Naenae, Lower Hutt

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1247 days ago

Oliver Henwood helps out hospital

Reporter Community News

Nine-year-old Oliver Henwood has been in and out of Wellington Hospital for the past six years, so
he knows first-hand how boring it is to be stuck in a hospital bed.
Born with a bend in his shin bone caused by a growth anomaly, Oliver had major surgery at Wellington Hospital to correct the … View more
Nine-year-old Oliver Henwood has been in and out of Wellington Hospital for the past six years, so
he knows first-hand how boring it is to be stuck in a hospital bed.
Born with a bend in his shin bone caused by a growth anomaly, Oliver had major surgery at Wellington Hospital to correct the problem when he was four and has been back many times for ongoing treatment.
When he was tasked at his school to come up with a passion project that would benefit others in the community, he decided to help children staying in Wellington and Hutt Hospitals.
Oliver found watching DVDs a welcome distraction when he was in hospital yet found many were old or scratched so were unusable. He then took it upon himself to ask his local community in Cambridge for help by distributing flyers encouraging people to donate their DVDs. Once he collected more than 150 DVDs, he tested them all to make sure they weren't scratched before donating them.

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1247 days ago

Weather watch

Reporter Community News

Drivers are being reminded to take care with strong winds, hail and the possibility of snow . It was hailing heavily when I left Maungaraki to head in to Wellington this morning. What is it like at your place?
Please feel free to post any photos you have of the weather.
Stay warm and remember if … View more
Drivers are being reminded to take care with strong winds, hail and the possibility of snow . It was hailing heavily when I left Maungaraki to head in to Wellington this morning. What is it like at your place?
Please feel free to post any photos you have of the weather.
Stay warm and remember if you do not want your comments used, please put NFP.

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1251 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Reporter Community News

Photographer Andrew Gorrie took this beautiful picture of a ruru.

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1248 days ago

5 cheap (or free) ways to keep the house warm this winter

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (The Curtain Store)

Don’t shiver in silence! Use these 5 simple (and cheap) techniques to warm up your home and stay toasty this winter.
Quick Summary
• Open curtains in the day, close them at night
• Make and use draft excluders
• Install window insulation films or use bubblewrap
• Keep furniture away… View more
Don’t shiver in silence! Use these 5 simple (and cheap) techniques to warm up your home and stay toasty this winter.
Quick Summary
• Open curtains in the day, close them at night
• Make and use draft excluders
• Install window insulation films or use bubblewrap
• Keep furniture away from heat sources and use rugs/blankets to insulate the floor
• Use as few rooms as possible and close off the rooms you aren’t using

1) STRATEGIC CURTAIN USE

After double-glazing, curtains are the next line of defence against the chill of winter. Thermal lined ones are best, and floor-to-ceiling ones provide a good ‘seal’ of warmth.


However, it’s also important to know when to open and close these curtains to get maximum effectiveness out of them. Generally, when the sun is up, keep the curtains open to let the sunlight and warmth in. As soon as the sun goes down, close them to trap that heat in overnight.

The advanced version is:
• In the morning, have north-facing and east-facing curtains open. Keep south-facing curtains closed throughout the day.
• In the afternoon, close the east-facing curtains and open the west-facing curtains. Keep the north-facing curtains open throughout the day.
• Once the sun sets, close all the curtains (including the north-facing ones).
• Repeat in the morning.
Curtains aren’t just for windows either! Pinning a rug or blanket over an external door can help give it an insulation boost too. Pro-tip: cover up pet flaps in the same way.

2) MAKE (AND USE) DRAFT EXCLUDERS
Draft excluders are long pieces of thick material, usually in the shape of a sausage, that are placed at the bottom of doors to keep the cold out and the warm in. You might be surprised at how much of a difference blocking even a small gap can make!



Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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1248 days ago

A Woolly Tale

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (The Curtain Store)

Humans have enjoyed wool for over 10,000 years and it continues to be a coveted textile in both high end fashion and interior design due to its many qualities. Here we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wool, sharing the tale of this ancient fibre’s origin, production and inherent attributes. … View moreHumans have enjoyed wool for over 10,000 years and it continues to be a coveted textile in both high end fashion and interior design due to its many qualities. Here we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wool, sharing the tale of this ancient fibre’s origin, production and inherent attributes.

