1858 days ago

Seeking Volunteers

Lindsay Upton from Manukau East Council of Social Services (MECOSS)

If you’re interested in paying forward, here's an opportunity.

Manukau East Council of Social Services (MECOSS), is seeking volunteer drivers and companions for its Manukau East Shopping Shuttle.

Every Thursday, the shuttle takes people, who often live alone or no longer drive, to Botany Town Centre or Pakuranga Plaza for shopping and a cuppa.

Drivers are mainly responsible for arranging the times and routes for pick-ups and delivering their passengers safely.

Companion’s help clients get into and out of the vehicle and assist with seatbelts.

And if required, a walker or scooter can be booked for passengers to use at the shopping centres.

This daily-life activity has far reaching benefits for our passengers including;
1). Stimulating cognitive processes e.g. enabling passengers to ask questions when determining where items can be obtained, evaluate and compare before and after purchase, and determine value as compared to cost
2). Providing physical benefits e.g. walking around the shopping mall.
3). Function as a leisure pursuit that promotes social engagement e.g. chatting with other passengers and forming friendships.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of shopping as a life-enriching activity is that it can be enjoyed by most people - even those who may have health problems.

When required and with a little help from our volunteers, people with mobility or transportation challenges can experience the cognitive, health, and social benefits a day on the town can provide.

For further information please call 0800 632 677.

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More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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14 hours ago

Denim, but make it one-of-a-kind 💙

The Team from SPCA Auckland - Centres & Op Shops

Not every pair of jeans makes it to the rack... but that doesn’t mean their story ends there. Our talented volunteer Annie has been transforming damaged denim into handcrafted bags, hats and aprons in our Onehunga SPCA Op Shop ✂️🧵

This latest batch even features her own hand-sewn designs, and customers have been loving them, they sell almost as soon as they hit the shelf!

It’s creativity, sustainability and community all stitched together, helping animals in need 🐾

📍 217 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
🕘 9am–5pm, 7 days

7 hours ago

Poll: Is Auckland’s economy improving?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The latest reporting from The Post suggests a wave of optimism for 2026. With interest rates finally heading south, businesses are feeling more positive. But for many on the ground, the real-world recovery feels a bit like a slow-moving commute on Auckland's motorways.

We want to know: Are you seeing signs of Auckland's economy improving in your industry or neighbourhood? Whether it's busier shops, new projects kicking off, or just a shift in the mood ...

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Is Auckland’s economy improving?
  • 0% Yes
    0% Complete
  • 57.1% No
    57.1% Complete
  • 42.9% A little
    42.9% Complete
7 votes