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Arthur will be at the CHURCH STREET MARKET on Saturday AND OXFORD FARMERS MARKET on Sunday with Tete Tete mini daffodils for sale in pots at only $12.00 per pot with 25% of sales being donated to the CANCER SOCIETY. I will have other larger daffodils ready soon for sale
We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of some of the businesses we have reached out to. We know times are tough at the moment, so the fact that some of you have been able to gift us some of your products and services to help others isn't going unnoticed.
If you want to donate… View moreWe have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of some of the businesses we have reached out to. We know times are tough at the moment, so the fact that some of you have been able to gift us some of your products and services to help others isn't going unnoticed.
If you want to donate to help us, please reach out :).
A splash of Resene red transforms a rumpty old ladder into a handy stool or nifty shelves.
Find out how to repurpose your old ladder.
Is your dad superb with sandpaper, pristine with a palette knife and perfect with a paintbrush? Or maybe he's risky with a roller, mad with masking tape and comedic when cutting in? Either way we'd like to hear about your DIY dad and why he deserves to win this Father's Day.
Tell… View moreIs your dad superb with sandpaper, pristine with a palette knife and perfect with a paintbrush? Or maybe he's risky with a roller, mad with masking tape and comedic when cutting in? Either way we'd like to hear about your DIY dad and why he deserves to win this Father's Day.
Tell us about your DIY dad for a chance to win him $1000 worth of Resene paint products!
Plus all entries will be in with a chance to win their DIY Dad one of our colourful spot prizes.
By David Hill, Local Democracy
A Pegasus mum says her accommodation supplement would almost double if she lived in the neighbouring Canterbury town of Woodend, just a few minutes down the road.
The woman, who Local Democracy Reporting agreed not to name, rents a three-bedroom house in Pegasus… View moreBy David Hill, Local Democracy
A Pegasus mum says her accommodation supplement would almost double if she lived in the neighbouring Canterbury town of Woodend, just a few minutes down the road.
The woman, who Local Democracy Reporting agreed not to name, rents a three-bedroom house in Pegasus for herself and one child at $560 a week and receives an $80 accommodation supplement on top of her ACC payments.
If she lived in Woodend or Rangiora - 3km or 8km away - she would receive $155 a week.
Every area is divided into one of four accommodation supplement zones, which can determine how much support they can access.
‘‘When I first came here seven years ago the rent was $400 a week.
‘‘It has gone up by $60 a week in the last 12 months and the accommodation supplement doesn’t keep up with that.’’
She has been looking to move Woodend or Rangiora, but there are few rental properties available.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said the accommodation supplement classifications were ‘‘completely out of date’’.
‘‘It is my understanding that the maximum payment setting for the accommodation supplement has only been reviewed twice in more than 20 years.
‘‘It has never cost so much to run a household and having the extra money in the accommodation supplement will be life changing for some people.’’
Gordon said he planned to raise the issue at the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.
A quick search on Trade Me found just 28 properties for rent in Pegasus, Woodend, Ravenswood, Rangiora and Kaiapoi with three or more bedrooms, all ranging between $540 and $680 a week.
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has confirmed Pegasus is classified as ‘‘area 4’’, which is the lowest of four classifications.
‘‘Every town, city and rural area across New Zealand falls into one of four accommodation supplement areas,’’ general manager housing and employment Hayley Hamilton said.
The classifications were established in the Social Security Act 2018, when the Government updated accommodation supplement area boundaries and increased the payment rates, she said.
People living in ‘area 1’, including Auckland and Queenstown, may qualify for the highest maximum accommodation supplement weekly payments, while those living in ‘area 4’ qualify for the lowest rates.
Area 2 includes Christchurch, Rangiora, Woodend, Oxford and Amberley, while Kaikōura and Hanmer Springs are listed in area 3.
Hamilton said some people may quality for temporary additional support.
Any changes would be a decision for government ministers, she said.
In March, Social Development Minister Louise Upston announced she had commissioned advice on changes to the accommodation supplement.
It followed concerns the area classifications were not keeping up with urban growth in the Queenstown area.
‘‘The use of outdated geographic information and classifications by MSD has seen some households receive a lower accommodation supplement than they otherwise would,’’ Ms Upston said at the time.
‘‘The issue is particularly pronounced in Queenstown and exists in a small number of other areas where there has been rapid urban expansion.’’
There is no update on when this will be resolved, leaving people struggling to keep up with rising rents.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Police are aware of reports emerging overnight where people have received a phone call from someone claiming to be a Police officer.
The officer will claim to be from a particular department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial … View morePolice are aware of reports emerging overnight where people have received a phone call from someone claiming to be a Police officer.
The officer will claim to be from a particular department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial information from you.
People have been directed to go to the bank and withdraw money for evidence of the scam.
This is a scam – no legitimate Police officer will ever ask you to hand over money for any reason.
Overnight we have had five instances of this being reported, people need to be vigilant.
Enquiries into reports of scams of a similar nature received last week remain ongoing.
We appreciate these scammers are convincing, but New Zealand Police will never contact you and ask you to withdraw money. New Zealand Police will also never contact people seeking their banking details, card numbers, PIN or passwords.
Older members of our community are being targeted and Police urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives to make them aware this activity is a scam.
There are instances where legitimate Police officers will contact you as part of their duties.
Remember:
• Police will never ask for details about your bank cards, PIN or passwords over the phone.
• Trust your instincts.
• If something doesn't feel right, or is too good to be true, it probably is.
• If you are uncertain, ask for the officer’s details.
• Hang up, contact 105 and request the officer to contact you.
• Police aren’t in the business of offering prize money.
If you are in the unfortunate position of being a victim of a scam, please report the matter to Police.
Take the chance to upskill yourself on scam awareness, check for further information on the Netsafe website: netsafe.org.nz...
We're back with a Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell who is a qualified veterinarian and SPCA’s General Manager Animal Services.
A little bit about Corey:
Corey has an interest in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and biosecurity. He shares his home … View moreWe're back with a Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell who is a qualified veterinarian and SPCA’s General Manager Animal Services.
A little bit about Corey:
Corey has an interest in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and biosecurity. He shares his home with ostriches, guinea pigs, bees, a rescue tortoiseshell named Lynk, a ragdoll named Oscar, two mini foxies called Chester and Maya and a black Labrador named Bonnie.
Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell is excited to answer your questions on all things animal welfare, whether it's how to best look after your new pet, how to combat separation anxiety or how to report neglect.
↓ Share your questions now ↓
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