ORIGIN

Britain is said to have lead wool manufacturing through spinning and weaving pre 1900 BC, a skill highly prized beyond their shores. Sheep were first exported beyond Europe to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia toward the very end of the 1700s. We have had a long time to accustom ourselves to the incredible natural qualities of wool and it is quite literally woven in to our trading, cultural and farming histories.


How does wool come to be? Fleece is shorn from sheep annually with a new fleece produced every year (unless you are Shrek the Sheep, who avoided shearing for 6 years – once finally caught in 2004 he produced enough wool for 20 large men’s suits, or 27 kg… blimey!). Once shorn, fleeces are thrown clean side down onto a wool table, skirted (a process to remove undesirable parts of the fleece), folded and rolled to determine class by a qualified wool classer. Bales of wool are then sent to be scoured, a bathing/cleaning process to remove dirt and impurities such as sweat and vegetable matter. Quality is determined by diameter, crimp, yield, colour and staple strength. Finer wools are used for apparel manufacture and heavier for soft furnishing textiles and carpets/rugs.
There are a wide variety of ways to process wool in to differing yarns, including worsted – a very fine yarn spun from carded wool producing a lustrous and smooth product especially suited to apparel. You may also be familiar with felted wools which are produced with heat, pressure and moisture compressing the fibres, entangling them together into a matted textile with a dense, ‘foamy’ or almost spongy appearance and feel. The woollen system of preparing carded wool for spinning ensures short fibres are retained, sometimes requiring combing. Wool can be spun to yarn on its own, or in conjunction with other fibres which can add desirable qualities and attributes to the finished fabric.


Despite a reputation as a land of sheep, New Zealand is actually the 4th largest producer of wool, with the top spot being taken out by Australia, responsible for 25% of global wool-clip. International wool production is about 2 million tonnes, 60% of which is apparel. Approximately 3% of the international textile trade is comprised of wool. We would like that number to be a little higher!

RENEWABILITY
A natural fibre similar to human hair, wool is made of keratin and therefore readily biodegradable. As long as there is grass to graze on, sheep will continue to produce fleece, making it an ideal renewable fibre. Safeguarding the environment is part of the important work undertaken by woolgrowers to guarantee future production and industry longevity. Due to the high quality and durability of wool, woollen products have wonderful longevity and it is also excellent for re-use and recycling. In some instances, wool products can be returned from the interior and fashion sectors to be carded and re-spun in to yarn for re-weaving – an excellent way to reduce waste and extend the life of the material. Because of its hardy nature, when properly looked after, wool has a longer lifespan than many other fibres - if you have ever visited an antique/vintage/mid-century furniture trader, you will often find original wool and wool blend upholsteries still going strong even after a few lifetimes, albeit in need of a good clean!

Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

1251 days ago
1249 days ago

Experience the latest hearing aid technology!

Bloom

Book your free Sound Experience in your local bloom hearing clinic and try the newest almost invisible hearing aids.

They stream sound seamlessly from your phone (Android and iPhone) and can adjust to any situation to fit your lifestyle.

Our friendly, qualified, staff is here to support you… View more
Book your free Sound Experience in your local bloom hearing clinic and try the newest almost invisible hearing aids.

They stream sound seamlessly from your phone (Android and iPhone) and can adjust to any situation to fit your lifestyle.

Our friendly, qualified, staff is here to support you on your journey to better hearing. Don’t miss out, book today.
Book now

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1249 days ago

Looking for an apprentice?

Competenz

Advertise your entry-level and apprentice roles with Competenz through our free online job board, we have pre-qualified and motivated jobseekers ready to match with your organisation.

Find your next apprentice with Competenz!

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1249 days ago

Plans "Daysh Cottage" 884 High St LHutt [now demolished]

Sandra from Normandale

Said to be an 'Historic Property' which is what we knew as 'Daysh Cottage' at 884 High St has now been removed and thankfully taken to Wairarapa to be renovated.
HCC Archives Plans of the Cottage [corner High and Daysh once Cottle St roundabout] show that in 1948 - Welsford the… View more
Said to be an 'Historic Property' which is what we knew as 'Daysh Cottage' at 884 High St has now been removed and thankfully taken to Wairarapa to be renovated.
HCC Archives Plans of the Cottage [corner High and Daysh once Cottle St roundabout] show that in 1948 - Welsford the Chemist - renovated the cottage while giving his work address 868 High St, as a contact.
Closest history is that Daysh sold to Cottle 1900 and he in turn sold the land for 23 sections in Park Ave suburb.

