Onehunga, Auckland

Recipe: Fragrant Chicken Salad

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Fragrant Chicken Salad, prepared with social distancing - Pan seared Chicken breast strips, Lemongrass, Cabbage, Spring Onions, Mint, Coriander topped with a Chilli, Garlic & Lemon juice dressing.

What needs to be done to keep the CBD vibrant during the coronavirus pandemic?

Caroline Williams Reporter from Central Leader

Hi neighbours. ‘For lease’ signs and vacant shops have been popping up on prime retail areas across central Auckland in recent months.
There are at least 13 empty retail spaces on Ponsonby Rd alone.
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said Covid-19 had contributed to an increase in … View moreHi neighbours. ‘For lease’ signs and vacant shops have been popping up on prime retail areas across central Auckland in recent months.
There are at least 13 empty retail spaces on Ponsonby Rd alone.
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said Covid-19 had contributed to an increase in tenancies for lease in central Auckland.
Prior to the virus hitting New Zealand, empty retail spaces were few and far between, with demand “outstripping” what was available.
“We can see that leases aren’t filling as fast as they once were. We’re conscious of the impact this has on vibrancy.”

A guide to mandatory mask use during Covid-19 level 2 and beyond

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hi neighbours,

Wondering what the mandatory use of masks during level 2 means for you?

Based on the information at hand, here’s what you need to know about the new face mask requirements, including what kind of covering you can use and when to use it.

Click here to read more.

C'mon Auckland!

The Team from New Zealander of the Year Award | Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa

Hey neighbours,

Hurry! You’ve got just 5 days to nominate your Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year from Auckland and give their mahi the recognition it deserves. 16 regions, 16 winners. All it takes is one nomination.

Who’s your Local Hero? Go.

nzawards.org.nz...

Has the way we communicate love and loss changed over time?

The Team from Auckland Museum

At Auckland Museum, we’re developing a new exhibition centred on emotions and connections through shared messages, and are welcoming submissions that highlight love, loss and longing.

Selected submissions will be featured in the exhibition, so whether it's a letter, email, card or even a … View moreAt Auckland Museum, we’re developing a new exhibition centred on emotions and connections through shared messages, and are welcoming submissions that highlight love, loss and longing.

Selected submissions will be featured in the exhibition, so whether it's a letter, email, card or even a text message with an emotive story behind it - we want to hear from you! Find out more

Small Business funding to Beat 2020

Prospa

Small business owners who need funding to support cash flow or invest in the future can apply for a small business loan up to $300K with Prospa to help them Beat 2020.

Business Loan applications take around 10 minutes online, and you’ll get a fast decision and funding possible in 24 hours –… View moreSmall business owners who need funding to support cash flow or invest in the future can apply for a small business loan up to $300K with Prospa to help them Beat 2020.

Business Loan applications take around 10 minutes online, and you’ll get a fast decision and funding possible in 24 hours – so you can get on with business sooner.

Prospa is New Zealand’s small business lending specialist, and we’re here to help you Beat 2020. Get in touch with our team of friendly business lending specialists today! Apply Now

Important announcement

DynaSpeak Mangere

All DynaSpeak NZCEL classes will continue online for the time being. All sites remain closed to students and visitors. We will update you further as the situation changes.

Poll: Is the government doing enough to support vulnerable communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic?

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

A food bank in south Auckland has seen the number of calls it receives triple in the latest lockdown, and it is struggling to cope with the demand for food parcels.

The government has offered the wage subsidy, interest free loans for small businesses and the Covid-19 income relief payment for … View moreA food bank in south Auckland has seen the number of calls it receives triple in the latest lockdown, and it is struggling to cope with the demand for food parcels.

The government has offered the wage subsidy, interest free loans for small businesses and the Covid-19 income relief payment for people who have lost jobs in the pandemic.

Do you think the government is doing enough to support vulnerable communities in the Covid-19 pandemic?

Is the government doing enough to support vulnerable communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic?

• Yes - there is enough support
• No - people clearly need more help

Vote View Results

• 58.3% Yes - there is enough support
  58.3% Complete
• 41.7% No - people clearly need more help
  41.7% Complete

36 votes

Level 3 cooking with Social Distancing

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Mouth-watering savoury Beef cheese burgers with pickled beetroot, handmade mayo and crispy onion rings on the side.

