Banks Peninsula, Akaroa

447 days ago

SAMSUNG VS APPLE

The Team from NZ Compare

The comparison you've been waiting for! Are you team Apple or team Samsung?!

Both companies have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to technology and it can get pretty heated. It's always best to check before you invest - so compare the pro's and con's of … View more
The comparison you've been waiting for! Are you team Apple or team Samsung?!

Both companies have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to technology and it can get pretty heated. It's always best to check before you invest - so compare the pro's and con's of Samsung and Apple now with this easy guide.

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448 days ago

Would you speak up?

Telecommunications Dispute Resolution

Telecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?

The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage … View more
Telecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?

The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage you to speak up and raise issues early.

For phone and internet disputes, talk to your provider first and give them a chance to sort it. If it remains unresolved or if you need some extra help, you can talk to TDR – your free and independent complaint service.

To get in touch or find out more, visit www.tdr.org.nz or freephone 0508 98 98 98.
Find out more

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450 days ago

Got a small business? We've got a sale!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Just for April we're offering a very special discount on our Premium Business Listings! Usually $399*, you can grab a Premium Listing for just $199* for the whole year.

Here's five great things a Premium Listing will get you:
- up to 40,000 neighbours living around your business to … View more
Just for April we're offering a very special discount on our Premium Business Listings! Usually $399*, you can grab a Premium Listing for just $199* for the whole year.

Here's five great things a Premium Listing will get you:
- up to 40,000 neighbours living around your business to connect
- message scheduling (set and forget!)
- improved SEO (improve your online footprint!)
- fortnightly tips and tricks from the Neighbourly team to ensure your Premium Listing works for you
- support from the Neighbourly team whenever you need it

*GST additional
Get Premium now

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455 days ago

Do we need better animal welfare rules in Aotearoa?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

CDANZ estimates that around 250,000 dogs are chained up for their entire lives in Aotearoa. Animal welfare inspectors from the SPCA can do little for them and only in the most extreme cases can dogs be seized, and owners prosecuted, due to the resources involved. Do we need to have better welfare … View moreCDANZ estimates that around 250,000 dogs are chained up for their entire lives in Aotearoa. Animal welfare inspectors from the SPCA can do little for them and only in the most extreme cases can dogs be seized, and owners prosecuted, due to the resources involved. Do we need to have better welfare rules for dogs?

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

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451 days ago

PIPS - Pregnancy, Infancy, Parenting, Support

The Team from Citizens Advice Christchurch Area

Check out our podcast, where we were joined by PIPS Manager Megan, who talked about the issues young families face and how PIPS can support them.

PIPS are providing free, non-judgmental, client-focused practical and emotional support during pregnancy and early parenting. To find out more … View more
Check out our podcast, where we were joined by PIPS Manager Megan, who talked about the issues young families face and how PIPS can support them.

PIPS are providing free, non-judgmental, client-focused practical and emotional support during pregnancy and early parenting. To find out more click on the 'Read More' for links to the podcast and their website.

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456 days ago

City leaders 'gravely concerned' for Christchurch library rebuild

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Tina Law:

One of Christchurch's most popular libraries is at risk of being rebuilt as a “substandard facility” that will fail to meet the needs of its community, some city leaders fear.

There is a $2.5 million shortfall to rebuild South Library in Beckenham and with no … View more
From reporter Tina Law:

One of Christchurch's most popular libraries is at risk of being rebuilt as a “substandard facility” that will fail to meet the needs of its community, some city leaders fear.

There is a $2.5 million shortfall to rebuild South Library in Beckenham and with no extra money currently in the Christchurch City Council’s budget, councillors and community board members are worried the project will be scaled back.

They are urging the public to make a submission to the council’s draft annual plan, before submissions close at 11.59pm on Monday, to ensure more money is put in the budget.

Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board chairperson Callum Ward​ told the council at its meeting last week that the board was “gravely concerned” about the project.

“Unless we adjust the budget now to meet the actual needs of the facility, the scope of this project will be eroded to the point where we will deliver a substandard facility that will fail to meet the needs of the community.”

Ward said the library, which was also a service centre, was one of the most well-used in the city and had a higher book turnover than Tūranga, the central library.

Read the full story here.

458 days ago

Large speed bumps recommended for dangerous Christchurch roundabout

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Steven Walton:

Controversial enlarged speed bumps are being recommended for a Christchurch roundabout to stop cars crashing with cyclists.

Christchurch City Council staff are recommending a raft of safety tweaks for the roundabout at the bottom of the Port Hills, which connects … View more
From reporter Steven Walton:

Controversial enlarged speed bumps are being recommended for a Christchurch roundabout to stop cars crashing with cyclists.

Christchurch City Council staff are recommending a raft of safety tweaks for the roundabout at the bottom of the Port Hills, which connects Dyers Pass Rd, Colombo St, Cashmere Rd and Centaurus Rd.

The Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote community board will decide at a meeting next week whether to go ahead with the staff recommendations.

