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2658 days ago

Joint Council-Google project brings District to Google Street View

Richard Parfitt from Whakatāne District Council

A project between Whakatāne District Council and Google has enabled virtual tours of some of the District's most popular and spectacular destinations via Google Street View.

The project was the first of its kind in New Zealand, with Google loaning a ‘Trekker’ to the Council to capture Street View imagery. People can now explore White Island with Google Street View alongside some of the world’s great wonders, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Canyon, and Mt Everest.

Known to Māori as Whakaari, White Island is one of the world’s most accessible, continuously active marine volcanoes. The island’s awe inspiring landscape attracts sightseers from all over the world, fueling a tourism boom for Whakatāne, the ‘gateway to Whakaari’.

White Island is not the only local attraction to now feature on Google Street View. Armed with a Google Street View Trekker — an 18 kg, 15-camera backpack that takes high-quality 360-degree photos every 2.5 seconds — a team of local trekkers set out over summer to capture 35 kilometres of the Whakatāne District’s most iconic walks and landmarks. (A video of these local trekkers in action is available at the bottom of this page.)

Quintin Kerr standing on the saddle of Moutohorā (Whale Island) with the Google Street View TrekkerThe result is an immersive experience that will give prospective tourists a taste of what the Whakatāne District has to offer.

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More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Worst Xmas ever?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.

Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...

Share your Christmas mishaps below!

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6 days ago

Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.

If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?

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Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
  • 61.7% Summer
    61.7% Complete
  • 36.7% Winter
    36.7% Complete
  • 1.6% Other - I'll share below
    1.6% Complete
1363 votes
1 day ago

Suellen’s sweet Christmas tradition

Bob Owens Retirement Village

The festive season is always a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, and this time of year poses the perfect opportunity to bring a real showstopper to the Christmas table.

For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche, an impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with spun sugar that is popular at weddings in France and Italy.

What began as a birthday treat at a local French café has become a cherished Christmas tradition for Suellen and her 17-year-old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Sadie. Every year, the trio gather in Suellen’s apartment at William Sanders Village to cook this festive dessert - a holiday highlight they all treasure.

Click read more for the recipe.

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