Moera, Lower Hutt

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1540 days ago

Hutt voters could ditch FFP

Reporter Community News

Lower Hutt voters will decide whether to ditch the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system at the next local body election.

Councillors resolved to hold a referendum between the status quo and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.

Hutt City Council electoral officer Bruce Hodgins said … View more
Lower Hutt voters will decide whether to ditch the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system at the next local body election.

Councillors resolved to hold a referendum between the status quo and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.

Hutt City Council electoral officer Bruce Hodgins said councils had the option to review their voting systems two years before an election. The council’s last electoral reform poll was in 2003, he said.

Holding the referendum at the same time as the elections would spread the cost of the exercise and reduce expenditure from $175,000 to $30,000.

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1540 days ago

Poll: Should we ban gangs?

Reporter Community News

Stuff movie reviewer Greame Tuckett loved Savage and suggested it is a film all New Zealanders should see.

"Savage is, in its best moments, a stunning achievement. And it is never less than heartfelt and engaging. Very recommended."

Directed by Sam Kelly, it takes a look at the life of … View more
Stuff movie reviewer Greame Tuckett loved Savage and suggested it is a film all New Zealanders should see.

"Savage is, in its best moments, a stunning achievement. And it is never less than heartfelt and engaging. Very recommended."

Directed by Sam Kelly, it takes a look at the life of gang leader Moses. Set in Wellington in the 1980s, Kelly suggests that we can trace the emergence of gangs in New Zealand to institutions like the Epuni Boys Home in Lower Hutt, where physical and sexual abuse was rife.

Tuckett was particularly impressed by the way Savage gets "behind the masks of gang life and talked to the lost boys and mutilated men" in gangs throughout New Zealand.

One of the highlights was the performance of James Matamua, who was discovered in a Upper Hutt boxing gym.

The movie will inevitably raises questions about attitudes to gangs and whether politicians should take a tougher approach. Tell us what you think?

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Should we ban gangs?
  • 83.6% Yes
    83.6% Complete
  • 16.4% No
    16.4% Complete
286 votes
1541 days ago

Spring has sprung and we're loving all of the flowers blooming! 🌷

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

As we start tending to our gardens and planning what to grow for the warmer months ahead, perhaps consider if there's something else you should be growing in your community such as stronger connections to your neighbours.

Research shows that loneliness is strongly associated with low mental … View more
As we start tending to our gardens and planning what to grow for the warmer months ahead, perhaps consider if there's something else you should be growing in your community such as stronger connections to your neighbours.

Research shows that loneliness is strongly associated with low mental health + well-being. Whether you have a wide social network or prefer to only have a few close friends, joining Neighbourhood Support is a great way to feel supported and connected to those nearby. You never know when you might need a little help from a local friend!

Join or setup a group for FREE by getting in touch with us here...

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1543 days ago

Driveways driven away by new rule

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hi neighbours,

A move to free up more land for new builds is likely to see fewer driveways and garages in modern housing, in a move some say could have New Zealand looking like Coronation Street.

Councils across the country must scrap planning rules that require car parks to be put down near new … View more
Hi neighbours,

A move to free up more land for new builds is likely to see fewer driveways and garages in modern housing, in a move some say could have New Zealand looking like Coronation Street.

Councils across the country must scrap planning rules that require car parks to be put down near new housing or business developments, under newly released housing guidelines.

The change comes as the Government looks to encourage development, in part by freeing up land held up by car parks, under its new National Policy Statement for urban development.

Property developer Phil Robinson said scrapping car park rules was a “big change”, but he was unsure if it was a “big win”.

What do you think of having more new builds in your area with fewer driveways and garages?

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1541 days ago

Avalon hooker loves his pies

Reporter Community News

Asafo Aumua once ate 16 pies for breakfast but it has not stopped him from becoming an All Black.

Aumua achieved that particular feat, one pie for every year of his age, when in the first XV at St Pat’s Silverstream in Upper Hutt.

