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Ms Ardern, 40, revealed on Coast Radio she and Mr Gayford, 44, would wed after two and a half years of engagement. "We have finally got a date. Finally," she said, declining to reveal the precise date, but adding it would be "this coming summer". "When I say we've got … View moreMs Ardern, 40, revealed on Coast Radio she and Mr Gayford, 44, would wed after two and a half years of engagement. "We have finally got a date. Finally," she said, declining to reveal the precise date, but adding it would be "this coming summer". "When I say we've got a date, that doesn't mean we've told anyone yet. I feel like we should probably put some invites out!" Weddings by heads of government are relatively rare.
When UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston marries his fiancee Carrie Symonds, as he intends to do this year, he will become the first British leader to do so in office in almost two centuries. While Ms Ardern's wedding timetable has been set, the scale and size is not yet clear. Ms Ardern is well known to count international celebrities - including members of Britain's Royal family - as personal friends. Her popularity both at home and abroad prompts persistent questions about her relationship, her wedding and whether or not her two-year-old daughter Neve may get a brother or sister. She and her office keep a tight rein on her private life, usually shunning questions that stray from her role as prime minister. In the past year, she has also firmed up a practice of declining all internationally-based media requests, save for a few Australian television appearances last month when the trans-Tasman bubble was confirmed. Since her election win, Ms Ardern has decided to conduct more light-touch interviews with FM radio stations and magazines, which tend to stray into the personal. In a long-form interview with Kiwi magazine Thrive, Ms Ardern revealed she got through last year - managing New Zealand through the COVID-19 pandemic and winning October's election - on a simple diet. "I live on cups of tea to be honest and blimmin bliss balls," she said. "My mother made so many bliss balls for me during the election that I was being powered by dates." Mr Gayford is a radio and television personality, who hosts fishing program Fish Of The Day, while acting as Neve's primary caregiver. "Thank God Clarke is a morning person," Ms Ardern said to Thrive. "I don't think I've talked about this before but he has consistently been the night and morning person for our daughter. "He will bring me a cup of tea every morning without fail. Which sounds like its a little thing but it's not. "He'll make me breakfast if I'm in a rush. He checks I've eaten before I've gone out the door and he checks in on my day. "He knows the bits I find hard and he'll send a nice little text before I go into it. He's always thinking of me."
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Central Auckland Grief Support is a peer support group for adults who have gone through grief or loss, such as separation or divorce, the death of a significant person in their life or other major family changes. Our next meeting is planned on Saturday 15 May 2pm in the Hillsborough area. To find … View moreCentral Auckland Grief Support is a peer support group for adults who have gone through grief or loss, such as separation or divorce, the death of a significant person in their life or other major family changes. Our next meeting is planned on Saturday 15 May 2pm in the Hillsborough area. To find out more and to register, please contact Mabel at 021-1734978.
There’s perhaps no feeling worse than putting the time, effort and money to creating content and building traffic to your website only to find that it’s not converting visitors into leads. Your website has a first page ranking and you find that you’re not generating any more leads than you … View moreThere’s perhaps no feeling worse than putting the time, effort and money to creating content and building traffic to your website only to find that it’s not converting visitors into leads. Your website has a first page ranking and you find that you’re not generating any more leads than you were before the rise in the ranking!
It’s difficult to keep calm, collect yourself and put all the more effort in continuing you’re your SEO efforts when you don’t see any real results.
Trust us, we know that feeling. It’s a frustrating situation but it’s not unsolvable. And more often than not, the solution is far simpler than you thought.
We look at some of the most common reasons why you are not generating leads despite the traffic.
While marking the end of Ramadhan, here are warm congratulations and best wishes to all our Muslim Brothers and Sisters on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr. We pray this blessed time brings peace, prosperity and happiness to each one of you, your families and everyone else in NZ.
… View moreWhile marking the end of Ramadhan, here are warm congratulations and best wishes to all our Muslim Brothers and Sisters on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr. We pray this blessed time brings peace, prosperity and happiness to each one of you, your families and everyone else in NZ.
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It’s a time for fine-tuning your skills and pushing the boundaries, catching up with your mates and heading off on new adventures at the drop of a hat! No, we’re not talking about your 20s, we’re talking about your retirement.
Ross’ retirement saw the beginning of his musical journey … View moreIt’s a time for fine-tuning your skills and pushing the boundaries, catching up with your mates and heading off on new adventures at the drop of a hat! No, we’re not talking about your 20s, we’re talking about your retirement.
Ross’ retirement saw the beginning of his musical journey where his passion quickly evolved from making music, to crafting guitars. It all started when Ross and some mates joined a music group where the camaraderie and togetherness were just as important as the music.
Living in a Ryman village, Ross can continue living life to the full in his retirement because they are places where you don’t retire from life, you find a new way to live .
