Islington, Christchurch

2232 days ago

Poll: Do you think the latest public transport plan is right for Christchurch?

The Team

Christchurch's public transport is in for a shakeup, with more routes, more frequent buses and an emission-free fleet by 2030.

Within the next three years, authorities aim have bus services running every 10 minutes on the five core routes (Halswell to Queenspark, Hornby to New Brighton, … View more
Christchurch's public transport is in for a shakeup, with more routes, more frequent buses and an emission-free fleet by 2030.

Within the next three years, authorities aim have bus services running every 10 minutes on the five core routes (Halswell to Queenspark, Hornby to New Brighton, Sumner to Avonhead, Belfast to Barrington, and the Orbiter), and a further four core routes (Lyttelton to the airport, Lincoln to New Brighton, Wigram to Prestons and Belfast to Cashmere) leaving every 15 minutes.

But to run these and other planned changes, it is forecasting an extra $9.26 million of ratepayer money would need to be found in the 2020/21 financial year. Planners are considering a regional fuel tax. What do you think about this?

Do you think that ratepayers should fork out the bill? What do you think about the current services? Read more here

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Do you think the latest public transport plan is right for Christchurch?
  • 48.9% Yes, it's what the city needs to get people on buses.
    48.9% Complete
  • 51.1% No, the plan misses the mark.
    51.1% Complete
568 votes
S
2208 days ago

Employment needed

Samara from Rolleston

Hey Guys

I’m looking for a job within the Selwyn Area, have been working in admin for the past 4 years and I’m currently an office manager.

Due to my current working conditions I have handed in my 4 weeks notice, as I can no longer work in a position that doesn’t even have a inside toilet… View more
Hey Guys

I’m looking for a job within the Selwyn Area, have been working in admin for the past 4 years and I’m currently an office manager.

Due to my current working conditions I have handed in my 4 weeks notice, as I can no longer work in a position that doesn’t even have a inside toilet or lined walls! Some mornings my office is under 5 degrees, I can not work like this anymore!

Would prefer something around the 30 hours per week as I have 2 children, but I’m open to suggestions and change!

I have applied for around 20 jobs within the last few months and have only made it to one interview! Seems like everyone else in Christchurch is also looking for a job!

I’m well presented, friendly and polite and good at what I do! I can also send my CV upon request!

Any suggestions would be appreciated;)

B
2210 days ago

***Looking for a job***

Brooke from Rolleston

Hi everyone, does anyone know of any jobs going in Rolleston for a 21 year old male, would love labouring or similar job anything hands on. Very reliable and hardworking with references available. Struggling to find anything online on job sites and not hearing back from people. Thanks in advance!

2207 days ago

Looking to reduce your food waste?

The Team from Christchurch City Council

It's not too late to book for the Food Lovers Masterclasses happening this Thursday (September 13). Along with great food waste knowledge, skills and techniques, all attendees receive a free goodie bag valued at $100. Find out more here: bit.ly...

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2207 days ago

Heritage Week kicks off soon!

The Team from Christchurch City Council

Beca Heritage Week kicks off next month with the theme reflecting significant anniversaries which were hard won or hard fought struggles in world and New Zealand history.
See the full list of events and find out how you can get involved: ccc.govt.nz...
#Becaheritageweek

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2207 days ago

Looking to minimise waste at home?

The Team from Christchurch City Council

A friendly reminder that it’s not too late to book yourself in for the Waste Free Parenting Workshops happening this next week (Thursday and Friday). Kate Meads is running them, so be sure to book yourself in as spaces are limited.

Purchase tickets for the workshops here: bit.ly...

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2208 days ago

OPEN HOME - Private Sale - Unique lifestyle opportunity in Rolleston

Lois from Rolleston

Next SUNDAY, 16th September from 2pm until 3pm.
274 Brookside Road. Check out Trade Me listing FXU 295 for more photos and details.
Offers over $699,000

Negotiable

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2208 days ago

Poll: Which large town is the most beautiful? Vote below!

Jo Haywood Reporter from Homed

Hi neighbours! The judges from the Beautiful Awards, run by Keep New Zealand Beautiful, are keen to find out who you would pick as the most beautiful NZ town - out of the two finalists below.

The two towns have been picked as they demonstrate sustainable and environmentally conscious … View more
Hi neighbours! The judges from the Beautiful Awards, run by Keep New Zealand Beautiful, are keen to find out who you would pick as the most beautiful NZ town - out of the two finalists below.

The two towns have been picked as they demonstrate sustainable and environmentally conscious behaviours across key areas, such as litter prevention & waste minimisation, community beautification, recycling projects and sustainable tourism.

Have you heard of the Beautiful Awards? they celebrate environmental excellence and recognise positive actions taken by communities, businesses, schools, individuals and councils, in local and urban areas to protect and enhance their local environments

Note: this poll runs externally from the Beautiful Awards and responses will not be included in the judging process.

