262 days ago

AGM

Shelley Smithies from Howick Botany Neighbourhood Support

I hope all Howick / Botany Street Coordinators can join us for our AGM on Wednesday 21st May 2025.

As our National Office requests information on how many houses are in your Street, & how many of those houses are part of your Neighbourhood Support group – please bring these details with you or email them.

We will be having our normal door prize draw, as well as distributing Gift Cards.

Emma Goldsworthy, Advisor Community Readiness and Recovery at Auckland Fire and Emergency who will be our guest speaker on the night, has provided the following information:

Home Fire Safety Visits:
These are the free visits we offer to provide people fire safety in their homes. We can also test smoke alarms, install any people have purchased and if they don’t have any smoke alarms we can provide and install one for them for free. They can request a visit through our website.
I have also attached a poster about Home Fire Safety Visits that you can share.

Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) Smoke Alarms:
These are smoke alarms that are linked to a strobe light and vibrating bed shaker for those who can’t hear standard smoke alarms. HAT alarms are fully funded for those who require them and referrals can be arranged through Your Way I Kia Roha and information on this is on their website.

Electric Blanket Testing:
Fire and Emergency are running a free electric blanket testing event in Howick at Nixon Park Community hall on the 24th of May from 10:30am – 2pm.
We are also running a second testing event on the 17th of May at Pukekohe Fire Station.

Hope to see you there

Kind Regards
Shelley (Secretary / Treasurer)

More messages from your neighbours
16 days ago

Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

If a zookeeper had 100 pairs of animals in her zoo, and two pairs of babies are born for each one of the original animals, then (sadly) 23 animals don’t survive, how many animals do you have left in total?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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3 hours ago

Here's what you need to know before making an offer on a house

Hira Siddiqui from Citizens Advice Bureau Pakuranga/Eastern Manukau

🏠 What is the neighbourhood like?
Familiarise yourself with the neighbourhood, to check accessibility to public transport, schools and shops. Visit the street at different times of day, to find out how quiet or noisy it gets. Check with the local council whether they know of any future developments in the area that could increase noise or traffic.
🏠 How much are the rates and insurance?
Do a property search on the local council’s website to see what the rates are.
You can also get quotes from insurers to find out what it might cost to insure it.
Check whether the homeowner is paying off the cost of installing insulation or heating units through their rates, because you will inherit that debt if you buy the house.
🏠 For a unit title, check the pre-contract disclosure
If the property is on a unit title development (for example, an apartment), ask to see the pre-contract disclosure. This is basic information about the unit and the unit title development.
🏠 Get a LIM (Land Information Memorandum) report
A LIM report tells you everything the local council knows about the land and the buildings, for example, what building consents and code compliance certificates they have issued for work done on the property.
🏠 Pre-purchase building inspection
Get an independent building inspector to examine the house thoroughly and look for potential problems with weather-tightness, wiring, plumbing or the foundations (piles).
Ask them to check for features that might make maintenance more difficult. For example, some types of wall claddings need specialist knowledge to maintain, access to the gutters might not be straightforward, and retaining walls can be expensive to repair.
🏠 Check the property title
Ask a lawyer or conveyancer to check the property title for things like easements. For example, an easement might allow a neighbour to access part of the property. The property title should also confirm the property boundary.
More information is on the Settled website:
www.settled.govt.nz...
Image credit: Ray White New Zealand
Info credit: Citizens Advice Bureau: cab.org.nz

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18 days ago

Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.

Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.

We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?

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As a customer, what do you think about automation?
  • 9.6% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
    9.6% Complete
  • 43.2% I want to be able to choose.
    43.2% Complete
  • 47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
    47.1% Complete
2291 votes