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1249 days ago

Ellacombe Bells Bicentenary

Amanda Wills from Anglican Parish of Lower Hutt

Megan Richter and Graeme Ross on the St James bells. We are taking part in the Chime Around the World today as part of the bicentenary celebration of the invention of the ‘Ellacombe Chimes’.
anzab.org.au...

1249 days ago

SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Opal

Reporter Community News

Our SPCA Pet of the Day is Opal, who is approximately ten months old.

"Hi there, my name is Opal and I am special girl looking a special home. If you are looking for a goofball dog then I'm the girl for you. I can be very silly, so if you are looking for a laugh then look no further. I … View more
Our SPCA Pet of the Day is Opal, who is approximately ten months old.

"Hi there, my name is Opal and I am special girl looking a special home. If you are looking for a goofball dog then I'm the girl for you. I can be very silly, so if you are looking for a laugh then look no further. I am looking for a home with adults only and without small animals due to my quirks and behaviours shown previously. This kind of environment will help me to thrive in training and help me to settle into my new home. I always have a pep in my step and worm my way into peoples' hearts in very little time. I look forward to continuing training with my new owners and am sure to put a smile on your face at the end of a long day. I do come with a medical waiver that my new owners would need to be made aware of. If you think I am the gal for you, contact the canine team for more information."

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1250 days ago

Wrap your home in nature

Resene ColorShop

Nature is far too beautiful to be kept outside. Create a haven in your home with the Resene Willow Wallpaper Collection. With designs to help you relax, recuperate and revive, this collection will help make your house a home.

View the full Resene Wallpaper Collection at your local Resene … View more
Nature is far too beautiful to be kept outside. Create a haven in your home with the Resene Willow Wallpaper Collection. With designs to help you relax, recuperate and revive, this collection will help make your house a home.

View the full Resene Wallpaper Collection at your local Resene ColorShop or get a taste of the latest releases online
Find out more

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1250 days ago

Are you Winter ready?

New Vision Enterprises

The days are getting shorter and wetter. Winter is a few weeks away. To help get Winter ready keep your drainage flowing properly on your property. Take some time to make sure that drains and gutters are free from debris.

Maintaining your existing drainage solutions and freeing them from any … View more
The days are getting shorter and wetter. Winter is a few weeks away. To help get Winter ready keep your drainage flowing properly on your property. Take some time to make sure that drains and gutters are free from debris.

Maintaining your existing drainage solutions and freeing them from any build-up of natural debris (such as grass, weeds, summer growth, fallen leaves and silt) on your property is essential during this time of the year.

If you have any questions or need help with drainage solutions, give us a call. We're a local family business and here to help.
Learn more

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1250 days ago

Pet of the Day: Meet Rio

Reporter Community News

Our Pet of the Day is Rio who belongs to Sonia Saba from Martinborough.
"Rio comes to work in the vineyard everyday, rain, shine or even frost. Hence the Jacket."
Remember if you want your pet featured on Neighbourly, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz with a recent photo. Please remember … View more
Our Pet of the Day is Rio who belongs to Sonia Saba from Martinborough.
"Rio comes to work in the vineyard everyday, rain, shine or even frost. Hence the Jacket."
Remember if you want your pet featured on Neighbourly, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz with a recent photo. Please remember to say what suburb you live in.

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1251 days ago

COVID-19 testing update

Gemma Elizabeth from Hutt Valley District Health Board

Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs continue to test for COVID-19 across the region with 3713 swabs having been administered on Thursday 24 June across Kāpiti, Porirua, Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt, up from 2100 swabs the previous day. 💛

Thank you to everyone who needed a test … View more
Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs continue to test for COVID-19 across the region with 3713 swabs having been administered on Thursday 24 June across Kāpiti, Porirua, Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt, up from 2100 swabs the previous day. 💛

Thank you to everyone who needed a test and got one, and to all the amazing staff at our testing sites!

Ka pai tō mahi whānau 💛✨

Just a reminder, if you have been to a location of interest (bit.ly...) or are displaying COVID-19 symptoms please call Healthline (0800 358 5453) to book a test. A full list of testing locations and hours are available on our website: bit.ly...

Read more here: bit.ly...

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