Waiohau, Whakatane

DIY right first time #resenetip

DIY right first time #resenetip

Need to brush up your DIY skills? Check out the free MasterStroke by Resene DIY Decorating Manual for everything you need to get started.

403 days ago

Win your own Whitianga holiday home in time for summer!

The Team from Heart Foundation NZ

The Heart Foundation Lottery No. 144 is now open. For as little as one $15 ticket, you will be in the draw to win a brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home worth just over a million dollars in beautiful Whitianga. There are also other great prizes to be won, including overseas holidays, $10,000 … View moreThe Heart Foundation Lottery No. 144 is now open. For as little as one $15 ticket, you will be in the draw to win a brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home worth just over a million dollars in beautiful Whitianga. There are also other great prizes to be won, including overseas holidays, $10,000 cash and a new Toyota hybrid. Proceeds from all tickets help to fund life-saving heart research. Someone will win this incredible home on 30 November. Now that would make it a summer to remember!

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406 days ago

Poll: What issues influence your vote most?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

October 14th is the last day for voting in the General Election 2023. And while there are some policies that are nice to have, there are other issues that are imperative to us. Where do your priorities lie this election? From the options below, choose what is swaying your vote the most.

Type … View more
October 14th is the last day for voting in the General Election 2023. And while there are some policies that are nice to have, there are other issues that are imperative to us. Where do your priorities lie this election? From the options below, choose what is swaying your vote the most.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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What issues influence your vote most?
  • 3.2% Education
    3.2% Complete
  • 24.2% Health
    24.2% Complete
  • 8.1% Environment
    8.1% Complete
  • 6% Housing
    6% Complete
  • 18.7% Justice/Law
    18.7% Complete
  • 2.2% Infrastructure
    2.2% Complete
  • 0.4% Defence and foreign affairs
    0.4% Complete
  • 2.5% Community & Inclusion
    2.5% Complete
  • 7.5% Income & Employment
    7.5% Complete
  • 22.3% Economy
    22.3% Complete
  • 4.9% Other - I'll share below
    4.9% Complete
1929 votes
404 days ago

Ryman Healthcare & Black Ferns: It takes a village

The Team from Ryman Healthcare

Ryman Healthcare is proud to champion the women's game like never before. We are committed to supporting initiatives that empower women and celebrate their achievements, showcased through our official partnership with the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.

Our partnership brings a host of … View more
Ryman Healthcare is proud to champion the women's game like never before. We are committed to supporting initiatives that empower women and celebrate their achievements, showcased through our official partnership with the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.

Our partnership brings a host of benefits that contribute to the growth and development of women's rugby. Together, we aim to inspire the next generation of players and foster a vibrant community around the sport. Click here to learn more.
Learn more now

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405 days ago

Poll: What Hits Hardest?

The Team from NZ Compare

Hello Neighbours! We all understand bills are piling up for everyone.
What's been hitting your wallet the hardest lately, making you cringe every time you pay for it?

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What Hits Hardest?
  • 14.5% Power/Gas
    14.5% Complete
  • 60.9% Groceries
    60.9% Complete
  • 2.2% Broadband/Phone
    2.2% Complete
  • 22.5% Insurance
    22.5% Complete
1051 votes
405 days ago

Gain a career in health and wellbeing

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi

Interested in a rewarding career in the Health Sector? We are excited to launch our new Health and Wellbeing Certificates to complement our Nursing Degree.

Choosing a career in Health opens a range of exciting opportunities in the health and social sectors. Health is a rewarding and varied field… View more
Interested in a rewarding career in the Health Sector? We are excited to launch our new Health and Wellbeing Certificates to complement our Nursing Degree.

Choosing a career in Health opens a range of exciting opportunities in the health and social sectors. Health is a rewarding and varied field with many diverse opportunities available for both clinical and non-clinical careers, in the growing health industry.

Study with us today!
Find out more

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406 days ago

$20,000 New Home Offer

Bob Owens Retirement Village

If you're looking to find a home with the freedom to embrace adventures or a place that feels like home for the whole family; now is the time to buy a Ryman independent apartment, townhouse or serviced apartment and reward yourself too. Imagine a new smart TV, a holiday or furniture for your … View moreIf you're looking to find a home with the freedom to embrace adventures or a place that feels like home for the whole family; now is the time to buy a Ryman independent apartment, townhouse or serviced apartment and reward yourself too. Imagine a new smart TV, a holiday or furniture for your new home. With more money staying in your pocket, it’s yours to spend!

Purchase an occupation right to any Ryman independent apartment or townhouse and receive a $20,000 credit on settlement. Or purchase an occupation right to any serviced apartment and receive a $10,000 credit on settlement.* Offer valid until 22 December 2023.


*Terms and conditions apply.

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406 days ago

Win this brand-new Whitianga home!