The 23-year-old played well for the for the Hurricanes in 2020 … View more
Asafo Aumua once ate 16 pies for breakfast but it has not stopped him from becoming an All Black.

Aumua achieved that particular feat, one pie for every year of his age, when in the first XV at St Pat’s Silverstream in Upper Hutt.

The 23-year-old played well for the for the Hurricanes in 2020 and on Sunday was chosen in Ian Foster's All Black squad.

Aumua grew up in Naenae and plays for Avalon

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1543 days ago

Poll: Is a predator-free Wellington achievable"

Reporter Community News

Wellington’s predator-free vision is a step closer to reality, thanks to a major funding boost announced today.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced a further $7.6m in investment over the next five years at Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Wellington on Monday. The investment was expected to … View more
Wellington’s predator-free vision is a step closer to reality, thanks to a major funding boost announced today.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced a further $7.6m in investment over the next five years at Otari-Wilton’s Bush in Wellington on Monday. The investment was expected to create 42 new jobs.

The money would come from the Government’s company, Predator Free 2050, and matches similar investment from Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.

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Is a predator-free Wellington achievable"
  • 62% Yes
    62% Complete
  • 38% No
    38% Complete
342 votes
1541 days ago

See how our Houseplant Hero runnerup Hollie Procter fits all her plants into her tiny home!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

“So I would say it’s possible I might have the most plants per square metre,” she quips.

1542 days ago

Your thoughts on making Matariki a public holiday

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hi neighbours,

Labour will make Matariki New Zealand's 12th public holiday from 2022 if re-elected, Jacinda Ardern has announced.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always happen on either a Monday or a Friday.… View more
Hi neighbours,

Labour will make Matariki New Zealand's 12th public holiday from 2022 if re-elected, Jacinda Ardern has announced.

The new winter public holiday would fall at some point during the Matariki period, with an expectation that it would always happen on either a Monday or a Friday.

The policy announcement follows a series of public campaigns for Matariki, which acts as the Māori New Year, to be recognised.

We want to hear your thoughts about Matariki becoming a public holiday. Do you support the idea, or are you against it? Perhaps you have a counter proposal.

Share your thoughts here.

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1541 days ago

The original big bathroom sale

Zip Plumbing Hutt Valley

- Bathroom Packages from $1599.
- Up to 70% OFF on End of line and clearance products

Next weekend, 18th September 2020 to 20th September 2020. Only in Hutt Valley.

66 Hutt Road, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012
(04) 568 3353
zipplumb@xtra.co.nz
Find out more

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1543 days ago

Poll: Would you buy an apartment in Wellington City?

Reporter Community News

The Wellington City Council estimates that over the next 30 years, the capital will need up to 80,000 new homes. With little land available for development, apartments are likely to be the future for growth in the city.

For Wellington’s inner city, a six-storey minimum building height will … View more
The Wellington City Council estimates that over the next 30 years, the capital will need up to 80,000 new homes. With little land available for development, apartments are likely to be the future for growth in the city.

For Wellington’s inner city, a six-storey minimum building height will likely be introduced with developments up to 10 storeys in Te Aro and on some central city boundaries. In the inner-city suburbs, up to 5400 extra homes will be created.

But inner-city apartment owner Carol Brown​ says people should think very carefully before buying an apartment in Wellington. She is warning that although new apartments will be built to code, the code can change over time.

That is what happened to her and she warned the financial implications can be huge.

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Would you buy an apartment in Wellington City?
  • 17.8% Yes
    17.8% Complete
  • 82.2% No
    82.2% Complete
494 votes
1546 days ago

Fresh water for Lower Hutt residents

Reporter Community News

Healthy Families Hutt Valley is promoting making access to drinking water more available.
There are now fresh and clean water fountains in 24 different locations across the City. You can find where they are on Hutt City Council's website using their interactive map.