Hi neighbours, Are you the partner of a border or MIQ worker but don't live with them? If so, have you been offered the Covid-19 vaccine? If you haven't, does this cause you concern? If this sounds like you, please email me at caroline.williams@stuff.co.nz
UPDATE
May 12
3.15pm
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has reported that all lanes on the Upper Harbour highway are open. Expect delays as traffic eases.
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Auckland motorists are told to expect delays to their afternoon commute after … View moreUPDATE
May 12
3.15pm
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has reported that all lanes on the Upper Harbour highway are open. Expect delays as traffic eases.
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Auckland motorists are told to expect delays to their afternoon commute after electrical cabling fell on the motorway.
The southbound Upper Harbour highway off-ramp is currently closed as contractors work to clear the blockage. Police have reported that this is currently impacting city-bound traffic and diversions are currently in place.
Downtown Auckland is going through huge transformation with its various streetscape and transport projects. But in stark contrast, several plots of land worth hundreds of millions of dollars have sat as car parks since buildings were knocked down in the 1980s.
The Elliott St car park sits on a … View moreDowntown Auckland is going through huge transformation with its various streetscape and transport projects. But in stark contrast, several plots of land worth hundreds of millions of dollars have sat as car parks since buildings were knocked down in the 1980s.
The Elliott St car park sits on a 4417 square metre plot of land, valued at $82.5 million.
The land has sat undeveloped as a car park - where an hour will cost you $19 - since the Royal International Hotel was demolished in 1987.
It was purchased by Singapore company NDG Asia Pacific (NZ) Limited for $53m in 2012, and in 2017 the company was given approval by the Overseas Investment Office to build and operate a 52-storey, five- star Ritz-Carlton Hotel, with 300 guest rooms, four floors for hotel facilities, six for retail and five for car parking.
The development is expected to cost $350m, with the start of construction dependent on the completion of City Rail Link. However, the resource consent for the tower is due to expire in October.
Click 'read more' for our full story.
A group of downtown Auckland businesses have lost their bid to temporarily halt work on a planned upgrade of Queen Street, due to begin on Monday.
In a statement, Save the Queen Street said it was disappointed an interim injunction to delay work was unsuccessful, but said members would continue to… View moreA group of downtown Auckland businesses have lost their bid to temporarily halt work on a planned upgrade of Queen Street, due to begin on Monday.
In a statement, Save the Queen Street said it was disappointed an interim injunction to delay work was unsuccessful, but said members would continue to prepare for a more substantive court hearing, aimed at pushing back against the redevelopment plans.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the court’s decision, saying the redesign would make Queen St more people-friendly and accessible.
The council intends to improve pedestrian spaces between Shortland and Customs streets, limit traffic to a single lane each way with bus priority in the evening peak, with work scheduled for the next six weeks.
Save Queen Street, which includes commercial landlords and retailers, argued that ongoing trials of new arrangement could run for years, damaging commerce in an already struggling strip.
“The current arrangement of the street has caused economic harm – business are up against it,” their lawyer Sam Lowery told Wednesday’s injunction hearing.
The council’s lawyer Padraig McNamara said given Save Queen Street wanted to stop the improvements to the 2020 temporary arrangement of plastic sticks and concrete blocks, its injunction bid was “counter-intuitive”.
Businesses have been hit by the absence of foreign tourists and overseas students, and from more office staff working from home, the court heard.
Lowery told the High Court foot traffic was down 40 per cent or more, 90 of 345 retail shopfronts are empty, and part of the problem is the council’s treatment of the street over the past year.
In a statement released after the court decision on Thursday, Goff said the council would continue to work with all stakeholders to progress improvements to Queen St.
While the court decision means work can begin as planned on May 10, Save Queen Street has put forward 10 further challenges that will be heard at a substantive court hearing. A date for that hearing has not yet been set.
The redevelopment will see pavements widened with high-quality decking, new street furniture and vibrant green spaces with native planting and a new pocket park.
Todd Niall.
Hi neighbours,
What do you think of the redevelopment plans for Queen St?
*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.
Auckland's Eden Park stadium will host 100 artists in its debut showcase Art in the Park in July.
Painters, sculptors, photographers and print makers will meet members of the community from July 23 to July 25.
Art in the Park, in association with Auckland Unlimited, is part of the Elemental… View moreAuckland's Eden Park stadium will host 100 artists in its debut showcase Art in the Park in July.
Painters, sculptors, photographers and print makers will meet members of the community from July 23 to July 25.
Art in the Park, in association with Auckland Unlimited, is part of the Elemental Auckland festival- a program of arts, eats, and beats.
Visitors can meet individual artists, learn about their work, see them create, and take home the art which inspires them the most.
The event will champion the next generation of artists by showcasing some students from Elam School of Fine Arts and emerging professional artists.
Designed by directors Cary Cochrane and Sofija Matich, Art in the Park aims to bring communities together through art that enriches cultures.