Heart Foundation

Choose retreat or residence as the winner of this brand-new, fully furnished home in beautiful Whitianga.

For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this Jennian home in the Coromandel worth over $1 million. Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two outdoor decks and an open-plan kitchen,… View more
Choose retreat or residence as the winner of this brand-new, fully furnished home in beautiful Whitianga.

For only $15 a ticket, you could be in to win this Jennian home in the Coromandel worth over $1 million. Featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two outdoor decks and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, this home is waiting to be lived in and loved by its new owners.

Make this property your permanent residence, a holiday home, rent it or even sell it – it could be all yours! Be in to win by purchasing your tickets today.
Buy tickets now

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409 days ago

Storage Ideas For The Bathroom

Bob Owens Retirement Village

Design doesn’t end at the bathroom door. It’s a great place to create some cool storage space in your independent living apartment. If you’re not a fan of various bottles littering the floor, try a shower stool. Plus, it’s a great place to sit while washing or to shave your legs.

Ladder… View more
Design doesn’t end at the bathroom door. It’s a great place to create some cool storage space in your independent living apartment. If you’re not a fan of various bottles littering the floor, try a shower stool. Plus, it’s a great place to sit while washing or to shave your legs.

Ladder shelves are very affordable and take up minimal room. They’re perfect for rolled towels and accessories that can live on the bottom shelves with more important products on the top.

Utilise the back of the bathroom door to hide towels, swimsuits and bathrobes by using some hanging hooks.

Click for more clever apartment storage ideas.

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410 days ago

Sound Absorption for Comfortable Living

The Team from Curtain Clean at Whakatane ChemDry

“That tiny crack that runs around your door transmits more sound than you would know”

Noise is a daily occurrence that we all endure to a certain degree from noisy kettles, screaming children, loud TVs and the deafening thud of a bass. There’s sometimes little peace in ones day. Ongoing … View more
“That tiny crack that runs around your door transmits more sound than you would know”

Noise is a daily occurrence that we all endure to a certain degree from noisy kettles, screaming children, loud TVs and the deafening thud of a bass. There’s sometimes little peace in ones day. Ongoing excessive noise is not only aggravating it can actually be harmful to your ears and has a significant impact on the way our spaces work in the home.

When it comes to residential design, the acoustics, (the way in which the structural characteristics of a space relate to how well sound can be heard) although a key design feature, are rarely considered during the building process and sometimes only tackled during a renovation.

Soundwaves seep through doors, windows, ceilings and cracks, so how do you reduce unwanted sound from affecting your day to day activities?

Hard flat surfaces tend to bounce sound waves around, sometimes creating a lasting echo effect if the surfaces are parallel walls. The softer and less uniform the surface, the less opportunity sound has to bounce off. Textiles, including drapery and upholstered furniture and furnishings not only deliver a design aesthetic they also play a significant role in the absorption of sound.

However not all textiles have equal sound absorption qualities however. The level of sound absorption is dependent upon a textile’s weight, composition, and/or construction. Generally (due to the large vertical mass) drapery provides the main textile source of sound absorption however, there are several other ways to achieve this.

To decrease the level of sound in a room you need to dampen the sound waves. This can be achieved by adding surfaces that absorb the sound (or reverberation) so the sound doesn’t bounce from one thing to another.

Here are some sound absorbing ideas that you can implement fairly simply into your home:

- Acoustic panels/tiles: These come in a range of colours and fabric styles and can be designed into your interior decor. The purpose of acoustic panels is to reduce, but not entirely eliminate, resonance within the room.
- Drapery: Fabrics are an effective solution for managing sound. The more drapery folds, the more sound absorption. Hanging a curtain a small distance off the wall increases sound absorption and softening opposing walls reduces sound waves from travelling wall to wall
- Upholstered furniture: The fabrics on your upholstered furniture also help to reduce sound waves. The thicker the fabric and foam the better. Add cushions and other textiles throughout a space for ultimate sound absorption.
- Cork flooring: While it may not be fashionable of late, cork is one of the best materials for sound absorption. Made up of a honeycomb design of air-sealed cells made of the bark of the cork oak. The cells each absorb the vibrations of sound, preventing those sounds from passing through to the other side. Cork reduces sound and noise vibration by trapping it in its cell structure. It reduces the sound transmission of sound through walls and absorbs the impact of feet through the floor to the ceiling below.
- Concrete flooring: Surprisingly, lightweight porous concrete can be effective in absorbing sound (however it essentially transmits the sounds through to the next room too).
- Carpets, rugs and padding: If your floors are timber, tiles or linoleum on subfloor concrete, you may want to try rugs or carpet coupled with a sound-absorbing underlay or foam rubber backing.
- Floating hardwood: This type of flooring installation includes a gap between the subfloor and your actual floors, which effectively dampens sound.
- Fabric pendant lamps/floor lamps: Update your light shades with a textile shade, the thicker the better. Every textile in a space will help.

