Akatarawa, Upper Hutt

1887 days ago

11 Easy Eco Swaps That Will Help You Reduce Plastic And Waste

Garry Tranter from Price My House for Free Limited

By switching this for that, you can make your household tread more lightly on the earth
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1. Soap bars

Ditch plastic bottles in favour of solid shampoos, conditioners and dish soaps (Ethique and Ahhh Cosmetics offer good locally made options). To help these products last longer, invest in the … View more
By switching this for that, you can make your household tread more lightly on the earth
.

1. Soap bars

Ditch plastic bottles in favour of solid shampoos, conditioners and dish soaps (Ethique and Ahhh Cosmetics offer good locally made options). To help these products last longer, invest in the Dunedin-made Block Dock to ensure your soap dries properly between uses.

2. Metal pegs

Bento Ninja’s stainless-steel Forever Pegs won’t go rusty and they last longer (and look nicer) than their plastic counterparts.

3. Ceramic coffee cups

If you buy coffee on the go and don’t have a reusable cup yet, this should be the one swap you make right now. There are lots of beautiful options, including these Pottery for the Planet cups, from AU$25. Also keep an eye on uyo.nz, which has a guide to the cafes that will let you bring your own cup, container and much more.

4. Biodegradable dish brush

Bye, bye plastic dish brush, hello wooden brush with replaceable, biodegradable head. Yeseco Dish Brush $15.95; replacement heads $16.95 for 3, are stocked at Natural Things. (Bench organiser sold separately)

5. Reusable straws

Swap disposable straws for reusable or biodegradable options. Just $19 will buy you three glass straws, plus a cleaning brush and bag made in New Zealand from offcuts so you won’t be caught out next time you order a cocktail or smoothie.

6. Bulk buy

Reduce your plastic packaging by shopping for pantry staples at a bulk foods store. If you don’t live near a good one, Wanaka-based Honest Wholefood Co offers a local delivery service, as well as a nationwide postal option.

7. Beeswax wraps

Cling wrap can’t be recycled, even in the soft plastic recycling scheme, so switching to a reusable option is an easy environmental win. Try Hawke’s Bay-based LilyBee wrap for the ultimate beeswax solution. From $7 for a small wrap.

8. Reusable takeaway containers

Keep a container and cutlery in your bag or car and say no to takeaway packaging. Australian company Ever Eco makes beautiful stainless-steel containers, tumblers and reusable cutlery, as well as other useful eco objects. Little Bird Organics stock the handy products too.

9. Shopping bags

Now that supermarkets have gone plastic carry-bag free, an eco bag is an essential swap. Don’t forget to also bring produce bags for fruit and veges, and containers for the butcher and deli.

10. Cloth wrapping

Save on wrapping paper, tape and ribbon, and practise the Japanese art of furoshiki (cloth wrapping) with this reusable linen gift wrap. Alternatively, cut up vintage fabric, or reuse wrapping paper and ribbons along with paper tape.

11. Portable ply laptop stand

Instead of buying a plastic or metal laptop stand, check out the Happy Lappy, made in New Zealand from sustainably sourced plywood. The best part is your purchase of the portable stand will see 20 trees planted in Madagascar.

Words by: Fiona Ralph. Photography by: Bauer Syndication.

1887 days ago

#NeighbourlySupporters - final draw!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Have you been watching the game with your neighbours? Maybe you have invited the guy next door to come along and watch at the pub or you've organised a family BBQ on game day? You could win a $50 voucher - so game-day chips and dips are on us!

Simply enter the #neighbourlysupporters drawView more
Have you been watching the game with your neighbours? Maybe you have invited the guy next door to come along and watch at the pub or you've organised a family BBQ on game day? You could win a $50 voucher - so game-day chips and dips are on us!

Simply enter the #neighbourlysupporters draw before the weekend.

Thanks to everyone who has entered so far! We love seeing what you have been up to in your neighbourhoods.

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1887 days ago

Get fit for a great cause

Cancer Society NZ - Wellington Division

Walking Stars is a night-time walking half marathon supporting Wellingtonians living with cancer.

