Aroha from the kitchen for their King
From those working in the food-prep engine room of the ‘dungeon’, through to their mates carrying plates in the dining room - one of the biggest expressions of aroha for King Tuheitia is in the kai to feed his mourners.
With tens of thousands of people descending on Tūrangawaewae for the tangi of Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Vll, keeping them fed across most of a the week is no small task.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Have you driven past this King Country icon lately?
Months after launching a campaign to have Waitomo’s famous big apple refreshed, the woman behind it has closed her petition and claimed victory.
Once the apple of the eye of passers-by, the big apple had suffered years of neglect, which took the shine off the apple and left a bad taste in the mouths of locals, until Piopio resident Karen Barrett took a bite out of its owners - Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL).
Have you driven past this King Country icon lately? Tell us your thoughts in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
Warnings about scams
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.