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444 days ago

The train hidden in the Waitākere Ranges - and the fight to bring it back

Melanie Earley Reporter from Western Leader

Kia ora neighbours, a tourist train nestled inside the Waitākere ranges has been rusting away for nearly a decade – but a group of volunteers hopes to get it running again.

The Rainforest Express was a miniature railway that ran 6km through the ranges from Jacobson's Depot on Scenic Drive to the Upper Nihotupu Dam, one of the main water supply reservoirs in West Auckland.

At the end of 2014 the express was closed after a geological report found there were 20 at-risk sites across the tramlines, with nine of those posing a “significant” risk to public safety.

Since then the rainforest express and its tramlines have been “rusting away”, Waitākere ward councillor Ken Turner said.

Read the full story below.

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More messages from your neighbours
40 minutes ago

Riddle Me This, Neighbours! Bet You Can’t Guess It!

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

Sometimes narrow, sometimes wide, wind or rain, I stay outside.
Even if there’s heat or snow, from house to house I will still go.
What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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40 minutes ago

New lottery, new home

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Find out more

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5 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

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.

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