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3016 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
16 hours ago

Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️‍💥❔

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What has a head but no brain?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!

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2 days ago

Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”

We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?

Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.

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Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 40.7% Yes
    40.7% Complete
  • 34.5% Maybe?
    34.5% Complete
  • 24.8% No
    24.8% Complete
504 votes
4 hours ago

Suellen's Sweet Christmas Tradition

The Team from Patrick Hogan Village

The festive season is the perfect excuse to indulge your sweet tooth and to bring something truly special to the Christmas table. For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche !

An impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with delicate spun sugar, this classic dessert is a favourite at weddings across France and Italy and a much-loved Christmas tradition at home.

Click read more for the full recipe.

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