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Photographer Simon Woolf got a huge surprise when he was photographing birds on Petone beach over the weekend.
He spotted three birds he had never previously seen and posted on Facebook hoping someone would help identify them.
He was surprised to find that he had seen the Lesser knot (sometimes … View morePhotographer Simon Woolf got a huge surprise when he was photographing birds on Petone beach over the weekend.
He spotted three birds he had never previously seen and posted on Facebook hoping someone would help identify them.
He was surprised to find that he had seen the Lesser knot (sometimes called the Red knot).
According to birdsonline it is a regular visitor from Russia. There are about 120,000 that winter over in Australia or New Zealand but Woolf said he had never seen one before in Wellington.
What is the rarest bird you have spotted?
Hi Neighbours – join us on Saturday 17 October as we continue our season with a delightful triple-header.
We kick off with Josef Suk’s generously melodic serenade, which contains a capriciously dance-like second movement. Music Director Marc Taddei will, as ever, conduct our players through… View moreHi Neighbours – join us on Saturday 17 October as we continue our season with a delightful triple-header.
We kick off with Josef Suk’s generously melodic serenade, which contains a capriciously dance-like second movement. Music Director Marc Taddei will, as ever, conduct our players through the performance, which includes Prokofiev's brilliant first piano concerto.
The concerto is performed by internationally celebrated pianist and cherished Wellingtonian Jian Liu, before we round off the evening with Rachmaninoff's beautiful third and final symphony.
Tickets start from $40, and the concert will take place at 7:30pm at the Michael Fowler Centre.
Kirsten Mason
General Manager, Orchestra Wellington
An independent investigator has found "material and serious" code of conduct breaches by Hutt City councillor Chris Milne.
The breaches relate to two separate complaints made against Milne to the council’s chief executive by Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis in May.
The first accused Milne of … View moreAn independent investigator has found "material and serious" code of conduct breaches by Hutt City councillor Chris Milne.
The breaches relate to two separate complaints made against Milne to the council’s chief executive by Deputy Mayor Tui Lewis in May.
The first accused Milne of interfering with the council’s waste and recycling tender process, while the second alleged an ongoing conflict of interest while the council considered selling land for the benefit of Hutt Valley Tennis.
Milne's wife is the President of Hutt Valley Tennis, which has been seeking significant financial support from the council.
Milne declined to comment other than to say he would be presenting evidence on Friday which the council had not yet seen.
We provide companionship to people over 65 who would like a regular visit from a friendly volunteer. We aim to match people with volunteers who live in the same area and have similar interests. Clients enjoy the benefits of walking and being outside, seeing what is going on in their community. They… View moreWe provide companionship to people over 65 who would like a regular visit from a friendly volunteer. We aim to match people with volunteers who live in the same area and have similar interests. Clients enjoy the benefits of walking and being outside, seeing what is going on in their community. They also visit other places like the Botanical Gardens and parks close by with flat areas to walk.
Click www.youtube.com... below to watch a video of one of our clients enjoying a walk with her CWS companion in Wellington.
He already has a knighthood under his belt, a chart-topping single, two books, a forthcoming feature film and a special place in the nation’s affections as a result of his fundraising efforts for the NHS during the pandemic. Now the centenarian Capt Sir Tom Moore is to become the UK’s oldest … View moreHe already has a knighthood under his belt, a chart-topping single, two books, a forthcoming feature film and a special place in the nation’s affections as a result of his fundraising efforts for the NHS during the pandemic. Now the centenarian Capt Sir Tom Moore is to become the UK’s oldest podcaster!
Older people are often lonely – chat with them, urges Capt Tom Moore.
Check out the article www.theguardian.com...
If you would like to help to End Loneliness - email info@letsendloneliness.co.nz to get a promotional pack of stickers, bookmarks and brochures to share in your community.
Greater Wellington has monitored kererū in the Kaitoke Regional Park for the last 17 years and the results are looking good. The number of kererū is soaring to an average of 107 birds, compared to an average of 71 last year.
The monitoring is separate from The Great Kererū Count which is a … View moreGreater Wellington has monitored kererū in the Kaitoke Regional Park for the last 17 years and the results are looking good. The number of kererū is soaring to an average of 107 birds, compared to an average of 71 last year.
