Royal Oak, Auckland

New lottery, new home

New lottery, new home

For just $15, you could win a fully furnished home in Clarks Beach, Auckland worth over $1 million. Buy your tickets today!

30 days ago

Online Shopping warning

The Team from New Zealand Police

As we come up to the festive season, a lot of us want to shop online and look for good bargains 🛍️🛒

Here’s a few tips to help you stay safe, avoid buying stolen property, and not get taken advantage of:
💸If it is too good to be true, it probably is, or it could be stolen property.
View more
As we come up to the festive season, a lot of us want to shop online and look for good bargains 🛍️🛒

Here’s a few tips to help you stay safe, avoid buying stolen property, and not get taken advantage of:
💸If it is too good to be true, it probably is, or it could be stolen property.
💸If it’s being sold as new, ask for the receipt for the warranty. If they can’t provide it, that’s a red flag.
💸Check the seller’s profile, is it new or relatively blank?
💸If you make a purchase and need to meet somebody to get it, choose somewhere well-lit and well populated in public, near CCTV. If it has to be somebody’s home, take someone with you and let someone else know where you’re going and when.
💸Be especially cautious when buying power tools or high-end toy brick building block sets.

Sadly, if you unknowingly buy stolen property, you’re aiding criminals and inadvertently supporting them to steal more.
If you find a suspect listing or social media scam, call 105, or report it with us online at 105.police.govt.nz

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30 days ago

Relocating Your Cat

Alan Storage from Kiwi Self Storage - Mt Roskill

Ensuring your cat moves house with you without any dramas can be quite stressful during your move. We have put together some suggestions to make it as easy as possible.

Follow the link to read the article and find out how to relocate your cat the easy way.

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35 days ago

Poll: Would you commute by public transport if it was free?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Using your car is convenient, except for finding parking.

Cycling lets you leave anytime, but you might arrive soaked.

So, neighbours, if public transport had the perk of being free, would it be your main way to commute?

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Would you commute by public transport if it was free?
  • 67.7% Yes
    67.7% Complete
  • 29% No
    29% Complete
  • 3.3% Other - I'll share below
    3.3% Complete
2917 votes
31 days ago

Prize draw winners!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The winners of the $100 Westfield vouchers are:

Patrice Hamilton from Sunnyhills

Lorraine Heffernan from Wigram

Rodney Norris from Papatoetoe

View more
The winners of the $100 Westfield vouchers are:

Patrice Hamilton from Sunnyhills

Lorraine Heffernan from Wigram

Rodney Norris from Papatoetoe

Lucy Ayres from Richmond

If you're a winner, get in touch here.

If you're not a winner this week, check back next week!

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J
32 days ago

Glass bird in a cage

Jude from Hillsborough

This is a glass decoration.
It is a bird in a cage that swings on the hook.

The base of the stand is 10 cm diameter.
Height is 20 cm.

Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough

Price: $5

J
32 days ago

Red / maroon colour handbag

Jude from Hillsborough

Deep red / maroon handbag - Milleni brand.

It has a flat bottom so sits nicely.
Large handles to go over your shoulder.
Zipped compartments - 3 compartments. The middle compartment has a smaller zipped compartment within it.

Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough

Price: $5

J
32 days ago

Fathers heart ministry cd's

Jude from Hillsborough

This is a collection of CD's and DVD's. A teaching series from Father's Heart Ministries, by James Jordan.

DVDs -
The restoration of the image of God.
God... our real Father.
Opening our hearts to Father
Dealing with Shame
The orphan spirit
The anointing on sons
View more
This is a collection of CD's and DVD's. A teaching series from Father's Heart Ministries, by James Jordan.

DVDs -
The restoration of the image of God.
God... our real Father.
Opening our hearts to Father
Dealing with Shame
The orphan spirit
The anointing on sons
Weakness... the power of sonship
The glorious freedom of sons
CDs
Experiencing Father's presence
Knowing Father like Jesus does
The false covering of fig leaves
Unveiling the cloud of love
God revealed in us... spirit, soul and body
Waves of revival and history


Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough

Price: $15

J
32 days ago

Early childhood education resource books

Jude from Hillsborough

A collection of books for childhood education and special education.

- Early Childhood special education - 0-8 years, strategies for positive outcomes. By Sharon A. Raver
- A practical guide to early childhood curriculum. Fifth Edition. By Claudia Ellason and Loa Jenkins.
- Understanding … View more
A collection of books for childhood education and special education.