During public consultation, the majority of people who lived near the roundabout did not support the changes or did not indicate their preference. Some feared it could worsen congestion.

One aspect of the tweaks was adding raised safety platforms at each roundabout entrance.

Similar platforms were previously added at a Lincoln Rd intersection and have faced criticism from some city councillors and mayor Phil Mauger.

Councillor Aaron Keown previously claimed the council does not have a mandate to install the platforms.

Another raised platform on Opawa Rd had not drawn any criticism.

In the case of this roundabout, council staff say a raised platform would reduce entry speed and therefore improve safety.

Staff said if people were hit by a car travelling at 50kph their chances of survival are 20%, but their survival chances would shoot up to 90% if the car’s speed was only 30kph.

Between 2012 and 2021, 27 crashes had occurred at the roundabout, with 10 of them resulting in serious injuries.

In all the instances of serious injuries, the crashes involved a cyclist, motorbike or scooter.

Council staff said about 2200 cars and 65 cyclists used the roundabout during the morning rush. About 2400 cars and 90 cyclists used it at peak time in the evening.

Other tweaks proposed by council staff were narrower entry lanes to the roundabout, wider pedestrian islands, and improved pedestrian crossing locations.

Council staff received a mixed reception when they consulted the public about the work.

Out of a total of 426 submissions, 197 did not indicate whether they supported the changes, 86 were in favour, and 143 were against.

About 150 submitters suggested that solving safety issues at the intersection would require traffic lights.

Council staff say this would not help safety and could cost $2.5 million, whereas the recommended tweaks would only cost $450,000.

The tweaks would be paid by the Government, thanks to a $40m cash injection for roading projects that was first promised in 2017.

Council staff noted that “the majority of submitters who live within the vicinity of the roundabout ... either did not support the changes or did not give a clear indication”.

The area’s community board will meet at 4pm on Thursday, April 13 to decide whether to go ahead with the proposed tweaks.

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452 days ago

Addictive Eaters Anonymous

The Team from Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Christchurch

MONTHLY AEA WEB EVENTS
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The AEA Web Event is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month… View more
MONTHLY AEA WEB EVENTS
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The AEA Web Event is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month which is this Sunday 16 April at 8.00am.

ALL NEWCOMERS WELCOME

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453 days ago

Antique Buyers in Christchurch

Goldco

WANTED WANTED WANTED:
Gold • Coins • Watches • Banknotes • Antique • Jewellery • Collectables

The market for many antiques, collectables, vintage watches, artefacts, gold and silver items has been buoyant these past few years. So if you are considering selling any of these or … View more
WANTED WANTED WANTED:
Gold • Coins • Watches • Banknotes • Antique • Jewellery • Collectables

The market for many antiques, collectables, vintage watches, artefacts, gold and silver items has been buoyant these past few years. So if you are considering selling any of these or similar items then our specialist buyers would like to make an offer.
Any items will be considered so please don’t be shy and visit one of our venues.

Large or valuable collections? Single items? Downsizing, moving or decluttering? Family not interested? or simply turning unwanted items into cash.

*Immediate payment made *No commission or waiting *Free no obligation appraisal *Onsite security *Please have your bank details handy

Whether you have a large and valuable collection or a single item of broken jewellery please take this opportunity to see us at a venue near you.

See us at a venue near you - See venues here: https://www.goldco.co.nz/.
Goldco Antique Buyers | Member NZNDA | www.goldco.co.nz | email: goldco@xtra.co.nz | Ph: 0800 105 228
Find out more

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454 days ago

Would you speak up?

Telecommunications Dispute Resolution

Telecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?

The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage … View more
Telecommunications are an integral part of our lives, so when things go wrong it can be frustrating. Do you prefer to keep tight lipped, or are you willing to speak up?

The Telecommunications Dispute Resolution service, or TDR for short, is here to help. It’s ok to complain and we encourage you to speak up and raise issues early.

For phone and internet disputes, talk to your provider first and give them a chance to sort it. If it remains unresolved or if you need some extra help, you can talk to TDR – your free and independent complaint service.

To get in touch or find out more, visit www.tdr.org.nz or freephone 0508 98 98 98.
Find out more

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454 days ago

Mealtime made easy with HelloFresh

HelloFresh

Sharing the joy with neighbours, family, and friends alike doesn’t have to be hard. HelloFresh makes mealtime easy, even for a crowd.

With HelloFresh you don’t have to think about meal planning or the hassle of going to the supermarket. Everything you need for a no-stress, … View more
Sharing the joy with neighbours, family, and friends alike doesn’t have to be hard. HelloFresh makes mealtime easy, even for a crowd.

With HelloFresh you don’t have to think about meal planning or the hassle of going to the supermarket. Everything you need for a no-stress, delicious meal is delivered straight to your door with quality, pre-portioned ingredients.

Experience the variety and convenience HelloFresh has to offer with meals like Chipotle Beef & Black Bean Loaded Wedges with Radish Salsa & Mayonnaise by using the code NEIGHBOURLYHF to get up to $175 off HelloFresh.
Find out more

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456 days ago

Flooding impossible to fix, so put up with - council report

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Tina Law:

Flooding on Christchurch properties and streets is impossible to fix and residents will just have to accept it, a council report warns.

