Aotea, Porirua

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1212 days ago

Porirua beach cleanup crew picks up 160kg of rubbish in 100m

Reporter Community News

A beach cleanup crew collected 160kg of rubbish in two hours in an area of 100 square metres in the wetlands near Porirua Harbour on Saturday.
Petone Beach Cleanup Crew founder Lorraine Shaab has coined it “the Great Wellington Garbage Patch”.
She had been picking up rubbish in public places … View more
A beach cleanup crew collected 160kg of rubbish in two hours in an area of 100 square metres in the wetlands near Porirua Harbour on Saturday.
Petone Beach Cleanup Crew founder Lorraine Shaab has coined it “the Great Wellington Garbage Patch”.
She had been picking up rubbish in public places since 2015 and said that without a doubt the problem was getting worse. But she said this stretch of shoreline at the Porirua Harbour inlet took the cake.
Six volunteers, including Shaab herself, Michelle Stronach-Marsh from Plogging in Petone and Wayne Gazley from Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful, took to the beach on Saturday, armed with sacks donated by local business Kereru Brewing

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1212 days ago

Major wastewater tank project to help Porirua

Porirua City Council

The recent burst wastewater pipe in Paremata has highlighted how important it is to look after the network carrying sewage away from our homes.

Fixing this pipe has become a priority but Porirua City Council is also taking a longer view, as signalled recently in its Long-term Plan (LTP), with … View more
The recent burst wastewater pipe in Paremata has highlighted how important it is to look after the network carrying sewage away from our homes.

Fixing this pipe has become a priority but Porirua City Council is also taking a longer view, as signalled recently in its Long-term Plan (LTP), with investment in critical infrastructure and harbour health among key priorities for the coming 30 years.

One of the major projects planned is a storage tank to help stop wastewater overflowing into Porirua Stream and Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.

The proposed tank will be located north of Porirua railway station, between SH1 and the railway line. It will hold up to seven million litres (about three Olympic-sized swimming pools) of wastewater when there is heavy rain. Once the rain stops, the wastewater from the tank will be pumped to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in and fully treated.

Porirua City Council will soon ask for public submissions on the planned tank.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker is welcoming progress on this project. “We made infrastructure a priority in our LTP – anything that can take pressure off our wastewater network is important for Porirua. I will also be interested in hearing the views of our residents.”

Wellington Water’s chief wastewater advisor, Steve Hutchison, says the tank will make a big difference to the harbour by reducing overflows from a known problem area. “The tank’s being sited where three wastewater main pipes – from the north, south, and east – feed wastewater through one pump station to the treatment plant. This is currently a bottleneck and unfortunately wastewater overflows from here regularly in heavy rainfall. That’s why we need this tank.”

The tank and related pump station and pipes have been designed to meet high standards of earthquake resilience. Planning includes protecting the existing wetland and planting native trees to screen the tank from sight and improve the environment.

Follow: Facebook / Twitter
Visit: poriruacity.govt.nz
Call: (04) 237 5089
Find out more

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1213 days ago

Meet our Houseplant Hero 2021!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Please meet Alyce Read of Nelson, who uses her houseplant collection to connect with others and help them overcome mental health challenges. "You wouldn’t take a plant and put it in a dark corner and fail to water it and expect it to thrive. So we should look at ourselves … View more
Dear neighbours,

Please meet Alyce Read of Nelson, who uses her houseplant collection to connect with others and help them overcome mental health challenges. "You wouldn’t take a plant and put it in a dark corner and fail to water it and expect it to thrive. So we should look at ourselves that way," she says. "If we are not thriving in the way that we would wish, it might not be any fault of ours, it might be the conditions that we are under."

1213 days ago

Random Acts of Kindness – August 1st to 31st 💐

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

All it takes is a kind gesture to change someone’s day. From giving flowers to a neighbour ‘just because’ to paying it forward in line at a cafe - this month we’re encouraging our members and supporters to make New Zealand a better place one random act of kindness at a time.

The options … View more
All it takes is a kind gesture to change someone’s day. From giving flowers to a neighbour ‘just because’ to paying it forward in line at a cafe - this month we’re encouraging our members and supporters to make New Zealand a better place one random act of kindness at a time.

