Paremata, Porirua

1476 days ago

Poll: Should Aayla be allowed to play?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A team of keen young Petone rugby league players will forfeit their points and risk disqualifying themselves in an upcoming tournament because one of their star players is banned.
The reason? She’s a girl. Aayla Toman, 13, has been told she’s not allowed to play in the u13 boys’ grade in … View more
A team of keen young Petone rugby league players will forfeit their points and risk disqualifying themselves in an upcoming tournament because one of their star players is banned.
The reason? She’s a girl. Aayla Toman, 13, has been told she’s not allowed to play in the u13 boys’ grade in Wellington’s Pacific Youth Cup because of her gender – something that led her club team, the u13 Petone Panthers, to play her ‘illegally’ all season.
New Zealand Rugby League rules state the maximum age for males and females to play in mixed gender full contact rugby league is 12 years of age.

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Should Aayla be allowed to play?
  • 76% Yes
    76% Complete
  • 24% No
    24% Complete
1144 votes
1466 days ago

Did your family celebrate Halloween this year?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We saw some friendly ghosts and even some costumed pooches this year! We'd love for you to spread the joy further than your backyard by sharing a snap from your Halloween festivities below 🎃

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1465 days ago

Monday Sport Blast From The Past

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

When Toni Jeffs retired from competitive swimming in 2007, a Stuff journalist boldly predicted she would not be forgotten.
"So, while Jeffs will be left watching the Commonwealth Games team from her living room this year, there is little doubt one of New Zealand swimming's most colourful … View more
When Toni Jeffs retired from competitive swimming in 2007, a Stuff journalist boldly predicted she would not be forgotten.
"So, while Jeffs will be left watching the Commonwealth Games team from her living room this year, there is little doubt one of New Zealand swimming's most colourful characters will not be forgotten from sporting history."
Never one to shy away from controversy, Jeffs was arguably best known for being sponsored by a strip club at the Barcelona Olympics.
Jeffs won two Commonwealth bronze medals and was 27th at the Olympics.
At a time when many top swimmers stopped competing in their early 20s, Jeffs was notable for her long career in the pool.
In 2003 Jeffs won a legal battle against the New Zealand Olympic Committee, who admitted a selection blunder had cost her a place in the Olympic team.
The year before, at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, she regained her New Zealand title and won bronze in the 50m freestyle.
In 2007, she hinted that she would take up Masters swimming and refused to rule out a comeback. At that time, she was living on a lifestyle block in the Wairarapa.
Despite the prediction that she would not be forgotten, she has been out of the limelight in the years since.

1465 days ago

Aayla disappointed to be left out

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A poll on Neighbourly was overwhelmingly in favour of Aayla Toman playing in the Pacific Youth Cup in Wainuiomata over the weekend.
Nearly 1200 people took part in our pool and 76 per cent were in favour of her playing.
Unfortunately, doing the haka with her team-mates was as close as she got to … View more
A poll on Neighbourly was overwhelmingly in favour of Aayla Toman playing in the Pacific Youth Cup in Wainuiomata over the weekend.
Nearly 1200 people took part in our pool and 76 per cent were in favour of her playing.
Unfortunately, doing the haka with her team-mates was as close as she got to the action.
Aayla, 13, had hoped to take the field for the Te Whanganui-a-Tara U13s at the Pacific Youth Cup in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, on Saturday, but was told the referee would not allow the game to start if she played.
Standing on the sideline during her team’s first match against Samoa Wellington, Aayla said she had been overcome with emotion before the match, but doing the haka had made her feel better.

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1465 days ago

Tackling poverty a priority for new Mana MP

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Mother-of-eight and tax lawyer, Barbara Edmonds wants to address poverty in Porirua.
The electorate is a diverse one with eight schools classed decile 10 and while 14 decile 1.
A fifth of the population identify as Māori, while a quarter were born overseas. It is poverty, however, she wants to … View more
Mother-of-eight and tax lawyer, Barbara Edmonds wants to address poverty in Porirua.
The electorate is a diverse one with eight schools classed decile 10 and while 14 decile 1.
A fifth of the population identify as Māori, while a quarter were born overseas. It is poverty, however, she wants to focus on.
Edmonds says she didn’t realise how deep the poverty was in Porirua until she began campaigning in the electorate. Covid-19 has made that inequality worse, she says.

1470 days ago

Beware...some adorable ghosts may be haunting your streets.

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Halloween can be a fun way to connect with your community. But naturally not all homes in New Zealand will get involved.
If your house is open to trick or treaters this weekend, or if you know of some popular, local streets for trick or treating, please share these below.

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1470 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hey Neighbourly folk, can you work out who this is and where the picture was taken. The only hint I will give is that it was 1909.

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1466 days ago

Things change. You can too.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

We’re holding information sessions to help you enrol with us in 2021. Find out about courses, meet tutors and enrol in one easy process.

Sessions run at various times on campus and if you can’t make it, join us on Zoom. Secure your place for 2021.
Book in today

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1466 days ago

Free

Zara from Cannons Creek

Paper organizer shelf
Pick up cannons creek

Negotiable

1467 days ago

Pet of the Day

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Our Pet of the Day is Poppy, a five month old King Charles cavalier, who was born on ANZAC weekend.
Owner Rob Nicol says she loves chilling out and sleeping in the sun.

