Red Hill, Papakura

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1697 days ago

Largest NZ insurance broker, PIC, is exploiting the dire situation

Robert from Pukekohe

You may wish to know of this exploitation by a firm which is supposed to be respected.
Largest NZ insurance broker, P.I.C, is exploiting and dealing underhandedly with their clients in the dire situation that New Zealanders are in by charging an APR of nearly 25% to pay monthly. This is outrageous… View more
You may wish to know of this exploitation by a firm which is supposed to be respected.
Largest NZ insurance broker, P.I.C, is exploiting and dealing underhandedly with their clients in the dire situation that New Zealanders are in by charging an APR of nearly 25% to pay monthly. This is outrageous and disgusting at a time when we all need to pull together.
My partner’s 25 year old business lost 100% of its income when the lockdown started. Most suppliers helped to try and keep her afloat either by reducing their charges by up to 66% or deferring payment so that she would be in a position to restart when the lockdown ended.
PIC, NZ largest insurance broker, was approached to allow a monthly payment of the insurance premium payable on 15 April 2020. They agreed and quoted an interest rate of 9% - high but not extortionate at this time. No mention was made of the fact that a finance company would be involved. Finance papers were then emailed for a company called Stockade Premium Funding Ltd showing an APR of 24.83% and a flat rate of 9.8%. There is no risk to Stockade Premium Funding Ltd as a Direct Debit has to be signed and if payment stops the insurance is immediately cancelled.
When PIC office in Pukekohe was queried about the interest rate they stated that they had no knowledge of the 25% and that the interest rate was only 9%. When asked to review the position, they stated that the terms to go monthly were non-negotiable.
P.I.C INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED (Company #451964) and the finance company, STOCKADE PREMIUM FUNDING LIMITED (Company #1138701), are majority owned and totally controlled by Michael Geoffrey GARNER, 20 Chisbury Terrace, Shelly Park, Manukau, 2014 , New Zealand

1696 days ago

25 years evolves into Remote Covid learning

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

We were lucky!

Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.

And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be… View more
We were lucky!

Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.

And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be able to share in the achievements of our current students and graduates. The highlight has to be the magnificent dinner; an inspired menu created by our gifted chef, Finn Gybel and prepared under his watchful eye by the cookery students.

Fortuitously, the lamb arrived fresh from Pigeon Bay via Harris Meats in North Canterbury and after a number of dramas leaving us worried that it would in time. Finn's dish, where he wrapped the lamb in crepinette, to hold it together while cooking, was certainly a new technique that we had not used in the past.

It was a thrill to have veteran broadcaster, Carol Hirschfeld as MC for the dinner and lend her distinctive and thoughtful commentary to our story. Carol asked me who she could "interview" during the dinner. Victoria Biddick, our first enrolled student from 1995, Oliver Hay and Joelle Thomson all shared their unique perspective on their association with the school.

There is certainly some irony in the fact that as we were celebrating these 25 years, another significant challenge was about to explode. Drawing on my earthquake experience, where we relocated our students to my second business at the Duvauchelle Store and Café, I knew that we had to find a way to keep going.

As the Covid19 crisis escalated, I discussed with our tutors how we could teach the programmes online and with the cookery students cooking in their own kitchens at home. Again, I was fortunate that my son Oliver, computer systems engineer, and recently returned from his super yacht chef sojourn, decided that he wanted to work full-time at NZSFW. Oli then set about finding the best platform for the tutors to stream their classes live and to administer the programmes. We have used Google Classroom and the Hangouts conferencing software to do this and it's working well.

By Friday 20 March, we had amended our cookery timetables to focus on baking, pasta and dishes that were easier to prepare at home. The students then went home with a 5kg bag of flour, 2 kg sugar, 1kg butter, 12 eggs and other ingredients. We trialled the video streaming from NZSFW while we could and then following the lockdown, the tutors now continue from their homes. The logistics are much easier for Franck with his hospitality students!

For the cookery students, the model is they watch the demonstrations at home and later upload photographs of their cooking. It's not ideal, as the tutor cannot taste their food and sometimes the livestream is pixellated or cuts out but it's better that doing nothing. Plus, everyone gets to chat and socialise from the safety of their bubble. And with supermarkets open, we can continue to buy supplies. View Foundation cooking shots here. And Advanced Cooking here.