- Early Childhood special education - 0-8 years, strategies for positive outcomes. By Sharon A. Raver
- A practical guide to early childhood curriculum. Fifth Edition. By Claudia Ellason and Loa Jenkins.
- Understanding Child development. Fourth edition. By Rosalind Charlesworth.
- Challenging behaviour and autism. Making sense - making progress. By Philip Whitaker.
- At the cutting edge. The importance of Phonemic awareness in learning to read and spell. By Tom Nicholson.


Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough.

Price: $20

33 days ago

Bird house

Resene

It’s easy to create your own colourful bird house from an old wooden box and some Resene testpots. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions. Find out more

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L
33 days ago

Vintage Tea, Coffee & Sugar Storage Canisters - Black

Lee from Mount Eden

Pick up is *Mt Eden*.

Set of 3 black metal Tea, Sugar and Coffee canisters. Price is for the set of 3. Surplus to requirements. No marks, dents etc. Air tight seals work perfectly. Set of 3 retails brand new for $65.

Dimensions: 13cm diameter. Circa 16cm high (including the handle).

View more
Pick up is *Mt Eden*.

Set of 3 black metal Tea, Sugar and Coffee canisters. Price is for the set of 3. Surplus to requirements. No marks, dents etc. Air tight seals work perfectly. Set of 3 retails brand new for $65.

Dimensions: 13cm diameter. Circa 16cm high (including the handle).

Description
This set of 3 small vintage canisters is perfect for storing tea bags, coffee and sugar. They each have an airtight seal which helps keep contents fresh and full of flavour. They are constructed with a strong metal build which makes them durable and come in black.

Each tin has a 1 Litre capacity.

Price: $20

34 days ago

Babysitting

Ashley from Mount Eden

Hi Neighbours.

I'm Ashley (Landscape Road), and I am available for babysitting jobs. I'm an Early Childhood teacher and have been since 2020, but I am currently between jobs. I have done volunteer work with the YMCA and am also a Girl Guide leader in the Mt Eden area.

I am honest … View more
Hi Neighbours.

I'm Ashley (Landscape Road), and I am available for babysitting jobs. I'm an Early Childhood teacher and have been since 2020, but I am currently between jobs. I have done volunteer work with the YMCA and am also a Girl Guide leader in the Mt Eden area.

I am honest & reliable and have done sitting for several families in Mt Eden before.


I can be contacted here or via my mobile 0211721189 for further enquires or book me through the babysits website.
www.babysits.nz...
Thanks
Ashley