Explore the iconic street of our city by night and spread hope for a cancer-free future.
Limited $79 tickets are still available.

Don’t miss out!

View more
Walking Stars is a night-time walking half marathon supporting Wellingtonians living with cancer.

Explore the iconic street of our city by night and spread hope for a cancer-free future.
Limited $79 tickets are still available.

Don’t miss out!

Join thousands of people for Walking Stars 2019!
Find out more

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1888 days ago

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Jan from Ebdentown

DEMOCRACY DENIED
Q. How come any city councillor is able to completely ignore a ratepayer? In total contravention of their sworn oaths to do the opposite?
Oaths to uphold and facilitate rate payers, regardless of personal considerations, to help ratepayers/citizens understand and access the … View more
DEMOCRACY DENIED
Q. How come any city councillor is able to completely ignore a ratepayer? In total contravention of their sworn oaths to do the opposite?
Oaths to uphold and facilitate rate payers, regardless of personal considerations, to help ratepayers/citizens understand and access the democratic process?

If I am correct, it is the Mayors job (legal obligation) as ‘chief councillor’ to oversee councillors, to make sure that what he and all councillors do is lawful, procedurally correct, in line with protocols and their sworn duty as elected representatives in respect of serving rate payers needs and issues without judgement and that is not happening then something is very very wrong with democracy in Upper Hutt.

Q. So who’s not doing their job?
How come the Mayor has not done his job, as we understand it, in guiding the councillors in their sworn legal obligations to rate payers. How has he allowed our councillors to be derelict in their duty to us?
Did the Mayor not tell them their obligations as elected representatives to rate payers?
Did the Mayor instruct them regarding their obligations to us and in this instance they chose to ignore them?
Did the Mayor instruct them to ignore me?
That six (6) sworn representatives ignored me at the same time leaves me no choice but to conclude that it was a deliberate attempt to deny me my rights to democracy!
Q. How many others have been shut down, shut out, by this Mayor and Council?
How successful has this strategy been over the years of the Incumbent Mayors reign, that they were confident as a group, that this was the tactic to employ to deny me or anybody else democracy?
Whatever the answer is, each of them is responsible for their own choices, but the final overarching responsibility always comes back to the Mayor.

1888 days ago

National Gardening Week: Flower Power

Yates Gardener

The call is out to bring back flowers and create a riot of colour in gardens this October for National Gardening Week!

National Gardening Week: Flower Power - 21-28 October 2019

To get you started flower-bombing register online between 1st and 14th October to receive a free packet of seedsView more
The call is out to bring back flowers and create a riot of colour in gardens this October for National Gardening Week!

National Gardening Week: Flower Power - 21-28 October 2019

To get you started flower-bombing register online between 1st and 14th October to receive a free packet of seeds from Yates flower range including flowers for colour & bees.

We’re also on the search for Yates Budding Young Gardener 2019, the lucky winner will become a Yates Kid Ambassador for one year and win a family trip for four, to Hawaii. Entries close 6th October.
T's & C's apply.
Find out more

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1895 days ago

County Lane Fair

Susan from Silverstream

Just a quick update, as we have just had a meeting re County lane fair and all indoor stalls are now full and only outside stalls remain. So if you are a stall holder with goods made locally regionally or within NZ then still outside stalls available. There is also room for a few more food trucks,… View moreJust a quick update, as we have just had a meeting re County lane fair and all indoor stalls are now full and only outside stalls remain. So if you are a stall holder with goods made locally regionally or within NZ then still outside stalls available. There is also room for a few more food trucks, we have plenty of Ice cream slushies, coffee, satays and Tai food trucks as well as the usual hot chips and Gumbo and spicey beans and saussuage sizzle. Joys cafe will be open for tea scones cake etc , but maybe some other ethnic varieties would be nice. Also a tiny bit of room in the gourmet food produce section. We are hoping to expand this area of stallholders to include some local produce. Over 70 stalls already booked and paid for, We also have some amusements for the children. So a real family event. and great fundraiser for the hospice. For a better feel for the fair do visit the county lane fair facebook page. You will be impressed.

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