Stay safe and have fun,
Celia Hay

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1696 days ago

Certified Accountant Available

Carly from Takanini

Dear neighbours,
My husband is a certified Chartered Accountant and Financial Controller who is currently out of work due to the lockdown. If anyone is in need of any accounting services, particularly with tax season upon us, feel free to get in touch and he would be happy to offer a good rate! DM … View more
Dear neighbours,
My husband is a certified Chartered Accountant and Financial Controller who is currently out of work due to the lockdown. If anyone is in need of any accounting services, particularly with tax season upon us, feel free to get in touch and he would be happy to offer a good rate! DM me with your email address if interested and I will have him get in touch.

1696 days ago

Let's chat about your garden today

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Hello neighbours, our editor Jo McCarroll is hosting another Live Lunch today (with colleague Naomi who edits NZ House & Garden), so jump online between 12.30 and 1pm to join them. You can ask questions in advance, so start firing through your gardening questions and pictures of your garden or … View moreHello neighbours, our editor Jo McCarroll is hosting another Live Lunch today (with colleague Naomi who edits NZ House & Garden), so jump online between 12.30 and 1pm to join them. You can ask questions in advance, so start firing through your gardening questions and pictures of your garden or the projects you've been tackling over lockdown anytime you like!

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1698 days ago

Accountant

Renata from Opaheke

Dear neighbours!
I am looking for an reasonable accountant to help me with my accounts for a simple sole trade business.
Thank you in advance.
Renata
www.lowcarbzone.co.nz...

1696 days ago

Two weeks into lockdown - how's everyone feeling?

Neighbourly.co.nz

How's everyone feeling at this stage of lockdown? Head over to the Reach Out page and let everyone know how you're coping and share any words of kindness that will help support each other during this time. Do you need help or can you help a neighbour in need? Perhaps you can offer a … View moreHow's everyone feeling at this stage of lockdown? Head over to the Reach Out page and let everyone know how you're coping and share any words of kindness that will help support each other during this time. Do you need help or can you help a neighbour in need? Perhaps you can offer a friendly phone call, have some great baking tips, ways to work from home or ideas to keep the kids entertained. Post on Reach Out and together we can all support each other and our communities during this time.

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1696 days ago

Keep calm and kind

Neighbourly.co.nz

Lockdown is a stressful and difficult time for many and showing kindness can go a long way in brightening someone’s day. Be Neighbourly and spread positivity, we all know there’s plenty of that on Neighbourly!

Need help or can you support someone in need? … View more
Lockdown is a stressful and difficult time for many and showing kindness can go a long way in brightening someone’s day. Be Neighbourly and spread positivity, we all know there’s plenty of that on Neighbourly!

Need help or can you support someone in need? Reach out to your Neighbours here now.
Reach out

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1696 days ago

Don't miss your collection this Easter

The Team from Auckland Council

Hey Auckland, we will continue to collect your kerbside collections during the Easter holiday, but with some changes to collection dates.

Collections from Easter Friday will be a day later and return to normal Monday 20 April.

Remember all rubbish, recycling bins and bags and food scraps bins… View more
Hey Auckland, we will continue to collect your kerbside collections during the Easter holiday, but with some changes to collection dates.

Collections from Easter Friday will be a day later and return to normal Monday 20 April.

Remember all rubbish, recycling bins and bags and food scraps bins (if applicable) are to be placed out before 7am on your collection day.
Learn more

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1697 days ago

Has your Tenancy Tribunal hearing been adjourned due to coronavirus?

Kendall Hutt Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi neighbours. Thousands of Tenancy Tribunal hearings have been adjourned due to coronavirus and the nationwide lockdown. The tribunal is restricted in what applications it can hear and is only able to hear ones which include issues such as substantial property damage or the property is … View moreHi neighbours. Thousands of Tenancy Tribunal hearings have been adjourned due to coronavirus and the nationwide lockdown. The tribunal is restricted in what applications it can hear and is only able to hear ones which include issues such as substantial property damage or the property is uninhabitable. Has your Tenancy Tribunal hearing been adjourned over Covid-19? Are you unhappy the hearing has not been able to go ahead? Feel free to get in touch with reporter Kendall Hutt at kendall.hutt@stuff.co.nz.

