempers have been known to flare on these occasions.
Try to travel outside of these hours, that way breaks can be had, toilet stops will be less stressful and you can also get there and back all in on safe condition.
Travelling in the evenings will be cooler and you will find yourself driving a bit more carefully and slower to get there. The children can sleep in the car.
Make sure that you have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand, especially in this warm weather.
If you are not going away (like myself), then avoid the motorways at all costs in those hours,, unless it's a short trip.
Mind you, Auckland maybe nice & quiet for those of us who remain behind.
Perfect time to go for a nice walk, a nice picnic at park or a beach or even in your backyard.🍕🍗🍓🍑🍎
Maybe a nice bike ride will be on the schedule.🚴
You may even discover a new ice cream place along your way.🍦🍧
Remember to slip, slop, slap in this glorious summer weather, especially the little ones.
If you are going to the beach, DON'T FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN and apply liberally and often. Also, keep eye on the little ones near water and the sand dunes.
But above all, be safe (and sensible and have so much fun and we'll see you all when you get back - all in one piece please.
☀️☀️⛱🏊🏄🚣🏖☀️☀️
New baby?
Hi - I'm Olivia from Stuff (and a new mum myself).
I'm writing an article on the different challenges faced by parents around the country, from midwife availability and getting on wait lists for childcare right down to the food at birthing centres.
Are you keen to share your experience on what you found easy and what was hard? Please email olivia.wannan@stuff.co.nz or leave a message below. Thanks all :)
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.5% Yes
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14% No
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1.5% Other - I'll share below