The Pet of the Day will no longer be appearing in the Dominion Post and instead you will find it on Neighbourly every Saturday.
View more
Our Pet of the Day is Poppy, a five month old King Charles cavalier, who was born on ANZAC weekend.
Owner Rob Nicol says she loves chilling out and sleeping in the sun.

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

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1468 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hey Neighbourly folk, this week something a bit different - a lizard.
Photographer Louise Thomas snapped the image on a recent expedition to photograph some new bird species.

"I've had an amazing 24-hours. Yesterday, my faithful porter and I went out to Matiu/Somes Island. We saw sooty … View more
Hey Neighbourly folk, this week something a bit different - a lizard.
Photographer Louise Thomas snapped the image on a recent expedition to photograph some new bird species.

"I've had an amazing 24-hours. Yesterday, my faithful porter and I went out to Matiu/Somes Island. We saw sooty shearwaters, kākāriki, aka red-crowned parakeet, numerous skinks, and on the way back a spotted shag near the Days Bay wharf.
All three birds are new species for me. I'm afraid I have no idea what sort of skink this is, I think common skink, but it has a dark iris? Suggestions from those in the know much appreciated - I'm going cross-eyed trying to work it out on the internet.
Funny story, both Chris and I thought this was a railway spike holding up the wood on the edge of the step, then Chris said "wait, that spike has little hands."

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1467 days ago

Entertainment and Encouragement Newsletter

Corinne Morris from

Hello Everyone,
We have a great newsletter for you this week. mailchi.mp...

Freshen up on driving with a Staying Safe Workshop. Join us for a free get together for a light lunch, cuppa tea and good company at one of our monthly Pop-up Hubs in Seatoun or Linden. Check out the Sleep Presentation at… View more
Hello Everyone,
We have a great newsletter for you this week. mailchi.mp...

Freshen up on driving with a Staying Safe Workshop. Join us for a free get together for a light lunch, cuppa tea and good company at one of our monthly Pop-up Hubs in Seatoun or Linden. Check out the Sleep Presentation at Rita Angus in Kilbirnie, to get tips on healthy sleeping and improve leg strength, balance and flexibility at one of our Steady As You GO classes.

We have a funny Poem in "Your Voice" written by DJ Bradley. Test your general knowledge and whip up a delicious panzanella salad in our "Entertainment" section.

We hope you enjoy and stay safe x

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1468 days ago

Make your own modernist art

The Team from Resene ColorShop Petone

Make your own modernist art and release your inner Matisse with easy-to-create canvas artworks. Use Resene testpots to suit your colour scheme for a co-ordinated look.

Make the most of this weekend with this easy step by step project idea from Resene. Find out how to create your own.

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1468 days ago

Poll: Which NZ destination do you most want to travel to?

Lorna Thornber Reporter from Stuff Travel

To celebrate the refreshed Stuff Travel website, enabling you to dream, plan and now book your next escape all in one place, we're giving away a $100 voucher.

To go into the draw to win simply vote below on which of the following destinations you're most likely to use your voucher on. … View more
To celebrate the refreshed Stuff Travel website, enabling you to dream, plan and now book your next escape all in one place, we're giving away a $100 voucher.

To go into the draw to win simply vote below on which of the following destinations you're most likely to use your voucher on. Visit travel-booking.stuff.co.nz for inspiration and to view all the other destinations.
Explore now

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Which NZ destination do you most want to travel to?
  • 4.3% Auckland
    4.3% Complete
  • 20.7% Coromandel
    20.7% Complete
  • 6.2% Rotorua
    6.2% Complete
  • 5.6% Taupō
    5.6% Complete
  • 5.7% Wellington
    5.7% Complete
  • 18.7% Nelson Tasman
    18.7% Complete
  • 10.3% Marlborough
    10.3% Complete
  • 28.5% Central Otago/Lakes
    28.5% Complete
2856 votes
1468 days ago

Helen Woolner talked about He Huarahi Tamariki (HHT)

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

Helen Woolner was a student at Porirua College and at the age of 16 found herself pregnant. Instead of staying at home to care for her baby, Helen enrolled in He Huarahi Tamariki (HHT), the school for teenage mums founded by Susan Baragwanath in Porirua.

Helen was this week’s guest speaker and… View more
Helen Woolner was a student at Porirua College and at the age of 16 found herself pregnant. Instead of staying at home to care for her baby, Helen enrolled in He Huarahi Tamariki (HHT), the school for teenage mums founded by Susan Baragwanath in Porirua.

Helen was this week’s guest speaker and told us about her family and her achievements. Her decision to continue her education was critical and eventually led to a PhD and a career in research.

After four years at HHT, a helping hand came in 2005, when our club awarded Helen a scholarship to study for a BSc. at Victoria University. She told us that the scholarship inspired her to work hard, so as not to let us down. After that, she did a Masters's degree and then a PhD, also at Victoria.

Helen’s field of work is the study of natural products, and more recently traditional medicines, for which she was awarded a Post-doctoral fellowship by the Health Research Council.

Many useful compounds have their origins in nature, which equips various species to defend themselves from predators and diseases. Examples are morphine, penicillin, and Taxol, a chemotherapy drug that comes from the bark of the yew tree.

Helen is focussing on the science behind traditional medicines, especially those coming from the Pacific.

She is one of many women who have graduated from HHT and gone on to great success. Besides having a strong intellect, Helen has a philosophy of hard work and self-reliance which is plain to see.

Now she is Doctor Helen Woolner, and in demand as an inspirational speaker.

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