Crofton Downs, Wellington

1397 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

This week's featured bird is the oystercatcher, courtesy of Simon Woolf.

"Pretty rapt to see a clutch of oystercatcher, chicks and their parents, on Wellington's coast tonight. The adult birds were back from last year, and have three young ones in tow.
The adult bird had just caught… View more
This week's featured bird is the oystercatcher, courtesy of Simon Woolf.

"Pretty rapt to see a clutch of oystercatcher, chicks and their parents, on Wellington's coast tonight. The adult birds were back from last year, and have three young ones in tow.
The adult bird had just caught a worm and the competition was on, as to which bird would get a feed. The bird at the back is the runt, and was also the chick that was attacked by gulls.
It was also the chick that was not in any way defended by the parent birds, while the other two birds were well cared for. You certainly know which chick is the runt, when it runs only metres away from you, after being chased by a gull, and neither of the parent birds felt the inclination to attack me!
Life is cruel for a baby oystercatcher, however if you are the runt of the clutch, life is really hard!"

1408 days ago

Favourite foodie finds

Lorna Thornber Reporter from Stuff Travel

Hi everyone,
We'd be keen to hear about your favourite foodie finds on your travels through NZ. Have you come across a particularly amazing cafe, bakery restaurant or food truck? Had an especially delicious pie, burger, sandwich, smoothie bowl or cronut? Been to what must be one of the … View more
Hi everyone,
We'd be keen to hear about your favourite foodie finds on your travels through NZ. Have you come across a particularly amazing cafe, bakery restaurant or food truck? Had an especially delicious pie, burger, sandwich, smoothie bowl or cronut? Been to what must be one of the country's best fish and chip joints? Or been pleasantly surprised by a town's food scene? Please share the details below and include 'NFP' (not for publication) in your comment if you don't want it included in an article. Cheers.

1394 days ago

Monday Sport Blast From The Past: Jonathan Wyatt

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Who can remember Jonathan Wyatt?
In 2005, he stormed to victory in the World Mountain Running Champion on Mt Victoria. In front of what was called a "boisterous crowd" of 10,000 Wyatt blitzed the field.
Wyatt is a six-time world mountain running champion and an eight-time winner of the … View more
Who can remember Jonathan Wyatt?
In 2005, he stormed to victory in the World Mountain Running Champion on Mt Victoria. In front of what was called a "boisterous crowd" of 10,000 Wyatt blitzed the field.
Wyatt is a six-time world mountain running champion and an eight-time winner of the world mountain running grand prix series.
He also competed at two Olympics and held national records in a range of middle distance events.
These days he lives in Italy, with his Italian wife Antonelle Confortola.
He was elected president of the World Running Association Council in 2017.
He began his athletic career in the Hutt Valley.

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1392 days ago

Better balance is easy!

The Team from ACC New Zealand

Maintaining your balance is key to enjoying life and avoiding falls. With the easy-to-use app called Nymbl, you can improve your balance and live falls free.

You just need a smartphone or tablet. With Nymbl you’ll use simple and safe body movements and easy brain challenges like trivia. … View more
Maintaining your balance is key to enjoying life and avoiding falls. With the easy-to-use app called Nymbl, you can improve your balance and live falls free.

You just need a smartphone or tablet. With Nymbl you’ll use simple and safe body movements and easy brain challenges like trivia. It’s a technique called dual-tasking and it’s proven to be effective, it’s also fun. Just 10 minutes a day in the comfort of your own home and you can be Nymbl.

Register now to get Nymbl free. Nymbl is brought to you by Live Stronger For Longer and ACC, MOH and HQSC.
Learn more

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1393 days ago

Is Wellington's Cable Car a form of rapid transport?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

It has a top speed of 20kmph and a reputation for being reliable but is it rapid?
Debate between senior city council staff about whether Wellington’s 20kmh Cable Car was a form of rapid transit led to a seemingly predictable answer - no.
Official information documents show senior city design and … View more
It has a top speed of 20kmph and a reputation for being reliable but is it rapid?
Debate between senior city council staff about whether Wellington’s 20kmh Cable Car was a form of rapid transit led to a seemingly predictable answer - no.
Official information documents show senior city design and place planning staff exchanged emails on the topic over almost six hours before one apologised for even asking the question.

