322 days ago

Caution around driveways

The Team from New Zealand Police

Police are asking people to pay extra attention to driveway safety, after a number of incidents recently involving children being harmed.

Driveways can be extremely dangerous, and people need to do everything they can to ensure they keep themselves and others safe, especially where children are present.
Children move around quickly, and often won’t be seen as you are reversing down your driveway.
Always check your driveway before driving in or out, and make sure you know the whereabouts of any children.
Please use your reversing camera if your vehicle has one installed.
Alternatively, ensure all children not in the vehicle with you are accounted for.

If another adult is at the property, make them responsible for ensuring children are well clear of any moving vehicles.
If there are no other adults present, have a ‘safe spot’ for children to stand and wait for the vehicle to stop moving.
This should be somewhere in view of the driver.
Check your blind spots often, and if you can no longer see a child, stop your vehicle and move them somewhere safe before you continue driving.

If your driveway is close to the children’s play area, consider a fence or gates to separate the play area from the driveway.
You should also take the time to speak to your children about the dangers of moving vehicles and remind them that just because they can see the driver, doesn’t mean the driver can always see them.

Taking those extra few seconds to make sure our tamariki are in a safe space when you drive in and out of your driveway can help prevent so much heartache and trauma.
Remember they don’t understand the potential consequences.

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More messages from your neighbours
17 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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12 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
  • 47.2% Against. I want to deal with people.
    47.2% Complete
2302 votes