A combination of the techniques above, depending on your budget and skill level should help in the overall acoustics in your home. Below we have outlined a selection of fabrics from our range that offer great sound absorption qualities due to the high level of either wool content, thickness and/or construction.

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410 days ago

Get decorating and save with Resene!

Resene

Now’s the perfect time to get decorating with 25% off Resene premium paints, wood stains, primers, sealers, wallpaper, decorating accessories and cleaning products at Resene ColorShops. Choose from thousands of colours and get your favourites tinted in Eco Choice approved Resene paints.

Ask … View more
Now’s the perfect time to get decorating with 25% off Resene premium paints, wood stains, primers, sealers, wallpaper, decorating accessories and cleaning products at Resene ColorShops. Choose from thousands of colours and get your favourites tinted in Eco Choice approved Resene paints.

Ask our staff for expert advice on everything from choosing the right colour and paint to how to apply it for the best finish.
Find out more

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413 days ago

What's it like living with a loud voice

Sanda Reporter from Stuff

Hi there,

I'm writing a story on what's it like to live with a loud voice. Are you someone who gets high-pitched whenever you are excited? Does your family constantly nag you to dial down your voice? Or are you someone who's annoyed by your loved ones' loud talking?

If you… View more
Hi there,

I'm writing a story on what's it like to live with a loud voice. Are you someone who gets high-pitched whenever you are excited? Does your family constantly nag you to dial down your voice? Or are you someone who's annoyed by your loved ones' loud talking?

If you can relate to any such scenario, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or you can email me at sanda.arambepola@stuff.co.nz
Please put 'NFP' (not for publication) in your comment if you don't want it or your name to appear in the article.

Thank you for taking the time to share your stories.

411 days ago

Kiwi Rugby Fever: WIN SKY Sport!

The Team from NZ Compare

We're a Rugby MAD nation!
Which team are you supporting? How do they compare against the rest in this Rugby World Cup?

Share why you rate your team and you could WIN Sky Sport Now for 3 months (valued at $135)!
CLICK below to enter! Act fast, the entry deadline is October 12, 2023.

View more
We're a Rugby MAD nation!
Which team are you supporting? How do they compare against the rest in this Rugby World Cup?

Share why you rate your team and you could WIN Sky Sport Now for 3 months (valued at $135)!
CLICK below to enter! Act fast, the entry deadline is October 12, 2023.

But that's not all! Many broadband plans currently offer FREE subscriptions to top streaming services. It's the perfect time to switch!
Compare your broadband and power bills to save big this Spring!
COMPARE NOW: www.broadbandcompare.co.nz...

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413 days ago

Poll: Top sheet or duvet?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It's a controversial topic that can cause arguments for bed companions as well as staunch bedding enthusiasts.
Some people sleep beneath a top sheet, while others have said goodbye to 'hospital corners' and just use a duvet. Let's see how kiwis are sleeping these days, share … View more
It's a controversial topic that can cause arguments for bed companions as well as staunch bedding enthusiasts.
Some people sleep beneath a top sheet, while others have said goodbye to 'hospital corners' and just use a duvet. Let's see how kiwis are sleeping these days, share your vote and your reasons below!

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Top sheet or duvet?
  • 78.8% Top sheet
    78.8% Complete
  • 20.6% Duvet
    20.6% Complete
  • 0.6% Neither - I'll share below!
    0.6% Complete
2205 votes
412 days ago

Life-saving heart research ❤️

The Team from Heart Foundation NZ

Our research funding is all about saving lives in New Zealand ❤️ This year, we were thrilled to announce $3.7m of funding for heart research and specialist overseas training for New Zealand cardiologists. Huge thanks to our donors and supporters for their generosity and for making this … View moreOur research funding is all about saving lives in New Zealand ❤️ This year, we were thrilled to announce $3.7m of funding for heart research and specialist overseas training for New Zealand cardiologists. Huge thanks to our donors and supporters for their generosity and for making this investment in heart health possible.

Click the link to find out more about the transformative research projects.

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412 days ago

Telephone dictation voting in the 2023 General Election

The Team from Electoral Commission

If you are blind, partially blind, or have a physical disability that means you cannot mark your voting paper without help, you can use the telephone dictation voting service.

You can use the telephone dictation voting service both from within New Zealand and if you’re overseas.

You do … View more
If you are blind, partially blind, or have a physical disability that means you cannot mark your voting paper without help, you can use the telephone dictation voting service.

You can use the telephone dictation voting service both from within New Zealand and if you’re overseas.

You do need to register to use this service though, before noon (NZ time) on Saturday 14 October.

You can find more information on our website here: vote.nz...

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