605 days ago

Select areas in west coast regional parks to open on 1 April

The Team from Auckland Council

šŸ“£ As we move to recovery, select areas within our west coast regional parks will be re-opening on Saturday 1 April, but many, including Muriwai regional park and Piha, remain closed with cordons in place.
ā„¹ļø Click on 'Read More' for the full list.

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More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.

John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcutā€™s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharpā€”whether itā€™s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!

As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say heā€™s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!

John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.

Share your question below now ā¬‡ļø

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3 days ago

Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesnā€™t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.

When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?

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Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
  • 82.5% Yes
    82.5% Complete
  • 14.7% No
    14.7% Complete
  • 2.8% Other - I'll share below
    2.8% Complete
1446 votes
5 hours ago

The Influence of the Whānau - Day 9

Kiran Reddy from Mount Eden

In a small Māori pā (village) nestled beside a flowing river, a young boy named Rangi lived with his whānau. Rangi was curious and adventurous, always exploring the ngahere (forest) and listening to the stories of his kaumātua (elders). The kaumātua would often remind him, ā€œHe waka eke noaā€ā€”we are all in this together, and our actions affect the collective.

Rangi's best friend, Manu, was a clever boy but sometimes made poor choices. Manu had recently begun spending time with a group of older boys from another pā who were known for their reckless behavior. They would waste kai (food), leave rubbish in the ngahere, and even disturb the sacred awa (river) by throwing stones at eels.

One day, Manu invited Rangi to join the group, saying, ā€œCome on, Rangi! Theyā€™re fun, and they wonā€™t hurt anyone. Weā€™re just having a good time!ā€ Unsure, Rangi agreed, feeling pressure to fit in.

The groupā€™s leader, Matiu, proposed a game: they would sneak into the kaumātua's kumara patch at night and take some for a "feast." Rangi hesitated. He remembered the kaumātua saying how much work went into growing the kumara, with karakia (prayers) and care for the soil. But he stayed silent, feeling outnumbered.

That night, the group raided the garden. As they laughed and ate the stolen kumara by the fire, Rangi felt uneasy. He realized that this was not who he wanted to be. When he saw Manuā€™s joy in impressing Matiu, Rangi felt torn but remained quiet.

The next morning, the kaumātua discovered the missing kumara and the trampled garden. They called the entire pā together, expressing sadness, not anger. ā€œOur ancestors teach us that the whenua (land) provides for all of us, but only if we treat it with respect,ā€ said one elder. ā€œWhen we harm the whenua, we harm ourselves.ā€

Rangiā€™s heart sank. That evening, he confessed to the kaumātua and his whānau, explaining everything. To his surprise, they did not scold him harshly. Instead, they said, ā€œHe tangata tÄ«toki, he tangata rākauā€”a person is like a tree; they grow straight when supported by others. You must choose companions who uphold the values of your whānau and whenua.ā€

Rangi decided to distance himself from Manuā€™s new group and instead spent time with those who respected the land and upheld the teachings of their ancestors. Over time, he encouraged Manu to rejoin him, and together they worked to rebuild the kumara patch, learning from the kaumātua.

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Moral

This story highlights the importance of right company and like-mindedness. It shows that no one is inherently bad, but the influence of others and the situations we choose can lead us astray. Surrounding ourselves with those who uphold values like respect, care, and collective well-being ensures a life of balance and harmony.

Ka mua, ka muri ā€” by learning from the past, we can walk into the future.