Whitby, Porirua

1638 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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1633 days ago

Use official news sources

Neighbourly.co.nz

The effect of misinformation, myths and gossip can be stopped in its tracks if we all use official news sources. Myths can often be difficult to spot, so we encourage you to only use official news sources at this time https://covid19.govt.nz/.

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1644 days ago

METLINK PUBLIC TRANSPORT FREE UNTIL JUNE

Community Engagement Advisor from

As part of the national response to COVID-19 alert level 4 Metlink will make all rail and bus services free until June.

Public transport will continue to be available for essential service workers, and to enable communities to access supermarkets, pharmacies and health facilities.

For more … View more
As part of the national response to COVID-19 alert level 4 Metlink will make all rail and bus services free until June.

Public transport will continue to be available for essential service workers, and to enable communities to access supermarkets, pharmacies and health facilities.

For more information about this and what services are running, please read the full update on our website below.

1634 days ago

Put your game face on

Malvina Major Retirement Village

Playing games online isn’t just for the grandkids, we have a whole list of free game websites to keep you entertained; crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and sudoku to name a few.

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1634 days ago

What can I do to shop safely?

New Zealand Government

Dear concerned citizen,

It’s important that we all try and shop safely as we unite against COVID-19.

Here’s a few things we should all now do, that will help slow the spread of the virus:
• send one person from your household to do the whole shop
• be aware that stores will limit … View more
Dear concerned citizen,

It’s important that we all try and shop safely as we unite against COVID-19.

Here’s a few things we should all now do, that will help slow the spread of the virus:
• send one person from your household to do the whole shop
• be aware that stores will limit numbers to help you keep 2 metres away from others
• be kind to essential workers, and others you’re sharing the shop with
• come with a list so you can get in and out as quickly as possible
• only touch what you want to buy
• if you like, take a soapy towel in a small container to wipe down trolley or basket handles etc
• keep 2 metres away from others, including staff. They need to keep safe too!
• use payWave if you can, not cash
• bag groceries away from others if you can
• take out produce when you get home, and wash first in soapy water to protect against the virus, then rinse to remove any soap residue wipe down packaged goods with a soapy clean towel, then dry
• wash your hands before and after you shop.

Can I bring people in my household with me to buy essential supplies?
You should dedicate one person per household to be the shopper. This is the safest way to get essential supplies, as it reduces the number of people who are out, and helps stop the virus from spreading.

Leaving online shopping to those who need it most
• If you are healthy, or aged under 70, you should go to the supermarket to do your shopping. This leaves online delivery slots free for those that need them most.
• If you’re a parent on your own with children or over 70, move to online shopping if available. This is important for the safety of your children and others – especially essential service providers.
• If that’s not possible, reach out to nearby friends, family or neighbours who can assist you with the shopping and get it to your doorstep. Your local community may also be able to assist, or you can contact your local store – some are putting special systems in place to help.

Thank you
If we all do our bit we’ll get through this. Thank you for working together and staying home. We can, and must stick with it.

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1634 days ago

Shop safe. Shop kind. Shop local.

Four Square

While your Four Square-ing, here’s four simple rules for shopping during Level 4.

1. Be prepared so you know what you need

2. Choose your household shopper who’ll pop into Four Square alone.

3. Stay a safe distance from your fellow Four Square-ers and … View more
While your Four Square-ing, here’s four simple rules for shopping during Level 4.

1. Be prepared so you know what you need

2. Choose your household shopper who’ll pop into Four Square alone.

3. Stay a safe distance from your fellow Four Square-ers and staff

4. Use contactless payment where possible
Find out more

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1642 days ago

Where are the teddy bears?

Patricia from Belmont

Took the kids for a walk just up the road. To make it fun we looked for teddy bears in the windows! So disappointing! Saw only one teddy bear! from where Redvers Drive forks out. Put the teddy bears out if you have one even grown ups look for them!

1635 days ago

Helpline for community

Joel Maxwell Reporter from Kapi-Mana News

Kia ora kōutou, here's a new helpline to offer help for people with no support during the lockdown!

1635 days ago

How considerate are your neighbours?

Reporter Homed

Hey neighbours, are you seeing and hearing a lot more of your neighbours during the lockdown? Has it helped you get to know them better - from an acceptable social distance - or is the noise of everyone being home together all the time getting to you?

