Totara Vale, 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.

1738 days ago

Valentine's Day gifts

The Team from Red Cross Shop Wairau Park

Surprise your beloved ones with amazing gifts! Come and see what we have in store, there are many options to choose from ❤️

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1740 days ago

Road Seal Downgrading Continues

John Gillon from John Gillon - Kaipatiki Local Board

Road Seal Downgrading Continues:
I've been fielding a number of queries about recent road resealing work around the area. A number of roads have been downgraded from smooth-seal (hotmix) to chip-seal without prior warning. You can see in the attached example letter, that while residents were … View more
Road Seal Downgrading Continues:
I've been fielding a number of queries about recent road resealing work around the area. A number of roads have been downgraded from smooth-seal (hotmix) to chip-seal without prior warning. You can see in the attached example letter, that while residents were told that their road would be resealed, they were not told that it would be changed to chip-seal. And because Auckland Transport use a smaller, poorer grade of stone than North Shore City used to use for chip-seal, the stones travel a long way, go up driveways, damage cars, etc. I went to see the new road seal at the end of Chelsea View Drive today, and saw that the stones have travelled right back to Mokoia Road. In some parts of Kaipatiki, the new chip-seal has required multiple "sweeps" to remove the excess stones, sometimes for up to a year afterwards.
So why is this happening? Unfortunately in the drive to lower costs, since 2014/2015, Auckland Transport has been downgrading all roads that carry less than 10,000 vehicles a day to chip-seal, which is virtually all suburban roads. If you aren't on a main road, and you still have smooth-seal, it will likley be changed when it is next due to be resealed.

This was AT's statement to me back in 2015 and nothing has changed:
"It is Auckland Transport’s Policy that Chip seal surfacing must be used for resealing, except for roads which satisfy specific criteria, in which case asphaltic concrete surfacing must be used. For example asphaltic concrete surfacing must be used for resealing roads where the volume of traffic exceeds 10,000 vehicles per day, that are subject to high wear and tear (such as most cul-de-sac heads, roundabouts, sharp bends with severe flushing, stripping or skid resistance, aprons/main road intersections), in industrial/commercial areas where there is a high concentration of truck traffic, or that are subject to high usage by pedestrians, such as town centres, hospitals, shopping centres and schools.
All other road surfaces should be resealed with chip seal. In practise, this means that a low vehicle volume residential street that was previously sealed with asphaltic concrete (perhaps at the time of development) may be resealed with chip seal in accordance with the above criteria.
Once resealed, a chip surface is generally swept 3 days after and then again 2 weeks later. The sites are also monitored and extra sweeps can be programmed if required. Roads that have been chip resealed are expected to have some additional loose chip while the new surface settles and programmed sweeping will reduce the amount of the loose chip. The cooler months will also help the new surface to bed in and will result less loose chip."

1738 days ago

Hinemoa Street Roadworks

John Gillon from John Gillon - Kaipatiki Local Board

Work is currently underway to reseal Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead, and is expected to be completed on Monday 24 February.
Unfortunately the work is happening at night to avoid disrupting traffic, and that does mean that neighbours will need to put up with noise from 7pm-5pm during this period (except… View more
Work is currently underway to reseal Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead, and is expected to be completed on Monday 24 February.
Unfortunately the work is happening at night to avoid disrupting traffic, and that does mean that neighbours will need to put up with noise from 7pm-5pm during this period (except for Friday and Saturday nights).

The good news is that unlike what is happening in other streets (see my earlier post), Hinemoa Street is being upgraded from chip-seal to smooth-seal/hotmix, however this does mean that the work is extra-noisy as it requires scraping back the old seal.

Photos supplied by Auckland Transport.

1738 days ago

Have your say on the future of Glenfield!

John Gillon from John Gillon - Kaipatiki Local Board

Have your say on the future of Glenfield! Let us know what you like, don't like, and what you'd like to see happen in Glenfield!
The Kaipatiki Local Board​ is beginning work on a "Glenfield Centre Plan" and needs your input before a draft is written. Once completed, the plan … View more
Have your say on the future of Glenfield! Let us know what you like, don't like, and what you'd like to see happen in Glenfield!
The Kaipatiki Local Board​ is beginning work on a "Glenfield Centre Plan" and needs your input before a draft is written. Once completed, the plan will help us to identify key projects and priorities for investment in and around the Glenfield town centre over the next 30 years.

Visit the team at one of the following drop-in sessions:
* 9.30am-12 noon, Tuesday 18 February at the Glenfield Library
* 4.30pm-8pm, Thursday 20 February at the Glenfield Pool & Leisure Centre
* 9.30am-4pm, Saturday 22 February at Glenfield Mall
* 5.30pm-8pm, Sunday 23 February at the Glenfield Night Market

Or have your say online here:
akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz...