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1393 days ago

Good Sort: Jesiah Oli-Alainu'uese

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

When he saw his teacher struggling to breathe, 10-year-old Jesiah Oli-Alainu'uese knew exactly what to do.
His actions at lunchtime last Thursday likely saved the life of his teacher, Leah Smythe.
Jesiah is a pupil at Raureka School in Hastings and was just about to leave his classroom to join… View more
When he saw his teacher struggling to breathe, 10-year-old Jesiah Oli-Alainu'uese knew exactly what to do.
His actions at lunchtime last Thursday likely saved the life of his teacher, Leah Smythe.
Jesiah is a pupil at Raureka School in Hastings and was just about to leave his classroom to join his friends for lunch when he saw Smythe start to cough.
“She patted me on the shoulder. I could see that she was choking, so I whacked her on the back three or four times. Really hard,” he said.
That did the trick and the piece of food lodged in Smythe's throat was dislodged, allowing her to breathe again.
Jesiah said he knew what to do because he had seen someone at another school do it to a student who was choking.
“I hit her pretty hard. I got my strength from boxing training. When she called my mum she said her back was still sore,” Jesiah said.
Jesiah's feat was recognised at a school assembly on Friday, at which he was presented a gift by a St John Ambulance paramedic.
Principal Greg Riceman said he was very proud of Jesiah.
“It was really fantastic, what he did,” Riceman said.
Would you know what to do if you found someone choking?
- Reporting by Marty Sharpe

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1393 days ago

The Joy of Giving - December 1st to 31st 🎁

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

This month we want to challenge Neighbourhood Supporters to come together and give generously from the heart this holiday season. With so much going on this time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and forget about others, especially those having a difficult time.

Whether … View more
This month we want to challenge Neighbourhood Supporters to come together and give generously from the heart this holiday season. With so much going on this time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and forget about others, especially those having a difficult time.

Whether it’s an elderly neighbour who lives alone to a family on your street working hard to make ends meet, reach out to someone who could use a little extra joy in their life and remind them what the holiday spirit is all about!

Other ideas include fundraising for a local charity, doing a food or toy drive, organising a ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchange on your street, giving a present to a neighbour who helped to make your 2020 better, or even host a community Christmas lunch.

Let us know how you’re giving back in your community in December by emailing: info@neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz

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1394 days ago

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

MetService is predicting some really nasty weather from this evening until Tuesday morning. It has issued the following warnings for STRONG WIND and HEAVY RAIN for the Wellington Region.
WELLINGTON and the KAPITI COAST south of Otaki Valid: 6 hours from 7:00 pm Monday to 1:00 am Tuesday Forecast: … View more
MetService is predicting some really nasty weather from this evening until Tuesday morning. It has issued the following warnings for STRONG WIND and HEAVY RAIN for the Wellington Region.
WELLINGTON and the KAPITI COAST south of Otaki Valid: 6 hours from 7:00 pm Monday to 1:00 am Tuesday Forecast: Period of rain with locally heavy falls. Expect 50 to 60mm to accumulate, peak intensities 10 to 20mm per hour this evening.
WELLINGTON and KAPITI COAST south of Otaki. Valid: 13 hours from 9:00 pm Monday to 10:00 am Tuesday Forecast: Southerly gales are forecast to be severe at times, with gusts reaching 120 km/h.

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1393 days ago

Love Local Christmas

Simone Borgstede from Wellington City Council

It's officially the month of Christmas!

The next few months will see a host of exciting new initiatives joining established events to add extra festive colour to the city and support downtown retailers - brought to you by WellingtonNZ and WCC.

There will be a Shop on Shop off bus, parking … View more
It's officially the month of Christmas!

The next few months will see a host of exciting new initiatives joining established events to add extra festive colour to the city and support downtown retailers - brought to you by WellingtonNZ and WCC.

There will be a Shop on Shop off bus, parking specials, and a new Love Local Pop-Up Shop on the corner of Willis and Mercer Streets, featuring a unique partnership with some of our local favourites (hint...hint... Fix & Fogg and Fogg).

There'll also be a dynamic programme of free local live music, circus and other performances will appear in shops, parks and streets to make shopping more entertaining on Thursdays till Sundays throughout December.

To find out more about what's planned, visit:
wellington.govt.nz...

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1393 days ago

Landslide in Porirua hits homes as heavy rain continues in Wellington

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

What was the weather like at your place?
It was a wild night across the region with a landslide in Porirua, damaging two houses.
Emergency services received multiple calls related to flooding in the evening, in Tawa, Plimmerton and areas in the Hutt Valley.
The heaviest rain appears to have hit … View more
What was the weather like at your place?
It was a wild night across the region with a landslide in Porirua, damaging two houses.
Emergency services received multiple calls related to flooding in the evening, in Tawa, Plimmerton and areas in the Hutt Valley.
The heaviest rain appears to have hit Wainuiomata.
MetService predict the weather to improve around midday.

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1393 days ago

Advent Calendar goes live for December

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Kate McGuinness made a splash on Instagram during lockdown with charming digital drawings of iconic Wellington scenes. Now she’s created a new series of illustrations especially for the 2020 Wellington Advent Calendar.
This year’s online Wellington Advent Calendar consists of stylised numbers … View more
Kate McGuinness made a splash on Instagram during lockdown with charming digital drawings of iconic Wellington scenes. Now she’s created a new series of illustrations especially for the 2020 Wellington Advent Calendar.
This year’s online Wellington Advent Calendar consists of stylised numbers from 1 to 24 representing those days in December.
Once a number is clicked on, one of Kate’s illustrations and a hospitality or experience deal are revealed. Simply enter your email address and you will receive a voucher redeemable at the respective business. Vouchers are valid until the end of February.
“In Wellington, a lot of our identity is wrapped up in the places we frequent. You get to know the person behind the counter, especially with locally owned places - it’s very personal. I kept this in mind as I worked on the advent illustrations.”
The 2019 Wellington Advent Calendar led to 89,000 vouchers being downloaded.

1393 days ago

Children's Christmas Concert

Orchestra Wellington

Just $10 for a child ticket and $15 for an adult, please join us at our Christmas Singalong. Featuring a beautiful Samoan choir, Christmas classics and a special mystery guest, this promises to be a delightful day out for all ages.
We’ll also have bouncy castles and face paints before the show … View more
Just $10 for a child ticket and $15 for an adult, please join us at our Christmas Singalong. Featuring a beautiful Samoan choir, Christmas classics and a special mystery guest, this promises to be a delightful day out for all ages.
We’ll also have bouncy castles and face paints before the show for the little ones.

Sunday 13 December 2.30pm at the Michael Fowler Centre. Pre-concert entertainment from 1.30pm in the Renouf Foyer.
Find out more

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1394 days ago

Tongue Twisters

NumberWorks'nWords Karori

Comment your own tongue twisters below!

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1394 days ago

Heavy Rainfall

The Team from Wellington Water

As a consequence of the heavy rainfall on Saturday night and Sunday morning along with the high tide, there was extreme flooding that unfortunately affected a number of residents in Porirua. There is more rain in the forecast tonight for residents in Porirua, the Hutt Valley and Wellington. … View moreAs a consequence of the heavy rainfall on Saturday night and Sunday morning along with the high tide, there was extreme flooding that unfortunately affected a number of residents in Porirua. There is more rain in the forecast tonight for residents in Porirua, the Hutt Valley and Wellington. 🌧🌧🌧

Meanwhile, our operations teams are checking known risk areas and are working to ensure that the stormwater networks can perform as well as possible. If surface flooding occurs, please contact your local council.

1397 days ago

New builds and green space for former office space on waterfront

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

What would you like to see developed on a large area of former office buildings land on Wellington’s waterfront, which is to be opened up to new building developments and public spaces under a regeneration plan unveiled by CentrePort.
The plan outlines the company’s new vision for the … View more
What would you like to see developed on a large area of former office buildings land on Wellington’s waterfront, which is to be opened up to new building developments and public spaces under a regeneration plan unveiled by CentrePort.
The plan outlines the company’s new vision for the earthquake-damaged port, which finalised a $667 million insurance payout in October last year for claims made following the 2016 Kaikōura quake.
CentrePort chief executive Derek Nind told key players at Wellington’s waterfront on Thursday the “medium-term” vision would drastically transform the area around Waterloo Quay, with public access to new low-rise buildings and green spaces.

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