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1542 days ago

Whaitua te Whanganui a Tara Committee Have Your Say

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

One week left to tell Whaitua Committee what to do about poos in streams!

Whaitua te Whanganui a Tara Committee is tackling the tough (and smelly!) issues when it comes to water quality and they need your input!

Wastewater getting into streams harms our enjoyment of our streams and harbour. No … View more
One week left to tell Whaitua Committee what to do about poos in streams!

Whaitua te Whanganui a Tara Committee is tackling the tough (and smelly!) issues when it comes to water quality and they need your input!

Wastewater getting into streams harms our enjoyment of our streams and harbour. No one wants poos in streams.

The committee really wants to know what you think contributes to our wastewater problem, how we can solve it and who should pay for it.

Your responses will help the Committee develop recommendations for how wastewater should be managed in the future.

Thank you to everyone who took 5 minutes to tell the committee what you think. If you haven’t yet, there’s still a week left to join the conversation: haveyoursay.gw.govt.nz...

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1542 days ago

90% OFF the price of insulation

The team from EnergySmart - Wellington

You could be eligible for a grant for ceiling and underfloor insulation.

Cut down on those power bills today by making your home more energy efficient.

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1542 days ago

Unravelling textile testing - Colourfastness

Robert Anderson from

Unravelling textile testing - Colourfastness
Colourfastness is one of four key topics (others include Abrasion Resistance, Pilling, Seam Slippage) that we are covering to provide some background as to how we test and why.

Test results provide us with critical information about textile’s … View more
Unravelling textile testing - Colourfastness
Colourfastness is one of four key topics (others include Abrasion Resistance, Pilling, Seam Slippage) that we are covering to provide some background as to how we test and why.

Test results provide us with critical information about textile’s durability and suitability for certain applications. We externally test all James Dunlop and Mokum textiles in Melbourne at a highly reputable laboratory who are amongst the most conservative and stringent in the world, due to the extremely harsh environmental conditions we face here in Australia and New Zealand.


We have gathered a number of frequently asked questions relating to colourfastness so we asked our Mokum studio designers Stephanie Moffitt and Annie Moir to share their expert knowledge.

One of the most important textile tests is that of colourfastness.

Simply put, a colourfastness test measures how well a textile will resist or withstand fading. Fading typically means a change in colour which may be a change in hue, depth or brightness of colour. We perform a range of different colourfastness tests when developing a new textile, we test its resistance to fading against UV light, as well as washing / dry cleaning and also rubbing.

Can you briefly outline the colourfastness to washing/ laundering test?
Colourfastness to washing and/or dry cleaning measures a fabrics ability to withstand fading or colour loss from laundering. The test replicates specific cleaning methods then measures any colour loss against a set of five grey scales, creating a result (1 being least colourfast and 5 being most colourfast). In this instance, a result of 4-5 is the result we strive for.

One question pops up a lot, if a product is machine washable can it be spot cleaned?

We would always approach spot cleaning with water or a cleaning product with caution. Most of our washable textiles are rating as delicate or gentle washing which means a delicate setting and we would prefer a delicate washing liquid. Whereas spot clean tends to be more localised and more aggressive. If spot clean is needed always first try a dry white clean cloth, to reduce any colour loss as this often can remove a stain.

Can you briefly outline the colourfastness to rubbing test?

Colourfastness to rubbing, or commonly known as ‘crocking’ measures fabric resistance to colour loss when subjected to rubbing or friction from another fabric. This is particularly relevant for upholstery textiles – you can imagine wearing white pants and sitting on a dark coloured sofa, you’d want to be confident that when you stand up your pants haven’t changed colour.

With this test, a white cloth is used as a standard abradant, and rubbed against the test fabric in both in both dry and wet conditions, with wet being more severe. Any colour transfer onto the white cloth, and colour loss from the test fabric is analysed and measured against a set of 5 grey scales (1 being least colourfast and 5 being most colourfast). The result we receive from the lab helps us to determine the recommended usage for the upholstery fabric.

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