The options for doing so are endless! Being kind doesn’t have to cost a thing, after all a smile is free. For those who want to go the extra mile, here’s some other ideas: take a gift over to new neighbours and introduce yourself, build a free community library for your street, buy extra kai at the grocery store to donate to a food bank, bring treats into work for colleagues, send an encouraging text to someone who needs it, let a car into the traffic ahead of you, write positive messages in chalk on sidewalks around your neighbourhood, or surprise loved ones with a visit.

Want to share your thoughts? Let us know how you’re spreading kindness this month by tagging us in your social media posts or emailing us your photos, videos, or experiences to:

info@neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz

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1213 days ago

Meet the makers at Sustainability Trust’s mid-winter market

Sustainability Trust

Tēnā koutou. Your neighbours at Sustainability Trust here. Just letting you know that our mid-winter market is back and better than ever - and you're invited.

This is your opportunity to meet the makers, the crafters and creators, the people that make us proud to #SupportLocal. There will… View more
Tēnā koutou. Your neighbours at Sustainability Trust here. Just letting you know that our mid-winter market is back and better than ever - and you're invited.

This is your opportunity to meet the makers, the crafters and creators, the people that make us proud to #SupportLocal. There will be music, locally made artisanal gifts and goodies, great conversations and great people.

So go on, cut out the supply chain and meet the people behind the products. Be ethical, shop sustainably & support NZ made.

Admission is free, but please bring cash as many of the stallholders will not have EFTPOS.

Homeware > Art > Toys > Beauty > Clothing > Gifts > Food >Music

All are sustainably sourced and ethically made by conscious consumers for conscious consumers.

Sat, 21 August from 10.30 am to 4 pm - 2 Forresters Lane, Wellington.
Find out more

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1213 days ago

Looking for an apprentice?

Competenz

Advertise your entry-level and apprentice roles with Competenz through our 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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1216 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Reporter Community News

This week we again feature words and a picture from Louise Thomas, who recently ventured to Whanganui.

"The Chief Porter and I have been hunting the Nankeen Night Heron for some time. Randomly calling into Ūpokongaro to the spot “Behind the Door on 4” where others before us have clocked … View more
This week we again feature words and a picture from Louise Thomas, who recently ventured to Whanganui.

"The Chief Porter and I have been hunting the Nankeen Night Heron for some time. Randomly calling into Ūpokongaro to the spot “Behind the Door on 4” where others before us have clocked the birds, but, for us, with no success. On Monday we were crest fallen to find the café shut, but thought we would head a little way up Makirikiri Valley Road and drop down into the gulley and scout along the stream that runs into the Whanganui River at Ūpokongaro.
The recent rain had made the stream brown and swollen, water was lapping up onto the shelf with the slight track covered in wandering willy (tradescentia). It was wet, slippery, and muddy and our pants were wet up to the knees just walking through the undergrowth. We were buzzed by fantails and wax-eyes, but saw nothing of the night herons behind the area where the café is.
We pushed a little further upstream, straddling rotten logs which crumbled under our feet and slipping in the thick wet weed. I was about to call time of death on the operation, when the Chief Porter spotted a creamy patch against the dark tangled trees overhanging the stream. It was like magic, three night herons materialised from the gloom, their bodies glowing like warm rich butterscotch.
All three had slicked back black hair, but one roosting in the tree, hunched over like an old man, also had two long thin white feathers waving down his back like crazy antennae. One was actively hunting in the stream, pulling at aquatic plants in the hope they might be tasty, the other perched above and moved along the branches quoorking encouragement about the activities below. Nankeen night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)."

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1214 days ago

Mazda 626GLX

Chris from Paremata

manual, goes well, 5 speed gearbox, new battery, two new tyres
needs repairs for W.O.F. rego on hold till November
OFFERS AS IS

Price: $300

1214 days ago

Improve your digital literacy today!

The Team from Digital Boost

Are you a small business owner looking to make better use of the online space?

Digital Boost is a free online learning platform packed with 3-5 minute educational videos on topics like:
- Websites
- Digital marketing/social media
- Online tools
- Digital accounting
- Business insights, … View more
Are you a small business owner looking to make better use of the online space?

Digital Boost is a free online learning platform packed with 3-5 minute educational videos on topics like:
- Websites
- Digital marketing/social media
- Online tools
- Digital accounting
- Business insights, feedback and reporting
- Future technologies

Plus, pick up tips and tricks from our interviews with other small business owners across the nation.