The monitoring is separate from The Great Kererū Count which is a nationwide citizen science project run by Urban Wildlife Trust & Kererū Discovery.
Despite kererū’s rising numbers, they are still under threat by mustelids and rodents – especially now that it is breeding season.
2020 has seen the world experience a pandemic in unison.
NZ took swift action and went into lockdown before most major countries. The unprecedented lockdown saw a rise in the need of senior support in communities throughout the country.
Without the help of volunteers, we would not have been … View more2020 has seen the world experience a pandemic in unison.
NZ took swift action and went into lockdown before most major countries. The unprecedented lockdown saw a rise in the need of senior support in communities throughout the country.
Without the help of volunteers, we would not have been able to achieve the level of support that we have. THANK YOU NEW ZEALAND!!
We are excited to present the online copy of Homed for the 10th of October, available in today's Dominion Post Publication. In this edition we feature the beautiful property at 23 Rangihiroa Street, Waikanae, listed by Della Randall and the team at Della Realty. We hope you enjoy this new … View moreWe are excited to present the online copy of Homed for the 10th of October, available in today's Dominion Post Publication. In this edition we feature the beautiful property at 23 Rangihiroa Street, Waikanae, listed by Della Randall and the team at Della Realty. We hope you enjoy this new and improved compact version of Wellington's property section.
Advance NZ - a political party with a difference.
A truly grassroots movement, come into existence for the people, by the people. It has been borne out of the realisation that the COVID-19 health crisis is not being handled in a manner that safeguards all New Zealanders.
We stand for:
• … View moreAdvance NZ - a political party with a difference.
A truly grassroots movement, come into existence for the people, by the people. It has been borne out of the realisation that the COVID-19 health crisis is not being handled in a manner that safeguards all New Zealanders.
We stand for:
• Freedom, sovereignty, and independence.
• Transparency & accountability in government.
• True democracy - focused on solutions for all.
• An innovative economic plan to lead the challenging post-Coronavirus.
• Boosting investment in infrastructure projects, create jobs and prosperity.
• Re-balancing foreign policy towards traditional partners like Australia, USA & UK
Stepping into QMC Junior School marks the start of a learning adventure that equips students for their future. QMC is an IB World School, and proud to offer unparalleled excellence in research-based teaching, learning and wellbeing programmes.
Our Junior students learn new skills, develop … View moreStepping into QMC Junior School marks the start of a learning adventure that equips students for their future. QMC is an IB World School, and proud to offer unparalleled excellence in research-based teaching, learning and wellbeing programmes.
Our Junior students learn new skills, develop confidence, aim for excellence, take risks, challenge and explore the world around them.
Every child enjoys access to a wide range of exhilarating cultural and sporting opportunities in a progressive, cosmopolitan, safe environment. We value diversity, and inclusivity – and are the school of choice for families from 54 countries worldwide.
Join us for Open Day, Years 4-6 to find out more and discover the difference a QM education will make to your child’s future.
Discover Years 4,5 and 6
Junior School Open Day
Wednesday 28 October
• 9am - 10.20am
• 5pm - 6.20pm
Places are limited. Book to avoid disappointment.
Assistance dog Bindi has made the world of difference to Wellington-based author Helen Fletcher, who suffers from multiple auto-immune disorders.
From picking up her keys and carrying her cane, to leading her to a chair when her vision blacks out and helping her up when she falls, the golden … View moreAssistance dog Bindi has made the world of difference to Wellington-based author Helen Fletcher, who suffers from multiple auto-immune disorders.
From picking up her keys and carrying her cane, to leading her to a chair when her vision blacks out and helping her up when she falls, the golden labrador is worth her weight in, well, gold.
Before she had Bindi to sleep heavily on her legs at night, she would get up and move around the house in response to hallucinations she’d suffered since she was a child.
During the Covid-19 lockdown earlier in the year, when Helen spent 12 weeks at home alone because immune-compromised, Bindi rescued Helen from a fall.
Hey Neighbourly folk, I am adding a new feature to Neighbourly every Friday. There are some amazing bird photographers in the region and I will be highlighting their best pictures.