Support services for parents inundated with pleas for help

Brittany Keogh Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi neighbours, Support services for parents have been inundated with pleas for help from struggling families in need of essential items - like nappies, and sanitary products - during coronavirus lockdown.
Auckland-based charity The Mums' Clique is getting more than 100 requests per day for … View moreHi neighbours, Support services for parents have been inundated with pleas for help from struggling families in need of essential items - like nappies, and sanitary products - during coronavirus lockdown.
Auckland-based charity The Mums' Clique is getting more than 100 requests per day for its essential items packs and Plunket has noted more babies are developing wounds from being left in nappies for long periods because their parents can’t afford to buy more.
Click the story to find out more - including how you can help support these families if you would like to.

Do you know an amazing gardener helping their community?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Nominations for our 2020 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year ends on Monday, August 31. So don't forget to let us know all about the green thumbs doing heroic work for their community.

Do you know someone sharing the veggies they've grown with their neighbours? … View moreDear neighbours,

Nominations for our 2020 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year ends on Monday, August 31. So don't forget to let us know all about the green thumbs doing heroic work for their community.

Do you know someone sharing the veggies they've grown with their neighbours? Perhaps locals restoring a park in the area to bring back birds, or a group of neighbours doing a great job in their community garden. Nominate them today, and tell us why they deserve to be this year's Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year.

Auckland lockdown extended until Sunday, rest of country to stay at level 2

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Auckland will remain in lockdown until Sunday, a four-day extension of the lockdown which was meant to lift on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were promising signs that the Government was getting on top of the virus, but a short extension was recommended by director-general of … View moreAuckland will remain in lockdown until Sunday, a four-day extension of the lockdown which was meant to lift on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were promising signs that the Government was getting on top of the virus, but a short extension was recommended by director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield.

On Sunday night Auckland would move down to level 2. The rest of the country would stay at level 2.

Ardern said the rest of the country needed to stay at an elevated alert level to mitigate the risk of cases leaving Auckland when interregional travel resumed. Click here to read more.

Teens remove 25kgs of garbage from polluted Oakley Creek

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

Youth in central Auckland have taken it upon themselves to clean up rubbish in the polluted Oakley Creek.

Eight teenagers cleared out 25 kilograms of rubbish in under an hour on August 9.

Salvation Army youth worker Raymond Tuala, 22, said the group is predominantly Māori, a culture that … View moreYouth in central Auckland have taken it upon themselves to clean up rubbish in the polluted Oakley Creek.

Eight teenagers cleared out 25 kilograms of rubbish in under an hour on August 9.

Salvation Army youth worker Raymond Tuala, 22, said the group is predominantly Māori, a culture that considers rivers important.

“When I asked the teens what they wanted to do, one of the things that came up was the pollution and rubbish in their local river,” he said.

“They did a pretty good job all around with the clean up.”

The teens are from Mt Roskill, Mt Albert and Lynfield in central Auckland.

In 2019, the creek was slapped with a public health warning after testing revealed high levels of faecal matter in the water.

Gumboots and gloves were worn as a safety measure during the clean up.

Tuala said he hopes to take the group out to clean the lake once a week when lockdown laws have relaxed.

“The young people were loving it,” he said.

“We’re hoping to spread awareness about how much pollution is actually going into the river.”

Make your bin accessible at the kerbside so we don’t have to touch it

The Team from Auckland Council

Please make sure you follow these steps during the COVID-19 alert period to help us collect your rubbish bin:

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 you rubbish bin at the kerbside clear of vehicles and other obstacles
𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 rubbish bins outwards from the kerbside by 7am on your collection day
… View morePlease make sure you follow these steps during the COVID-19 alert period to help us collect your rubbish bin:

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 you rubbish bin at the kerbside clear of vehicles and other obstacles
𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 rubbish bins outwards from the kerbside by 7am on your collection day
𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗘 your rubbish bin for easy access so no one has to touch it

Don’t forget to sterilize the bin handles and wash your hands thoroughly.

No Ban on Fireworks despite Auckland Council plea

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, A parliamentary select committee has decided not to ban the private purchase and use of fireworks, opting to leave rules as they are; Do you think that's the right call? Read the story below: