Normandale, Lower Hutt

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1485 days ago

Pukeko - modern-day velociraptors

Louise from Woburn

King of the paddock and river bank, pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus) remind me that the blood of dinosaurs flows through their veins. They have strutted over the Earth’s surface as velociraptors before hominids were even a blip on the evolutionary radar. Even their yips and crowing are like the sound… View moreKing of the paddock and river bank, pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus) remind me that the blood of dinosaurs flows through their veins. They have strutted over the Earth’s surface as velociraptors before hominids were even a blip on the evolutionary radar. Even their yips and crowing are like the sound effects from Jurassic Park (they probably are the sounds effects from Jurassic Park). They are beautiful with their regal blue and black plumage, but their eyes have that glint of intelligent thuggery and hard casual menace, like if you fell asleep on the wrong part of the river bank a gang of them would pounce and eat your face off. This severity is tempered by their fluffy white bottoms. People get down on them because they eat the odd bird – typically fledglings or ducklings – but give them a break; they are mostly vegetarian and have come a long way since they were apex predators only 70 million years ago. On the plus side, they will happily have a go at a cat or stoat roaming into their territory, which probably saves more ducklings than they kill. Look at it like having an almost benign overlord that you have to make the occasional sacrifice to for the good of the village.

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1484 days ago

Jumping for Jute!

Robert Anderson from

Jute is a natural fibre with golden & silky shine, and hence nicknamed as The Golden Fibre.

Jute is one of the most versatile natural fibres that has been used in raw materials for packaging, textiles, non-textile, and agricultural sectors.

Jute is a vegetable plant whose fibres are dried… View more
Jute is a natural fibre with golden & silky shine, and hence nicknamed as The Golden Fibre.

Jute is one of the most versatile natural fibres that has been used in raw materials for packaging, textiles, non-textile, and agricultural sectors.

Jute is a vegetable plant whose fibres are dried in long strips, and it’s one of the cheapest natural materials available; together with cotton, it is one of the most frequently used.

The plants from which jute is obtained grow mainly in warm and humid regions, such as Bangladesh, China, and India.

Jute can be grown year-round and is harvested every six months. It can take decades to produce the same volume of wood fiber and it requires much larger tracts of land to cultivate.

The woody core of the jute plant, called hurd, has thousands of potential industrial and commercial uses. As an alternative to wood, hurd is capable of meeting most of the world’s demand for wood and wood products. Using hurd and jute fibres means that the level of deforestation to meet the current demand for paper and wood could be significantly decreased if they were used as an alternative.

Jute is 100% biodegradable (it degrades biologically in 1 to 2 years), low-energy recyclable, and can even be used as compost for the garden. It is clear in terms of reusability and recyclability that jute bags are one of the best options available nowadays.

Jute fibres are tougher and more resilient than paper made from wood pulp and can withstand prolonged exposure to water and weather. They can be reused many times and are thus very environmentally friendly.

The application of jute is a significant step in combating the use of different materials containing toxic wastes. Jute bags cut down the employment of plastic bags, which have now been effectively banned in many countries due to their harmful components. Jute seems to be one of the best alternatives to it.

We hope you enjoyed learning about Jute as much as we did, we would love to hear your comments!

1485 days ago

Flood mapping

The Team from Wellington Water

Flood risk map meetings start tomorrow 🌊
A reminder that we'd like to hear your experiences, and observations of flooding in your area.

If you can't make this meeting, we have three more sessions being held shortly as detailed in the image below.

Tomorrow's meeting details are … View more
Flood risk map meetings start tomorrow 🌊
A reminder that we'd like to hear your experiences, and observations of flooding in your area.

If you can't make this meeting, we have three more sessions being held shortly as detailed in the image below.

Tomorrow's meeting details are 👇

🗓 Wednesday 28 October
⏰ 6pm - 8pm
📍 Massey University, Entry A

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1486 days ago

Pauatahanui School Lamb & Calf Day

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

Fun-n-gala time! Are you keen to do your bit to improve the health of the Pauatahanui inlet?

Visit our stall at the Pauatahanui School Lamb & Calf Day on Saturday 7 November. Find out how you can improve the health of our waterways in the Pauatahanui area and inlet. Your efforts can boost … View more
Fun-n-gala time! Are you keen to do your bit to improve the health of the Pauatahanui inlet?

Visit our stall at the Pauatahanui School Lamb & Calf Day on Saturday 7 November. Find out how you can improve the health of our waterways in the Pauatahanui area and inlet. Your efforts can boost biodiversity and reduce sediment levels in our streams through erosion control and planting. Staff will be available to offer advice and help find out if your property could get funding assistance.

Bring along a weed from your garden and swap it for a free native plant. And loads of fun for the kids! We will have a catchment model at our stall for kids to experiment and learn about sediment, streams, gullies and wetlands. See you soon.

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1488 days ago

Pet of the Day

Reporter Community News

The Pet of the Day this week is a British shorthair, Zsa Zsa.
Owner Dawn Kelly says Zsa Zsa has not been well and she would love her to have her 15 minutes of fame.

The Pet of the Day will no longer be appearing in the Dominion Post and instead you will find it on Neighbourly every Saturday.
If … View more
The Pet of the Day this week is a British shorthair, Zsa Zsa.
Owner Dawn Kelly says Zsa Zsa has not been well and she would love her to have her 15 minutes of fame.