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1725 days ago

Replacing the private long-distance bus terminal would cost ratepayers

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, If the long-distance bus terminal moves out of Sky City's complex, ratepayers will probably foot the bill. Ngāti Whātua opposes AT's plan to put it on their land. See below what it would look like, but should it stay where it is ?

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1697 days ago

Practice good health habits

Neighbourly.co.nz

● Wash your hands.
● Use cough and sneeze etiquette.
● Respect self-isolation.

These are only some of the ways that you can keep yourself and your Neighbours safe!

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1697 days ago

COVID-19 Advice for our community

The Team from Counties Manukau Health

All Auckland Emergency Departments are open 24/7 for emergency care.

Our hospitals and emergency departments are essential services so wherever you live in Auckland City,

Waitemata or Counties Manukau, your Emergency Department is open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period.

If you are … View more
All Auckland Emergency Departments are open 24/7 for emergency care.

Our hospitals and emergency departments are essential services so wherever you live in Auckland City,

Waitemata or Counties Manukau, your Emergency Department is open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period.

If you are hurt or unwell please visit your local Emergency Department.

For minor illness or injury, please continue to call Healthline (0800 611 116) or call your family doctor and follow their advice.

For information please visit: www.counties manukau.health.nz
Learn more

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1698 days ago

How your household is part of Covid-19s economic hit

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, Everyone is being hit by the Level 4 lockdown, necessary to curb the spread of Coronvirus. For a simple look at how the economy is affected, I looked into our bubble's wallets. How is your household affected? Read the story below :

1698 days ago

Meet our new (furry) friends - Pet Direct!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We are so happy to be welcoming an incredible new partner to Neighbourly - joining our long-term friends AMI, Resene and Ryman Healthcare.

Pet Direct are the new kids on the pet block and know the industry inside-out; they have over 350 dog years of animal experience within their team. Most … View more
We are so happy to be welcoming an incredible new partner to Neighbourly - joining our long-term friends AMI, Resene and Ryman Healthcare.

Pet Direct are the new kids on the pet block and know the industry inside-out; they have over 350 dog years of animal experience within their team. Most importantly right now, they're still delivering all your essential items during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Pet Direct team do things differently; firstly they ALL have pets of their own. They also personally hand-pick every product they stock; they have over 5,000 items that have been tried and tested (but mostly eaten). They ship daily, from their Auckland-based warehouse, straight to your doorstep (with free delivery over $29), and offer a best price guarantee.

Neighbours - our pets remain a constant source of love and comfort during unsettling times. So show them (and the team at Pet Direct) how special they are. To say thanks for the support (and for being a good neighbour during this tough time), they're offering you 10% off their already awesome prices. Just use the code NEIGHBOURLY10 at checkout.
Start shopping now

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1704 days ago

Our sweet pea seeds send out, April issue and Get Growing

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours and NZ Gardener family,

Our April issue should be with our subscribers now and available in supermarkets and service stations (having been distributed prior to the lockdown restrictions). Whether or not it's on the stands yet is a bit patchy ... but then the incredibly brave… View more
Dear neighbours and NZ Gardener family,

Our April issue should be with our subscribers now and available in supermarkets and service stations (having been distributed prior to the lockdown restrictions). Whether or not it's on the stands yet is a bit patchy ... but then the incredibly brave and hard-working supermarket staff have quite a bit on their plate right now so I understand if there is a delay! Please, please, please everyone ... don't go out to buy it! Normally of course we love you buying NZ Gardener but right now it's far more important that you stay home and stay safe. (You can buy a copy with your online shopping though! That's safe and I think we are all in the market for something uplifting to read right now).

In this issue we offered to send out sweet pea seeds to any reader who sent us a SSAE. Just to reassure you, we will still send out sweet pea seeds to any reader who is keen to participate. We are just not quite sure when! Ignore the dates in the magazine of when you needed to send the envelope in by - that has been indefinitely extended. But we cannot wait to send you the seed and for those flowers to bloom as by then we will be well through this or even have it behind us. And keep letting us know what you are sowing and growing, send in pictures of your harvest, your flowers or what you are sharing.

We always love hearing from NZ Gardener readers but now when we are all staying apart that connection means more than you can imagine. Stay home, stay safe and stay in touch everyone. For the most updated gardening advice, subscribe to our digital e-zine Get Growing, which will be delivered to your inbox completely free.

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