Which large town is the most beautiful? Vote below!
  • 43.3% Timaru
    43.3% Complete
  • 56.7% Taupo
    56.7% Complete
349 votes
2209 days ago

Credit Cards and debt consolidation!

Trish from Trish Greenwood Mortgage & Insurance Adviser

Yes!! It has been years since credit cards have moved their interest rates with most being well in excess of 20%!! ANZ has reduced its Visa cash advances interest rate by -2.00% to 20.95%, which takes it down to the same level as its Purchase rate on most cards. No other credit card rates … View moreYes!! It has been years since credit cards have moved their interest rates with most being well in excess of 20%!! ANZ has reduced its Visa cash advances interest rate by -2.00% to 20.95%, which takes it down to the same level as its Purchase rate on most cards. No other credit card rates changed.💳

This is why Banks - especially the big 4, make such HUGE profits!! So if you have credit card debt that is not going to be paid off and fully cleared within the next 3 to 6 months, please talk to me.

This is especially important if you are trying to save to buy your First Home. 🏡😘

Some clients I helped recently had a Mortgage, Motor Trade Finance, QCard and CC debt. We were able to consolidate the debts and reduce the monthly payments from $1,034 per month to $490 per month, which is a monthly saving of $544!!!

The even better news is that most of that savings was able to be directed towards their mortgage which will reduce the term of their mortgage by 16 years!! This will save them in excess 💲136,000💰💰💰in interest costs over the term of their loan.

Being mortgage smart makes your financial future secure!
Trish
0274 368 367
trish@trishgreenwood.co.nz

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2209 days ago

Let’s Dance concert by Christchurch City Choir with guests Rebiund Dance Company and Silhouette Ballroom

Jody Keehan from The Christchurch City Choir

Saturday 15 September, 2pm at Charles Luney Auditorium. This will be a feast for the eyes and ears. The City Choir will Sing waltzes by Brahms and modern music by US composer William Copper accompanied by dance. A wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

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2210 days ago

Do you know a Budding Young Gardener?

Yates

We’re looking for young gardeners (aged 5-15 years) who love getting into the garden, whether it’s growing fruit and veggies or flowers for the butterflies and bees. A Yates Budding Young Gardener may have been gardening for a few years and know how to sow seeds, rustle up a few radishes and… View moreWe’re looking for young gardeners (aged 5-15 years) who love getting into the garden, whether it’s growing fruit and veggies or flowers for the butterflies and bees. A Yates Budding Young Gardener may have been gardening for a few years and know how to sow seeds, rustle up a few radishes and turn lemons into lemonade. Or even just starting out!

Yates Budding Young Gardener will become a Yates brand ambassador for one year AND win an amazing family trip for four, to the Gold Coast, Australia.

The five day trip will include flights, accommodation, a rental car and tickets to the Queensland Gardening Expo (if travelling in July) and a three day pass to Gold Coast theme parks - Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet ‘n’ Wild.

The competition is open to all keen gardeners aged 5-15 years. Entries close 17th September - so enter your Budding Young Gardener now!
Enter now

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2211 days ago

Sunday 9th September

Activate Church Christchurch

Hi neighbours!

Come and join us this Sunday as we talk about John 15 and what it means to stay connected with God. As always, the coffee is hot from 10.15am, our gathering starts at 10.30am. We'd love to have you with us!
Check us out and listen to recent messages online!
View more
Hi neighbours!

Come and join us this Sunday as we talk about John 15 and what it means to stay connected with God. As always, the coffee is hot from 10.15am, our gathering starts at 10.30am. We'd love to have you with us!
Check us out and listen to recent messages online!
www.activatechurchchristchurch.com...

2211 days ago

Souvlaki Food Vendor WANTED

Jeanette from Rolleston

For 14 meetings at Ruapuna Speedway November through April. If you are interested please email secretary@ruapunaspeedway.co.nz

2213 days ago

Being smart with your mortgage and saving lots in interest!

Trish from Trish Greenwood Mortgage & Insurance Adviser

Sometimes life can work out better than expected. Going back a few years I would not have predicted that I would be working in a job that I really loved!!

I started my early career in banking and finance and did the whole 8-5pm thing for many years. In my later years as I moved along the … View more
Sometimes life can work out better than expected. Going back a few years I would not have predicted that I would be working in a job that I really loved!!

I started my early career in banking and finance and did the whole 8-5pm thing for many years. In my later years as I moved along the corporate ladder I even got to do the 7am to 7pm and beyond thing. ☹ ☹

The biggest issue for me was that I wanted to buy a home for myself and my daughter. I found paying rent every month frustrating. I didn’t want to be paying off someone else’s mortgage when I could just as easily be paying off my own. I know everyone has to pay rent for a period in their lives but I thought it was just an expense, so why couldn’t I make it my own expense and get the benefit of paying my own rent to myself!!!