Now more than ever it's up to all of us … View more
Hey neighbours, are you seeing and hearing a lot more of your neighbours during the lockdown? Has it helped you get to know them better - from an acceptable social distance - or is the noise of everyone being home together all the time getting to you?

Now more than ever it's up to all of us to try not to annoy our neighbours, and to be more tolerant ourselves, so here are some easy ways to do just that.

And if you're wondering what makes a good neighbour and what makes a bad one, check out the 12 most annoying neighbour types. How many have you lived next to?

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1635 days ago

Critical projects during Covid-19 response

The Team from Wellington Water

During the heightened response to Covid-19, we are still progressing with critical projects. Some of the work involved in these projects may include a short interruption to your water supply.

Usually we let our customers know about this with a letter a couple of days beforehand. But, to ensure the… View more
During the heightened response to Covid-19, we are still progressing with critical projects. Some of the work involved in these projects may include a short interruption to your water supply.

Usually we let our customers know about this with a letter a couple of days beforehand. But, to ensure the safety of our community and frontline essential staff, letter drops have stopped.

We’ll continue to do our absolute best to inform you about planned service interruptions using other methods such as:
• Loud speakers
• Signs up in the street
• Social media
• Website updates

Of course, during service failures like bursts the water can be interrupted without warning. In times like these we will respond by having water available on site and letting you know about it via social media.

Council contact centres are will have this information too – so please give them a call in the first instance.

1635 days ago

Mini cold frame

The Team from Resene ColorShop Petone

Grow seeds or cuttings during the cooler months with this easy-to-make cold frame painted in Resene Lustacryl.

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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1635 days ago

Spread facts, not fear

Neighbourly.co.nz

With COVID-19 classified as a pandemic, there has never been a more important time to be Neighbourly. To ensure everyone in our communities feels safe and supported, spread facts not fear. Regularly consult government sources and encourage others to do the same.

During this uncertain time, … View more
With COVID-19 classified as a pandemic, there has never been a more important time to be Neighbourly. To ensure everyone in our communities feels safe and supported, spread facts not fear. Regularly consult government sources and encourage others to do the same.

During this uncertain time, it’s fine to feel a little overwhelmed. To keep up to date with the latest developments and how you can do your bit, visit https://covid19.govt.nz/.
Reach out

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1636 days ago

'Rotary 100 Forests of Peace and Remembrance'

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

This is a good time to update club members about the 'Rotary 100 Forests of Peace and Remembrance' project. This is a New Zealand-wide project to celebrate the centenary of Rotary commencing in NZ and Australia.

Rotary is well advanced in discussions with the Ministry of Primary … View more
This is a good time to update club members about the 'Rotary 100 Forests of Peace and Remembrance' project. This is a New Zealand-wide project to celebrate the centenary of Rotary commencing in NZ and Australia.

Rotary is well advanced in discussions with the Ministry of Primary Industries for the Rotary 100 plantings to be funded from the Billion Trees programme.

We (RCoP) have got tentative approval from the Rotary 100 organisers, MPI and PCC for an additional planting area for Taupo Swamp. This would be for 10,000 wetland trees/plants to be planted around part of Plimmerton Domain that PCC will retire from sports field usage. PCC has recently completed building a dog exercising area on this sports field.

The proposal is to plant three sides of the outer edges of the new dog exercising park. The fourth side is fringed by Taupo Stream. We would plant species of plants and trees suited to local wetland conditions.

It’s an extremely easy area to plant as it’s been mown for several years for sports field use. It is flat with good soil and no weeds.

The Rotary Forest would be planted in parallel with the restoration and planting work already underway by ‘Friends of Taupo Swamp & Catchment’. It's envisaged that RCoP would plant several hundred plants in 2020 to prove that we have the capability, then plant 5000 in 2021 and 5000 in 2022.

The aerial photograph shows the sports field plus that part of Taupo Swamp that is owned by PCC (ignore the yellow elevation lines).

Also shown is the drain across the park and the initial planting area. We will start by planting on each side of the drain. We expect that over time, the drain will revert to being permanently wet.

What will we be needing from club members? We will need help with:

spot spraying of the planting spots
digging holes for the plants (post hole diggers)
planting/staking/protecting the plants and trees
a small amount of follow up weed control

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