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Air traffic control services are set to remain in place at Rotorua Airport until May 2021 after an a…
The Sunday Star-Times is examining how Covid-19 has impacted our social lives. Are you having less social connection or are you less likely to see people? Do you feel lonely during the week? We're keen to talk to people about how their social contact has changed since the lockdown. If … View moreThe Sunday Star-Times is examining how Covid-19 has impacted our social lives. Are you having less social connection or are you less likely to see people? Do you feel lonely during the week? We're keen to talk to people about how their social contact has changed since the lockdown. If you're happy to be interviewed and identified, please email kelly.dennett@stuff.co.nz.
Give living spaces a summery lift with these fun fruity homewares and Resene testpots.
Make the most of this weekend with these easy project ideas from Resene. Find out how to create them yourself
In this week’s issue of our ezine Get Growing, we’ve got pruning tips for shrubs, vines and climbers, and it’s time to protect new bulb shoots, trench trees and shrubs before moving them, give the lawn some winter TLC, use weeds to improve your soil and pickle and preserve your stored … View moreIn this week’s issue of our ezine Get Growing, we’ve got pruning tips for shrubs, vines and climbers, and it’s time to protect new bulb shoots, trench trees and shrubs before moving them, give the lawn some winter TLC, use weeds to improve your soil and pickle and preserve your stored harvests.
Make your own Modernist crate chair inspired by iconic Dutch furniture designer and architect Gerrit Reitveld in 1934. Plus go in the draw for Yates Sow Anytime Lawn Seed and ‘Café au Lait’ dahlias from Bulbs Direct.
Delivered every Friday to your email inbox, Get Growing digital magazine offers seasonal gardening advice from the NZ Gardener magazine's team of experts. Each week we answer all your burning questions on raising fruit and veges and tell you the top tasks to do in your backyard this weekend. Subscribe here:
Don't forget to submit your upcycled creations in the Resene Upcycling Awards. Whether it's an old item you've spruced up or something you've found a completely new purpose for, we want to see your work!
Submit your entry in the 2020 Resene Upcycling Awards by sharing your … View moreDon't forget to submit your upcycled creations in the Resene Upcycling Awards. Whether it's an old item you've spruced up or something you've found a completely new purpose for, we want to see your work!
Submit your entry in the 2020 Resene Upcycling Awards by sharing your upcycled masterpiece with your neighbours. Multiple entries are welcome - don't forget to include your before and after pics and mention any Resene products you've used!
Kia ora Rotorua, we need your help! The Salvation Army is doing some short online surveys of people from your local area of Rotorua for our State of Our Communities 2020 project.
The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, is private/confidential, for locals of these communities only, and … View moreKia ora Rotorua, we need your help! The Salvation Army is doing some short online surveys of people from your local area of Rotorua for our State of Our Communities 2020 project.
The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, is private/confidential, for locals of these communities only, and asks simple questions like what do you like about your community, what your concerns/fears are and what main social issues you think the government should focus on. Help us learn about your local community. Nga manaakitanga!
Take the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com...
1. Check your smoke alarms
Smoke alarms provide an early warning in case of a fire inside your home. Traditional alarms beep when they detect smoke or fire, while smart detectors also send an alert to your phone. There should be a smoke detector in every room in your house except bathrooms, for … View more1. Check your smoke alarms
Smoke alarms provide an early warning in case of a fire inside your home. Traditional alarms beep when they detect smoke or fire, while smart detectors also send an alert to your phone. There should be a smoke detector in every room in your house except bathrooms, for maximum protection. You also need one in the hallway between the living area and bedrooms.
Crucially, you are highly advised to test your smoke alarms at least once a year to ensure they still work. You are four times more likely to die in a house fire without a functioning smoke alarm!
2. Get a fire extinguisher
Having a fire extinguisher handy can make the difference between a small kitchen mishap that was successfully contained, and the house literally burning down. There are different types of fire extinguisher, classified according to the kind of fire they’re designed to tackle. Make sure you are aware of what the differences are and how to use each one in an emergency situation. A typical home extinguisher should have an ABC rating:
• Class A – combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, household rubbish, most plastics
• Class B – flammable liquids, solvents, oil, petrol, paints and lacquers
• Class C – gases including methane, propane, hydrogen, acetylene and natural gas
• Class D – combustible metals including magnesium and aluminium swarf
• Class E – Electrical fires
• Class F – chip pan fires, as an alternative to a fire blanket
3. Create a fire stopping landscape
A fire originating from outside, such as a wildfire, is best thwarted by preventing it from reaching your house in the first place. You can use landscape gardening design to slow down or stop the spread of fire towards your home, by adhering to these tips:
• Use hard landscaping such as concrete, stone or gravel around the house
• Clear any dry vegetation from around the home, particularly in the summer
• Use fire resistant plants such as lavender and honeysuckle for soft landscaping, and spread them out, to slow down fire and stop it from spreading
• Keep outdoor plants well watered during the summer months. Lush green planting is less likely to burn.
4. Use fire retardant materials
Let’s start with building materials; some are more vulnerable to fire than others. Using fire retardant alternatives and fireproofing your interiors are good first lines of defence against a potentially serious tragedy. Make the changes when you are refurbishing or redecorating your home. The Building.govt.nz website has a comprehensive list of everything you can do to help prevention of fire occurring. Designing for fire can also be designing for sustainability which is without a doubt a win-win!
