Old news? Mortgages and vaccines top 1960s paper found hidden in wall
A 59-year-old newspaper found inside a house’s wall cavity shows Aucklanders in the 1960s were preoccupied with house prices and pandemics – much as they are today.
Mike and Julie Ann Sewell have been renovating their home in Torbay, on the North Shore, for the past two months.
Contractor Tyrin Perenara found the copy of the North Shore Advertiser, from November 14, 1962, in a wall cavity in the lounge.
It appeared it had been placed in the wall as a time capsule, as written on the front page was: “Ted Peters and Roger Broomfield put this here”.
Julie Ann Sewell said that they had found the newspaper “quite humorous”, especially the old advertisements.
“The prices in those days were really cheap compared to these days.”
According to an advert for Cross’ Supermarket, a can of Oak Spaghetti cost about 1 shilling and six pence – about 15 cents. Today, it sells for about $1.29 at Pakn’Save.
Much like 2021, there was a focus on mass vaccination in 1962, but for polio instead of coronavirus.
But unlike 2021, houses on the North Shore were “easily financed”, according to an advert by PTY Industries, which sold “architect designed homes” for mortgages of less than £3 per week.
Click 'read more' to see what else was in the news in 1962, including a high school "leg show" and a strange creature seen in Lake Pupuke.
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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78.1% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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21.9% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
🎄 Christmas 2025 Holiday Pay - What You Need to Know 🎄
🎄 Christmas 2025 Holiday Pay - What NZ Employers Need to Know 🎄
With Christmas fast approaching, it’s important to make sure your team is paid correctly over the holiday period - especially with holiday legislation changes on the horizon.
👉 Good news: For Christmas 2025, the current Holidays Act rules still apply.
Here’s a simple breakdown 👇
✅ Employees with 12+ months service
• Entitled to 4 weeks paid annual leave
• Pay the higher of:
👉 Ordinary Weekly Pay or Average Weekly Earnings
📌 Full-time example
• 8 hrs/day × 5 days = 40 hrs/week
• $1,200 per week = $240 per leave day
📌 Part-time example
• 3 hrs/day × 4 days = 12 hrs/week
• $300 per week = $75 per leave day
✅ Employees with less than 12 months service
• Not yet entitled to annual leave
• If your business closes down over Christmas, they must still be paid holiday pay for the closedown period (usually paid via payroll accruals or 8% of gross earnings under current law)
🎁 Christmas & New Year Public Holidays
• Christmas Day (25 Dec)
• Boxing Day (26 Dec)
• New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
✔️ If the day is a normal working day, employees are paid for it
✔️ If they work on a public holiday:
➡️ Time and a half + an alternative paid day off
🔔 Important – Changes Coming
The Holidays Act will eventually be replaced by a new Employment Leave Act, moving to hours-based leave accrual and simplified calculations.
⚠️ These changes are not in force yet, so Christmas 2025 still follows current rules.
💬 Need help checking your payroll or holiday calculations?
📧 Email: info@corefigures.co.nz
🌐 Website: corefigures.co.nz...
✨ Feel free to share this with other NZ business owners ✨
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