Vegetation growing out from peoples street side boundaries.
If you walk our streets and roads, you are a postie, a young mother walking her children or an older person with limited sight you will be familiar with the problem of trees, and general vegetation growing beyond peoples boundaries. In many cases you have to duck, brush aside or circumvent these obstructions.
There is a LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT which states that vegetation must not extend past roadside boundaries, but if it does it must be at a minimum of 2.5 metres above the footpath and the grass verge between the boundary and footpath. If it extends over a roadway it must be a minimum of 5 metres above.
There is on the council website an opportunity to report these problems or the council can be contacted directly. Council will inspect and send notification to remedy, but if that is not done within a time frame, council contractors will remedy the problem and the property owner will be billed.
I doubt that many know about these requirements, but if they did I am sure the majority would conform.
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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84.8% Yes
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13.8% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
Railing planters
To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.