1738 days ago

Fire season restrictions across most of New Zealand

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hi neighbours,

The nationwide fire risk has skyrocketed after a long dry spell, even in parts of the country not used to extreme fire danger.

To read more, click here.

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1738 days ago

Looking for a new rental

Jasmine from Forrest Hill

Hi all,

My partner, myself, and a very good friend of ours are currently searching for a new rental to call home. Our lease for our current property will be ending this Saturday 15th, so we are available now.

Unfortunately, we have been to many viewings and have found it very difficult to find … View more
Hi all,

My partner, myself, and a very good friend of ours are currently searching for a new rental to call home. Our lease for our current property will be ending this Saturday 15th, so we are available now.

Unfortunately, we have been to many viewings and have found it very difficult to find somewhere that fits what we are looking for, or we find that right before we attend a viewing, we are told it is cancelled and the property has been applied for.

There are three of us, and our two dogs.

Myself and our friend both work in the animal industry and have done for a number of years.

My partner works in the fishing industry in a professional office environment.

If anyone could help us to find a home, we would be extremely grateful.

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1738 days ago

Schools are back - time to restore your curtains.

The Team from

The experts at Textile Curtain Cleaning know how to remove unsightly stains, mildew and mould spores that leave your curtains and blinds looking less than their best. Because your window furnishings are valuable, and must be carefully maintained, you can trust our experienced team to professionally… View moreThe experts at Textile Curtain Cleaning know how to remove unsightly stains, mildew and mould spores that leave your curtains and blinds looking less than their best. Because your window furnishings are valuable, and must be carefully maintained, you can trust our experienced team to professionally clean your curtains, drapes and blinds.

We have been cleaning curtains and blinds for Aucklanders for over 20 years so come and see us at 5A Kaimahi Road, Wairau Park or visit our website.

For professional curtains and blind cleaning throughout Auckland, please contact Textile Curtain Cleaning to obtain your free quote.

Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm
Call us 09 473 5350
Find out more

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1739 days ago

25th Anniversary Celebrations

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

The New Zealand School of Food & Wine will celebrate its 25th Anniversary over the weekend of 14 and 15 March when past students will join Celia Hay, the school's founder, for a series of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, gala dinner and Pet Nat Masterclass.

Flashback to 1995, … View more
The New Zealand School of Food & Wine will celebrate its 25th Anniversary over the weekend of 14 and 15 March when past students will join Celia Hay, the school's founder, for a series of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, gala dinner and Pet Nat Masterclass.

Flashback to 1995, Celia Hay had just opened the New Zealand School of Food & Wine (NZSFW) above her restaurant, Hay's in Victoria Street, Christchurch. Twenty-five years later, the NZSFW continues to flourish in Auckland’s Viaduct, with a history that aptly reflects the transformation of New Zealand’s own hospitality, wine and tourism sectors during this time.

With over 20,000 students through its doors, the NZSFW is a leading New Zealand hospitality institution. It's success is built on the quality of programmes that it presents and in 2020, it remains a respected institution, valued by employers and its diverse student body.

Celebration events -
14 March - 9:30 am - 06:00 pm - Cooking Demonstrations & Wine Tastings
14 March - 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Celebration dinner
15 March - 10:00 am - 15:00 pm - Autumn Forage

For more details of the event please visit our page - event.foodandwine.co.nz

Read the full story on the link below.

1739 days ago

SuperSeniors Newsletter February 2020

Office for Seniors

Hi Neighbours!

The first edition of the SuperSeniors newsletter for the year is out now and it is packed full of useful information!

In this issue we share a bit more about us, the Office for Seniors, what we do and how we help older people across New Zealand.

There is a story on money … View more
Hi Neighbours!

The first edition of the SuperSeniors newsletter for the year is out now and it is packed full of useful information!

In this issue we share a bit more about us, the Office for Seniors, what we do and how we help older people across New Zealand.

There is a story on money mules, what they are and what to do if you unintentionally become one.

We also have handy tips on staying fit and healthy with stories on Senior Chef cooking classes and chair yoga.

Make sure to read and share it!

To subscribe, to the newsletter follow this link: bit.ly...
To view the current edition go to: bit.ly...

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1739 days ago

Bathroom Cabinets

Bath & Tile Ltd from Bath & Tile Ltd

Visit us for Range of Bathroom Vanities (600mm-1500mm), Perfume Cabinets, Mirrors and Tiles.

J
1739 days ago

personalised number plates

John from Unsworth Heights

AR1lEY

Price: $150

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