The future is digital and we want your business to be part of it.
Sign up today

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1215 days ago

Rotary challenges young minds

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

Aleha Thorn (who was accompanied by her father, Joel) spoke to us about her recent experience attending the six day live-in programme for Innovative Young Minds.

Along with forty other young women, she was swept along with the intensity of the work aimed at involving them in a variety of … View more
Aleha Thorn (who was accompanied by her father, Joel) spoke to us about her recent experience attending the six day live-in programme for Innovative Young Minds.

Along with forty other young women, she was swept along with the intensity of the work aimed at involving them in a variety of activities associated with the STEM sector. With inspirational speakers, visits to several organisations and hands-on environmental problem solving, the days were full and challenging.

As a young woman, Aleha is often asked the common question of 'what do you want to do?' and of course the answer is not always clear. While having a broad range of study interests, Aleha noted few students understand or can uncover the mysteries of the future.

The IYM programme with its real-life and hands-on experiences will be a great help in guiding her along the paths to unexpected places her life can lead her.

Aleha finished her presentation by thanking the club for the opportunity to attend the programme and expressing the hope that the support might be continued for other young women in the future.

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1215 days ago

John Burnet talked about his bees

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

Some 30 years ago, our speaker tonight, John Burnet, acquired a single beehive, and this introduced him to the exciting world of bees and the consequent growth of his hive holding to twenty-four. This hive empire, which is urban-based, produces about 200 kg of honey in a year and John consumes some… View moreSome 30 years ago, our speaker tonight, John Burnet, acquired a single beehive, and this introduced him to the exciting world of bees and the consequent growth of his hive holding to twenty-four. This hive empire, which is urban-based, produces about 200 kg of honey in a year and John consumes some himself and then sells the surplus on the local market.

Bees are essential for pollination in agriculture and horticulture and so, in 1839, Mary Bumby managed to establish two hives in the Hokianga (imagine the issues around bringing hives on a sailing ship from the other side of the world!) and then commercial beekeeping was established in 1878.

Most bees in New Zealand are honeybees (an Italian variety) although there are less social and shorter living native bees and smaller numbers of other introduced bees.

We have the highest number of hives per capita in the world with 885,160 registered hives with 10,340 beekeepers managing them.

Hive production has decreased over the years as commercial production has increased and the workload for managing hives has increased because of the establishment of varroa mites throughout the country.

We all know about the pampered life a Queen bee leads but of interest was the fact that any worker bee can be transformed into a queen if the need arises. The queen also, by choice, chooses the sex of her offspring.

Worker bees are infertile females, and they work a punishing schedule during their life that can last from six weeks to six months in the winter. It is all work and no play.

The drones are indolent males; however, there is a certain brutality to life as they are thrown out in winter when the hive population declines from around 60,000 to 20,000 and their sexual abilities are no longer in demand.

There is considerable interest in having bees in an urban environment and brightly coloured hives can be seen in many locations. If you have wondered why the multi-colour hives exist, the answer is it helps the bees find their home after a hard day in the field.

There are many plants that can be used to attract bees which are in everyone’s interest but the tip that found the most favour was to let your lawn grow longer by mowing less frequently.

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1218 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Reporter Community News

Any thoughts on this picture? You will do well to get all four names.

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1215 days ago

Free climate-action workshop for teachers and educators

Sustainability Trust

Tēnā koutou! Are you a teacher or educator who is keen to help your school and your students embrace a culture dedicated to climate action? Does the idea of sustainable behaviour patterns for life appeal to you? Or maybe you’d like to be the person who transformed the way your kura/school or … View moreTēnā koutou! Are you a teacher or educator who is keen to help your school and your students embrace a culture dedicated to climate action? Does the idea of sustainable behaviour patterns for life appeal to you? Or maybe you’d like to be the person who transformed the way your kura/school or kōhanga/early childhood centre thought about and dealt with waste?

Well, thanks to funding from the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainability Trust is holding a FREE 1-day workshop to help you do this.

This workshop is part of the Your Sustainable Schools (YSSN) Train the Trainer programme.

YSSN Train the Trainer Porirua is on 12 August from 9 am to 4 pm at Te Rauparaha Arena.
Only 20 spots remaining.

For more information & to book, head to - Your Sustainable Schools Porirua
Find out more

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1216 days ago
1216 days ago

Wooden butterfly

The Team from Resene ColorShop Petone

Recreate a Kiwiana classic using butterflise and Resene testpots.

Find out how to create your own.

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