The Christchurch City Council has spent $300 million reducing the flood risk across the city since 2010, mostly around the Flockton … View more
From reporter Tina Law:

Flooding on Christchurch properties and streets is impossible to fix and residents will just have to accept it, a council report warns.

The Christchurch City Council has spent $300 million reducing the flood risk across the city since 2010, mostly around the Flockton St area and along the Heathcote River, where water was regularly seeping into people’s homes.

There are still several low-lying areas across the city, mostly along river catchments, where properties and roads flood regularly, but a council report says it is not possible to resolve all aspects of flood risk, particularly in older areas.

“There will always be a bigger flood event, or areas that cannot be practicably remedied.”

The council decided last week to develop a prioritised list of works, but staff warned the scale of the task limited the council’s ability to address all areas at pace and significant time would be needed to complete all of the work.

The report said the council and community may have to accept that some surface water ponding and private property flooding could not be addressed through physical work, particularly as the climate changed.

Read the full story here.

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454 days ago

Thousands of Christchurch residents stung with bill for using too much water

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Tina Law:

More than 15,000 Christchurch residents have now been stung with a bill for using too much water this summer.

The average bill is $84, but one Woolston property has managed to rack up $2884 worth of excess water charges.

The property has used 2.1 million litres of … View more
From reporter Tina Law:

More than 15,000 Christchurch residents have now been stung with a bill for using too much water this summer.

The average bill is $84, but one Woolston property has managed to rack up $2884 worth of excess water charges.

The property has used 2.1 million litres of water across the quarter, which amounts to an average of 23,743 litres each day for roughly 90 days – about 34 times more than the 700-litre daily allowance.

A property in Sumner property received a $1622 bill after churning through about 12,300 litres of water each day between October and January.

In October, the Christchurch City Council started charging people a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit every quarter, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes. The average residential use is about 540 litres.

The charges were designed to reduce extreme demand on the network, particularly over summer.

Council resources general manager Leah Scales said last month, anyone with a bill in the hundreds of dollars should check for leaks.

“If they identify and fix that leak they will be eligible for a remission of the charges.”

The council did not say last week how many people had paid their bill, but in mid-March it said 812 had already paid.

People have eight weeks to pay their excess water bill, with the first invoices due later this month.

The charges have sparked criticism from some residents, with some refusing to pay and one man, Phil Yarrall has not mown his grass verge since October in protest against the charge.

Yarrall, who has yet to receive a bill, believes it is discriminatory, arbitrary in its application and nothing more than a creeping tax.

In response to public criticism the council is consulting the public as part of its draft annual plan on whether it should increase the daily allowance from 700 litres to 900 litres.

Others have been upset that about 25,365 homes are exempt from the water charge because they share a water meter with their neighbours.

However, Scales said 194 properties out of the 25,365 with shared water meters would have received a bill – less than 1% of the total.

Meters would be installed in those properties first.

Letters were sent to the city’s top water users last year, encouraging them to check their properties for leaks before the charges came into place.

Some households could be eligible for a remission, including families with more than eight members, if the high use is due to a personal medical condition and if the high use was caused by a leak that was repaired promptly.

Water use has decreased by more than 10% since charges were brought in, saving millions of litres

However, the council estimates about 38 million litres of water a day is lost from the city’s pipes on public and private land – about 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth.

Despite efforts by the council to reduce leaks in recent years, the amount of water lost keeps going up and now represents 27% of all water use, up from 18% in 2018.

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461 days ago

Seniors Newsletter

The Team from Office for Seniors

Our Seniors newsletter is out today. We publish details on the annual increase to NZ Superannuation and Veterans pension payments, the start of the Winter Energy Payment and provide advice on travelling overseas while on Superannuation and what you need to be aware of. We also hear about MoneyTalks… View moreOur Seniors newsletter is out today. We publish details on the annual increase to NZ Superannuation and Veterans pension payments, the start of the Winter Energy Payment and provide advice on travelling overseas while on Superannuation and what you need to be aware of. We also hear about MoneyTalks and the free budget advice they provide. Plus so much more!

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454 days ago

Covid update:

Gordon from Halswell

Last week's Covid figures show a reduction but still over 12000 infections Nationally and 2200 in Canterbury.
There is an irony with Easter w/e deaths being ONE and that could never happen !
Perhaps if people treated Covid the same way it might be controllable.
Yes, it is only one 4 day … View more
Last week's Covid figures show a reduction but still over 12000 infections Nationally and 2200 in Canterbury.
There is an irony with Easter w/e deaths being ONE and that could never happen !
Perhaps if people treated Covid the same way it might be controllable.
Yes, it is only one 4 day period, but it can happen, even with all the factors that are normally blamed for deaths, road conditions etc. If people drive safely there will not be as many deaths. Not rocket science.
If more people wore masks there would be fewer infections, similar logic.

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