This week's picture features my favourtite bird, the beautiful karearea (NZ Falcon). Simon Wooolf took the … View moreHey Neighbourly folk, I am adding a new feature to Neighbourly every Friday. There are some amazing bird photographers in the region and I will be highlighting their best pictures.
This week's picture features my favourtite bird, the beautiful karearea (NZ Falcon). Simon Wooolf took the picture at Wrights Hill, Karori, and wrote an interesting account of the observation.
It settled itself down on a wooden structure, preened itself, and then dosed off! Then the action started.
Three, or four Welcome Swallows decided to dive bomb the Falcon! Now in flight, and in dive mode, Falcon's are the worlds fastest birds. This bird was obviously stationary. Swallows and Swifts feature in the Top Ten Fastest Birds too. The Karearea is a threatened species in NZ. Predators are man, and while breeding cats, ferrets etc, and believe it or not hedgehogs! I have never seen other bird species attack a karearea!
Normally our falcons are fearless. I have had them land a metre away from me. If threatened, and especially in breeding season they are not just fearless, but are brave, and ruthless. Even we humans will depart the scene rapidly if attacked!
Incidentally once awake the karearea took the aerial attacks in its stride and was pretty non-plussed!
I'm pretty rapt with the series of shots I gained, as the swallows were attacking at over 150kph. There was contact made on a couple of occasions, however I wasn't quick enough to catch that part of the action, even with my camera set a1/4000 sec and with my trusty Sigma 150 - 600 lens.
If you get the opportunity to observe these wonderful Taonga of our New Bush, do so. I have never been disappointed!
Simon Woolf.
Lower Hutt is undergoing a housing boom, with demand outstripping supply.
On Monday, a 11 unit townhouse development was purchased off the plans within 24 hours.
Developer Blair Chappell said he could have sold another 100, such was the demand.
Real Estate Institute New Zealand figures show Lower … View moreLower Hutt is undergoing a housing boom, with demand outstripping supply.
On Monday, a 11 unit townhouse development was purchased off the plans within 24 hours.
Developer Blair Chappell said he could have sold another 100, such was the demand.
Real Estate Institute New Zealand figures show Lower Hutt was one fastest rising house prices in the country in the past year. In August, the median house price hit a record $670,000, rising 22.5 per cent over 12 months to the end of August. This outstripped the capital, Auckland and other regions with fast rising house prices, such as Southland and Hawke’s Bay.
One of New Zealand's rarest and most endangered birds has been successfully bred at the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, near Masterton.
Orange-fronted parakeets (kākāriki karaka) were declared extinct twice in 1919 and 1965. Today their wild population number is just 100-300 individuals.
… View moreOne of New Zealand's rarest and most endangered birds has been successfully bred at the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, near Masterton.
Orange-fronted parakeets (kākāriki karaka) were declared extinct twice in 1919 and 1965. Today their wild population number is just 100-300 individuals.
Successful hand-rearing of orange-fronted parakeets is considered extremely unlikely but Pūkaha had very little choice. The five chicks hatched in early August from one of the centre’s two breeding pairs, a male called Karaka and a female called Pōra. Not wanting to disturb the nest, it wasn’t until two weeks of age that rangers noticed that the feathers on the chicks were not developing. A closer inspection revealed that the chicks were bald and that their feathers had been plucked by their parents. Immediate intervention was required because the chicks were at imminent danger of dying from the cold. The only option for the parakeets’ survival was an attempt at hand-rearing.
The young chicks were immediately placed in brooders with heat lamps and fed a diet of parrot rearing formula. It took about three weeks for the chicks to get their feathers. Some six weeks later, all five chicks are fully grown, flying, and eating by themselves.
Planting for a better planet has never been more important - for food, for the environment and for health. This year in particular many Kiwis have found solace in our gardens, or embraced gardening for the first time.
The call is out to New Zealanders to get growing this National Gardening Week … View morePlanting for a better planet has never been more important - for food, for the environment and for health. This year in particular many Kiwis have found solace in our gardens, or embraced gardening for the first time.
The call is out to New Zealanders to get growing this National Gardening Week and reap the rewards of home-grown food.
To help kickstart your vegie patch and live a more sustainable life, Yates is lending a helping hand.
Just register online HERE between 1st and 18th October to receive a FREE packet of Yates Vegie Seeds.
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