Are you stupid enough to give away 45 cents of every dollar ?
Of course , we have to pay tax . We mostly dislike that . Same with GST . And no , I'm not adding 30% top tax , and GST . This actually has nothing directly to do with tax .
But would you knowingly give away 45 cents of every dollar you spent ?
This weekend , Lotto hits $50 million , so here is your chance to win $50 million ! Race out and buy a ticket . If you have more dollars than sense .
Have you read the Lotteries Commission glossy PR brochures ? You must be in to win . Safe , smart gambling . Blah , blah , BS .
Dig a bit deeper , behind the headlines , and you will never , ever by another Lotto ticket .
" In the 31 years that New Zealanders have been paying Lotto , over $4.6 billion in essential community funding has been contributed via the Lottery Grants Board " . Wow -- what a great community service . Yeah right .
WHERE YOUR LOTTO MONEY GOES ( per $1 ) --
22 cents -- Lottery Grants
12 cents -- operating costs ( yes , thats what Lotto NZ spends on itself ! )
6 cents -- retailer commissions ( including credit card fees )
5 cents -- taxes -- goes to Government
55 cents -- Prizes .
Yes , if you spent $1 million on Lotto tickets , you are likely to get around $550,000 back . Spend that next week , and you will be down to $302,500 next weekend . 'Reinvest' that , and by week 3 your $1 million will be down to $166375 . By the time you have been through 4 draws , you'll be down to $91506 ! Seriously ! So in 4 draws , you have lost over $900,000 of your original $1 million .
So who is buying a ticket for Saturdays draw ?
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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76.4% Yes
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22.3% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
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.
Have you come across many roadworks sites recently?
The frustration of seeing a detour sign partway through your journey on the main highways possibly the new way forward when it comes to roadworks.
One of the latest areas to have a section of the road blocked off is State Highway 1 between Putāruru to Tokoroa as part of a massive renewal project that extends down to Waiouru.
Have you come across many roadworks sites recently?