34 days ago

Why so many New Zealanders are moving to Australia

Brian from Mount Roskill

We caught up with people who made the move to Australia to ask how they've found it – and whether anything would make them come home.
Steve* had heard the stories. He knew many New Zealanders were taking the plunge and heading across the Tasman. Still, the publicist and musician was … View more
We caught up with people who made the move to Australia to ask how they've found it – and whether anything would make them come home.
Steve* had heard the stories. He knew many New Zealanders were taking the plunge and heading across the Tasman. Still, the publicist and musician was sceptical about how good moving to Australia really could be. "I was definitely nervous," he says.
In May, Steve and his fiancée packed up their things, left Tāmaki Makaurau and made the move to Melbourne. Five months on, they have no regrets. "I'm almost having to stop myself becoming an Australian evangelist," he says. "It is so, so good."
They didn't know it at the time, but the couple have become part of a mass exodus, as record-breaking numbers of New Zealanders leave Aotearoa in search of more money, better opportunities and improved lifestyles overseas.
For Steve, he says almost everything he'd heard from others making the same move has come true. "It's awesome," he says. "I have no regrets."
'It’s day and night'
==============
A Consumer NZ investigation, published in May 2024, asked New Zealanders from all walks of life living in Australia how they had found their move. They told us they were enjoying cheaper property prices and rent, reduced living expenses, including cheaper food, transport and energy costs, and higher wages. Statistics backed this up.
Steve says he's already reaping the benefits of a much cheaper lifestyle, especially when it comes to food. "It's day and night," he says. "We've got this amazing Greek supermarket and we fill up two massive bags of fresh produce and it will be A$20 (NZ$22) ... Halloumi is crazy cheap."
The pair have found their transport costs have gone down too. With two trams and a bus stop near their home in Thornbury, just a short ride outside of Melbourne's central city, they have no need for a car. "You can get anywhere you need to go really easily," he says. "You can tram anywhere you need to go."
The only downside they’ve experienced is the demand for rental properties. While looking for their two-bedroom apartment (which costs them $A550, or NZ$605, a week), they attended open homes with queues of up to 30 people.
Other than that, the move has been entirely positive. Steve’s partner has been able to advance her career, and he’s enjoying more opportunities for his musical ambitions.
What the statistics say
==================
According to new data from Stats NZ, more people are leaving Aotearoa than ever before. Between August 2023 and 2024, 134,300 residents left the country, which is “provisionally, the highest on record for an annual period”.
The latest provisional statistics on those moving to Australia also remain high, with 28,600 New Zealanders departing for Aus between March 2023 and March 2024.
Why are they going? In May, Consumer spoke to Johanna Smith, who runs the website movingtoaustralia.com. She blames the exodus on variables people have always left Aotearoa for: a search for higher wages, a lower cost of living and more affordable homes.
“You've always been able to afford to buy a home in Australia, and that has not been a reality for the majority of New Zealanders for years,” she said. “Now that the food and the petrol is so high as well, it has definitely made people think, 'Oh flip, maybe I should actually do it.'”
Consumer’s Sentiment Tracker survey data from July backs that up. When asked how confident they were in our economy over the next 12 months, 39% of respondents reported feeling “pessimistic” or “very pessimistic”, while only 26% were optimistic.
Another 37% anticipated their savings would decline in the following year , while only 27% believed their savings would increase. And, 31% reported their standard of living had declined, while just 18% thought their standard of living had improved.
What about those we spoke to last time?
================================
In New Plymouth, Jose Litre, along with his wife Julieta, their son and their dog Rollie had struggled to save for a trip back home to Argentina, despite earning good salaries. So, 2 years ago, they moved into a near-new four-bedroom home in South Australia that cost them A$500,000 (NZ$551,888)
When Consumer catches up with Litre, he’s in Argentina, finally making his first post-Covid trip back home. Their circumstances have changed: his wife is studying after losing her job, but Litre says they’re still able to live comfortably on his income.
“We're very happy with our decision,” he says. “Our son is excelling at school, which is just a 15-minute bike ride from our home. The area we live in, about 30 minutes north of Adelaide, is growing rapidly with new homes and businesses being developed. The economy seems to be booming here – shopping centres are busy, and people continue to spend despite the rising cost of living and interest rates.”
Litre’s colleagues share stories about how hard it is to find a rental property, backing up Steve’s claim that demand is high. And he says the cost of living has increased over the 2 years they’ve been in Australia. “Overall, our circumstances are good, but I don’t want to give the impression that everything is perfect,” he says.
When Consumer last spoke to Amy Potter, she’d just lost her job in Australia as a publicist for a video game company . At the time, she admits a conversation came up about moving back to Aotearoa. It was quickly nixed. “At the end of the day I have bought a house, and now have a dog too, here in Australia and it would not be a good time to sell with the market and economy where it is.”
She also wanted to stay working in the video game industry. “There were still 10-times the opportunities in Australia than I was seeing listed in New Zealand in my industry,” she says. “The scale of Australia is just more conducive to opportunities than New Zealand within the video games space.”
Potter soon found a new job, working for New Zealand-based game asset publisher Synty Studios. The company lets her work from Sydney, and she’s very happy with her decision to stay.
Smith says that’s a new trend she’s noticed over the past few months, with New Zealanders taking their jobs with them when they move to Australia. “I’m definitely still busy [with inquiries],” Smith says. “I'm getting more enquiries from visitors who are planning on moving to Australia while continuing to work for their New Zealand employer.”
‘We're definitely here for good’
========================
In Melbourne, Steve says their move has been so successful he’s about to make it permanent. He’s considering applying for residency, and “closing my New Zealand bank account”. He says, “We’re definitely here for good.”
But there’s one thing he does miss, something that many who have made the move say: his friends and family. A recent visit from his parents helped soften the blow, and he and his partner will return to Aotearoa in January for their wedding.
“If I didn't have that thing coming up that would feel more distant and more sad,” he says.
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www.consumer.org.nz...
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35 days ago

Be Loved this Spring! 25% off SPCA dog adoption fees ends this Sunday

The Team from SPCA Auckland - Centres & Op Shops

Until Sunday only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide. So many of these dogs and puppies are still waiting … View more
Until Sunday only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide. So many of these dogs and puppies are still waiting patiently for their forever families, who - we’re crossing our fingers - will walk through our doors this weekend.

Visit www.spca.nz... to start your journey together.

48 days ago

Be Loved this Spring! Reduced fee dog adoptions at SPCA start today

The Team from SPCA Auckland - Centres & Op Shops

From 5-20 October only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide, waiting for their happy forever after.

Visit … View more
From 5-20 October only, SPCA dog and puppy adoption fees are 25% off. Plus, every dog adopter gets a free Simparica Trio flea, tick & worm treatment, and discount voucher.

We have more than 300 adoption-ready dogs and puppies nationwide, waiting for their happy forever after.

Visit www.spca.nz... to start your journey together.

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