Could you be a NZ House & Garden Tours volunteer?
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is so excited to be the charity partner of the NZ House & Garden Tours 2023.
To make the tours a success, we need wonderful volunteers to be stationed at each of the houses, checking tickets and working alongside staff to keep the houses safe.
Dates:
Wānaka - Friday 24 & Saturday 25 February
Nelson - Friday 10 & Saturday 11 March
There are three shifts available: Morning (8.30am to 12.30pm), Afternoon (12.15pm to 4.15pm) or All Day (8.30am to 4.15pm).
Volunteers will spend their shift at one of the incredible homes on the tour, be given a 10% discount on your tour ticket, and a goodie bag from the tour sponsors.
We're also looking for House Supervisors! Responsible for looking after the team of volunteers at the house they're stationed at, they're also the point of contact at an assigned house. House Supervisors meet the homeowners the Thursday prior to the tour to go over important health and safety information.
If you're interested in being a NZ House & Garden Tours volunteer, register now!
Warnings about scams
This Fraud Awareness Week, we’re reminding everyone to stay sharp and look out for the warning signs of scams to stop them before they start.
Here’s what to watch out for:
🔍 Unrealistic offers or promises of easy money that are too good to be true
🔍 Pressure tactics: Scammers may rush or threaten you to act immediately.
🔍 Requests for personal info: Be cautious if you’re asked for bank details, passwords, or sensitive information.
🔍 Unusual payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
🔍 Unverified contacts: Emails, calls, or messages from unknown or suspicious sources.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Stop and think before sharing personal details or making payments.
✅ Don't click on any links until you know that it is safe.
✅ Verify the source: Contact the organisation directly using official channels.
✅ If something’s not right, it's OK to hang up, walk away, ignore it and move on.
If you wish to report a scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online via 105.police.govt.nz/use-105.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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16.7% A week before Christmas
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32.4% Whenever you wish
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.