"This show offers a new platform for New Zealand artists and a new opportunity to support the creative industries in New Zealand," Matich said.
Hi neighbours,
Do you have a vehicle that is taking up space and becoming an eyesore? At AAA Auto Parts we dismantle and wreck cars. We will pay top cash whether your car is dead or alive!
* $300 - $3000 for small cars
* $700 - $10,000 for 4x4 utes, vans, 4WD, trucks and buses
* Same day … View moreHi neighbours,
Do you have a vehicle that is taking up space and becoming an eyesore? At AAA Auto Parts we dismantle and wreck cars. We will pay top cash whether your car is dead or alive!
* $300 - $3000 for small cars
* $700 - $10,000 for 4x4 utes, vans, 4WD, trucks and buses
* Same day removal
* Free quotes over the phone
We will beat any prices in the market by 10%.
Support your local business.
Give us a call on ** 0800 50 00 01 ** and we will be happy to have a chat.
Learning about plants and their purpose - from medicinal to edible, the legend of Maui and fire with Riki giving an impressive demonstration of traditional fire making with a Mahoe stick rubbed until it creates an ember. Meanwhile at NZSFW, the kai cooker smokes and steams our lamb, packages of … View moreLearning about plants and their purpose - from medicinal to edible, the legend of Maui and fire with Riki giving an impressive demonstration of traditional fire making with a Mahoe stick rubbed until it creates an ember. Meanwhile at NZSFW, the kai cooker smokes and steams our lamb, packages of plantain with coconut cream, wrapped in cabbage leaves, potatoes, spinach emulsion and finishing with golden syrup steamed pudding and caramelised coxes orange apples.
The next one will be in July this year.
They had a vision for their property, but they also had three floods in 20 years. That didn't stop them pursuing the garden of their dreams though.
Auckland’s City Rail Link is another step closer to completion today with the launch of Dame Whina Cooper, the tunnel-boring machine, at the project’s Mt Eden site.
The machine, named in an ode to the Māori land rights activist, will start cutting into Auckland soil in mid-May.
It will … View moreAuckland’s City Rail Link is another step closer to completion today with the launch of Dame Whina Cooper, the tunnel-boring machine, at the project’s Mt Eden site.
The machine, named in an ode to the Māori land rights activist, will start cutting into Auckland soil in mid-May.
It will excavate the first of the two underground train tunnels as part of a project that involves constructing two new underground stations, a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link and a redeveloping of Mount Eden station.
Auckland’s City Rail Link is another step closer to completion today with the launch of Dame Whina Cooper, the tunnel-boring machine, at the project’s Mt Eden site.
The machine, named in an ode to the Māori land rights activist, will start cutting into Auckland soil in mid-May.
It will excavate the first of the two underground train tunnels as part of a project that involves constructing two new underground stations, a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link and a redeveloping of Mount Eden station.
Wood described the event as an “exciting milestone” that is “helping our economic recovery and supporting jobs”.
“Building infrastructure like the City Rail Link is part of our Covid-19 economic plan. This project is providing real jobs and opportunities for thousands of Aucklanders.”
“It will give us a step-change in our public transport and cultivate a diverse and highly-skilled workforce,” he said.
Go here to read more:
www.stuff.co.nz...
Drivers have been captured on camera boldly using their phones while driving, to video call, text and make calls.
The footage, taken in Auckland, comes as the Government increased the cost of a fine for using a cellphone while driving from $80 to $150.
Over the course of a week, ahead of the fine… View moreDrivers have been captured on camera boldly using their phones while driving, to video call, text and make calls.
The footage, taken in Auckland, comes as the Government increased the cost of a fine for using a cellphone while driving from $80 to $150.
Over the course of a week, ahead of the fine increase, a Stuff visual journalist captured numerous people using their phones while driving, including a woman who appeared to be on a video call while passing through an intersection, a man speaking on the phone and numerous people texting or looking at their phone.
Last year, police issued more than 40,000 infringement notices for the offence.
A driver for Dingo Groundworx NZ was captured using their phone while driving a truck along Williamson Ave, in Ponsonby.
Owner Cameron Hadley told Stuff all employees were very aware they should not be using their phones while driving.
He said he would be raising the issue in a staff meeting.
AA road safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen told Stuff he wasn’t surprised to hear about the woman video calling while driving.
While AA supports the Government’s fine increase, Thomsen said it wasn’t going to solve the problem.
“People just can’t resist the temptation if they hear their phone go off ... it’s not something you do by accident.”
“A lot of people use their phone behind the wheel and don’t do other risky things.”
He hopes as there are further advancements in technology, phone companies can have default “do not disturb” modes that activate as soon as drivers start moving in their car.
“Until we change the mindset it will be hard with enforcement alone, people don’t appreciate the risks until it’s too late,” Thomsen said.
To see video footage, go here:
www.stuff.co.nz...
*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.
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