The Pet of the Day will no longer be appearing in the Dominion Post and instead you will find it on Neighbourly every Saturday.
If you want your pet featured, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz

1486 days ago

My garden favourite - goldfinch

Louise from Woburn

Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) are one of my favourite garden birds. I can’t quite give a rational reason, but there is something appealing about the way they fly in urgent parabolic arcs and stuff their faces with thistledown. The colouring too seems exotic, like I can feel warm spice-laden … View moreGoldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) are one of my favourite garden birds. I can’t quite give a rational reason, but there is something appealing about the way they fly in urgent parabolic arcs and stuff their faces with thistledown. The colouring too seems exotic, like I can feel warm spice-laden winds and hear the clink of tea glasses at the bazaar. Christians believed their red faces were from the blood of Christ as the ‘saviour’ bird sought to pull the thorns from his head. It’s a beautiful and tragic legend about a bird that has obviously endeared itself into human history. What's your favourite wild bird (it can be endemic, native, or introduced)?

I have just four of my large A3-sized 2021 Wild birds of New Zealand calendars left for sale if anyone would like to buy one ($27 picked up from Woburn, Lower Hutt, or plus $9.60 courier), email me on louise@louisethomas.co.nz or message me if you would like one.

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1489 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Reporter Community News

This week we feature Thomas the tūī and a lovely picture and words from by Simon Woolf.

"This is our spring friend, Thomas the tūī , enjoying nectar from a kowhai tree my sister gave us as a present over 20 years ago! The kowhai is such a feature in our garden, having been replanted as … View more
This week we feature Thomas the tūī and a lovely picture and words from by Simon Woolf.

"This is our spring friend, Thomas the tūī , enjoying nectar from a kowhai tree my sister gave us as a present over 20 years ago! The kowhai is such a feature in our garden, having been replanted as a small tree, which hadn't as yet flowered, from our first home in Standen St. Thanks heaps Deb."

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1486 days ago

Heritage is about people

Jon from Hutt City Council

Prime ministers, foreign diplomats and a love story. And it all happened in Lower Hutt.

Find out more at our heritage webinar. Go to the link for more information.

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1491 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Reporter Community News

Who recognises this famous photo from the Stuff archives?
Hint: It has come to represent a pivotal moment in New Zealand history.

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1487 days ago

Hurry... Last time offer for 2020!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

This is your final chance to grab our FREE 3-month Premium Business Listing!

Usually $150, your 3-month Premium Business Listing enables you to reach thousands of people who live around your business! Find friendly locals who want your services, introduce your team and share what makes you … View more
This is your final chance to grab our FREE 3-month Premium Business Listing!

Usually $150, your 3-month Premium Business Listing enables you to reach thousands of people who live around your business! Find friendly locals who want your services, introduce your team and share what makes you stand out from the rest.

There's no catches and no hidden fees. It's just our small way of saying thank you for playing such an essential part in our communities.

Grab your FREE 3 Month Premium Business Listing now!

*offer ends 31 October
Get 3 Months FREE

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1489 days ago

Nintendo Switch wanted to buy

Monica from Waterloo

Hi I have been saving for a second hand Nintendo switch. If you have one hanging around gathering dust I would be excited to take it off your hands for a good price!

Price: $100

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1488 days ago

Do you need a retaining wall?

Joshua from Kelburn Price Smart Landscaping and Gardeners

Do you have a slope in your garden that keeps slipping, but don’t want trees on your bank?
Retaining walls help to prevent soil erosion, while also offering you a level ground to plant on. If this sounds like a bit of you, look no further than Price Smart Gardening and Landscaping!
For a … View more
Do you have a slope in your garden that keeps slipping, but don’t want trees on your bank?
Retaining walls help to prevent soil erosion, while also offering you a level ground to plant on. If this sounds like a bit of you, look no further than Price Smart Gardening and Landscaping!
For a reasonable estimate, Give us a call at 027 548 9818 or visit www.pricesmart.co.nz...

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1489 days ago

Habit-Building for High School

NumberWorks'nWords Lower Hutt

Approaching later primary school years can be a time of mixed emotions for students and their parents. Independence is emerging in the form of homework and study time, interest in specific subject areas might be developing, and ideas about the world and how to make a positive impact are surfacing.
View more
Approaching later primary school years can be a time of mixed emotions for students and their parents. Independence is emerging in the form of homework and study time, interest in specific subject areas might be developing, and ideas about the world and how to make a positive impact are surfacing.
By working together with your child to build these 5 actions, habits can be formed now in time to start high school in the coming years, with confidence.

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1489 days ago

Happy Fri-YAY Neighbourhood Supporters! 🥳

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

We know it's our first long weekend since June and many of us are itching to hit the roads, but there's no need to rush. Make sure to slow down, buckle up and have a plan so that you can arrive safely to wherever you're going. 💖

If you're getting behind the wheel:

🌧 … View more
We know it's our first long weekend since June and many of us are itching to hit the roads, but there's no need to rush. Make sure to slow down, buckle up and have a plan so that you can arrive safely to wherever you're going. 💖

If you're getting behind the wheel:

🌧 Drive to conditions

↔️ Keep a safe following distance

😇 Be patient with other drivers

☕️ Take regular breaks to stay alert

⌚️ Allow plenty of time

👉 Use that indicator!


For the latest traffic updates:

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1489 days ago

Super Insect Book

Colleen from Epuni

Looking for a super Insect book .
Have some cards to swap. Thanks

Free

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