When it comes to materials, concrete panels, stucco or brick for exterior walls, steel framing for windows and concrete or metal for roofing are all good choices. Fire retardant paint is also a good idea. For decking, concrete, tiles, stone or brick are better than wood.
Inside your home, choose fire resistant curtains and upholstery fabrics. Additional flameproofing can also be administered to your existing home fabrics and upholstered furniture in situ. Curtain Clean can service your existing upholstery anywhere in the country. Call us on 0800 579 0501 for prices and to find out more see www.curtainclean.co.nz...
Hi everyone,
We'd be keen to hear from those of you who had to cancel an overseas trip due to Covid-19 and holidayed in New Zealand instead. How did you find your NZ trip? Was it better or worse than you expected? Did you enjoy it as much as you think you would have enjoyed your overseas … View moreHi everyone,
We'd be keen to hear from those of you who had to cancel an overseas trip due to Covid-19 and holidayed in New Zealand instead. How did you find your NZ trip? Was it better or worse than you expected? Did you enjoy it as much as you think you would have enjoyed your overseas holiday? And did it change your views about holidaying domestically?
Feel free to comment below or message me directly. Please remember your comments may be included in the article, unless you say you don't want them to be. Thank you.
See any posts that don't meet the Neighbourly Guidelines? Help Neighbourly stay neighbourly by reporting concerning content. Simply click the '...' button at the bottom of a post, click 'Report this message' and select your reason for reporting. This sends a silent alert to… View moreSee any posts that don't meet the Neighbourly Guidelines? Help Neighbourly stay neighbourly by reporting concerning content. Simply click the '...' button at the bottom of a post, click 'Report this message' and select your reason for reporting. This sends a silent alert to the Neighbourly Team so the post can be reviewed against the Neighbourly Guidelines. Thanks for helping keep Neighbourly community friendly and an enjoyable place to stay connected.
Have you heard of a Hyperbole? Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. Here are some examples. They are a lot of fun. Please share any Hyperboles you may have heard.
Here's a wee bit of a throwback to life under lockdown. Check out how this couple in Motueka helped out their neighbours who were new to the area. Have you got an unsung hero in your neighbourhood? You can make your nominations here!
"We have a lovely young couple across the road from… View moreHere's a wee bit of a throwback to life under lockdown. Check out how this couple in Motueka helped out their neighbours who were new to the area. Have you got an unsung hero in your neighbourhood? You can make your nominations here!
"We have a lovely young couple across the road from us at number 13, Glenaven Drive, called Kirsty and Jeremy. We have recently moved to Motueka and they have been very helpful and friendly right from the start. During Lockdown they did shopping for us and let us have soil from their excavations for our garden improvements. Later on, they have given us lemons, gave spare concrete when they had some delivered for themselves and watered our plants when we were able to go away and visit our new grandchild. They are gems and have made us really happy that we've chosen Motueka as our home."
Hi neighbours,
From turning the roof of an old church into a lush backyard gazebo to making 50-year-old furniture look brand new with some white paint to turning actual rubbish into a toddler’s toy set, lots of Kiwis are upcycling.
If you have an project that you'd like to show off – … View moreHi neighbours,
From turning the roof of an old church into a lush backyard gazebo to making 50-year-old furniture look brand new with some white paint to turning actual rubbish into a toddler’s toy set, lots of Kiwis are upcycling.
If you have an project that you'd like to show off – whether you’ve given something a fresh coat of paint or entirely changed its use – enter it into Resene's Upcycling Awards on Neighbourly here. Entries close at midnight on August 2, 2020. Four great prizes worth $500 are up for grabs: a $200 Resene voucher and a $300 Prezzy card.
Ever thought about combining blinds and curtains to make your windows even more stunning and energy smart? If done correctly, combining blinds with curtains can bring magic to your windows providing flexibility for styling and design aesthetics. Combining roller shades or other types of blinds with… View moreEver thought about combining blinds and curtains to make your windows even more stunning and energy smart? If done correctly, combining blinds with curtains can bring magic to your windows providing flexibility for styling and design aesthetics. Combining roller shades or other types of blinds with curtains allows more blocking of light and privacy control while also improving heat loss through your windows.
If you want your windows to perform at their best, we’ve put together a few tips on what you should consider.
1. Begin with the blinds
Consider whether you want Rollershades, Venetian Blinds, Roman Blinds, Timber Shutters, or another type of blind. Shades that move up and down at the window are especially convenient, especially if you’re looking for blinds that move out of the way easily. Curtains and draperies are much more flexible to work with, so getting the blinds right is an important first step.
2. Don’t feel limited by your window size
A simple way to make your windows feel larger is to fit your blinds for your window and then extend the size of your curtains beyond your window frame. We can fit your curtains to the ceiling and have them extend past the frame and down to the floor. This creates the illusion of a larger window, especially when the curtains are closed, but also helps you to maximise on heat retention at the window.
3. Mix not match
Contrasting colors can look great. For example, a dark-coloured Rollershade can look excellent with a lighter colour drape. If you have curtains with prints, a blind in a solid shade that matches one of the colors on the curtains can look dramatic or elegant.
Our reporter Brook Sabin reckons this is one trip every Kiwi should try to do in their lifetime. Read more on the link below. Would you do it?
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