This went on for far longer than it should, as I worked, raised my daughter and juggled the costs of childcare, rent, insurance, living expenses etc. It certainly wasn’t easy. So I saved every dollar I could and after a time and with a few sacrifices (wine, dinners out, wine, holidays, wine) I was able to get a deposit together.

In the first instance, I was just so happy that my loan had been approved and that I would actually be able to move into my own home. 😊 😊 My mortgage was over 30 years which seemed fine with me. It took me quite a while to figure out that I actually needed to manage my mortgage rather than just go along with what the lender told me. I realised that paying even just a little more each week made such a huge difference to the amount of interest I would pay over the term of the loan AND it also reduced my loan term which meant I was paying off my loan faster!! Yayyy.

When I did the calculations I was amazed to see the amount of interest I was saving over the term of the loan – it was over $100,000 thousand dollars! I didn’t even have to stay in the same house to do this! I could also trade up and achieve the same savings.

So, because I learnt this knowledge on the job as it were, I could apply it to my own situation and it allowed me to create more financial freedom for myself.

Fortunately, a few years ago, I and realised that life was passing by quickly and it was time for me to get real and do a job where I could really make a difference and help people on a one to one basis. I think my volunteer work as a Business Mentor helped me to understand that this is where my skill set lay and I get a real buzz from seeing people develop themselves and their financial wellbeing.

During this time, the people I met all had mortgages and families, some with or without children and it became really clear to me that there was a huge knowledge gap about the process of how to get a mortgage and perhaps more importantly, how to repay it!! So …………. ”light bulb moment” I decided to do the study to become a mortgage adviser and become self-employed!

Like all things in life, the more you do things the more confident and adept you become even if it can be complicated. However, for most of us, getting a mortgage is not something we do every day and because the outcome can really impact on ourselves and our families, it can be downright nerve-racking. Also, we are usually very emotionally invested in the process never mind trying to balance it with our usual work and family commitments!

Despite limited media coverage, the fact is for the year ended June 2018, 34,343 First Home Buyers withdrew a whopping $769 million from KiwiSaver to assist with purchasing their first home. This is a big deal!

These are people who will have been in situations like ours - frustrated with paying rent or living with family members - who were just ready to move on to the next stage of their lives.

They made a successful step in the direction of home ownership. Guess what? First home ownership is absolutely within your reach in Canterbury! In fact, Interest.co.nz recently named Christchurch as the most affordable major centre for First Home Buyers since research began in 2005!

So how to become one of those smiling home owners we see in so many ads?

A deposit of 10% is required. Hopefully, you’ve been taking advantage of KiwiSaver or you’ve some savings put aside and/or perhaps some family assistance is available.

To become a confident first home buyer, it’s a great idea to arm yourself with as much information as possible so walking into a property, its value and what it is worth is not a mystery!

It’s a good idea to also remember that real estate agents are generally paid commission based on a percentage of the price the property is sold for, and their contract is to work for the vendor of the property.

Right off the bat, acknowledge that they do not have your financial interest at heart, so it is important to be aligned with someone who does. I can tell you where to easily find the information you need regarding the area you are interested in and even the property you are considering purchasing.

As a Mortgage Adviser, I am here to answer any questions. This is the guarantee that I provide and the relationship that I have with my first home buyer clients. I am here for every step of the process.

In fact, getting the mortgage is the easy part! My focus will also be on ensuring that there is a plan for repaying the mortgage efficiently, thereby saving many thousands of dollars in interest over the term of the loan, to ensure that your financial future is secure.

The great thing about my role is that there is no charge for my services. I am paid by the lender and/or insurance companies. I am independent and not aligned to anyone, so I can give the right advice for your situation and your circumstances and my service is FREE.

Let’s have a chat and work out what stage you are at and where to from here………. I offer a FREE 30-minute video or phone chat which can be booked to work in with your day.

Click on the link below to reserve your time. Looking forward to chatting or just give me a call on 0274 368 367. 🏡🏡😘😍

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2213 days ago

Quality Second Hand Furniture

Stephen Brian from Christchurch Auctions Clearance Depot

Gosh, September is here and the blossom is out. Still rather chilly though. Pop in store we have a splendid array of quality second-hand furniture plus loads of china and don't forget heaps of outdoor furniture ready for a new home. We are located 4 Curletts Rd or check out our website … View moreGosh, September is here and the blossom is out. Still rather chilly though. Pop in store we have a splendid array of quality second-hand furniture plus loads of china and don't forget heaps of outdoor furniture ready for a new home. We are located 4 Curletts Rd or check out our website www.christchurchauctions.co.nz...

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