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Most elder abuse is hidden in plain sight. Abusers are often someone close – a family member, a caregiver, someone trusted. If you’re concerned about how someone is being treated, it’s OK to get help. #ItsOKtoHelp #WEAAD
This June help the New Zealand Trees That Count programme! Simply visit your local Resene ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60mL testpots (excludes … View moreThis June help the New Zealand Trees That Count programme! Simply visit your local Resene ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60mL testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers between 1-30 June 2022 at Resene owned ColorShops.
Trees That Count runs the country’s only marketplace which provides a place for anyone to fund or gift native trees. For more information on Trees That Count, visit www.treesthatcount.co.nz...
Do you ever walk past a business affected by Covid and wonder what you could do to help? We created Short Notice to link community members with spare time on their hands to surrounding businesses in need.
Whether you have a week, a day or an hour to volunteer, head to the … View moreDo you ever walk past a business affected by Covid and wonder what you could do to help? We created Short Notice to link community members with spare time on their hands to surrounding businesses in need.
Whether you have a week, a day or an hour to volunteer, head to the Short Notice community hub to introduce yourself and share how you can lend a hand.
If you're a business owner sign up for a FREE Premium Business listing to get access to Short Notice and let your community know what help you need.
Together, let's help keep our small businesses thriving!
Kia ora neighbours, a footpath has collapsed and the road is cracked apart after a water main burst near Titirangi.
A section of Laingholm Drive is currently blocked off to traffic after a slip occurred and large cracks were left in the surface of the road.
Laingholm local Caroline Masters said … View moreKia ora neighbours, a footpath has collapsed and the road is cracked apart after a water main burst near Titirangi.
A section of Laingholm Drive is currently blocked off to traffic after a slip occurred and large cracks were left in the surface of the road.
Laingholm local Caroline Masters said the slip happened at the back of her family’s property over the weekend after a water main burst.
“At the moment we’ve seen Watercare and Auckland Transport around trying to figure out who should take responsibility.”
Read the full story and see the video at the link below.
The role of an elected member is varied, so to help you grasp what it might involve, we asked some elected representatives to tell us about their proudest and toughest moments, and share tips for newcomers.
Ever wondered where the sweetest places to live in Aotearoa are?
Stuff’s Homed team has done some serious data crunching to crown the seven best spots for 2022.
Congratulations to Berhampore, Wellington which took out the overall sweetest spot! You can check out the full list of winning … View moreEver wondered where the sweetest places to live in Aotearoa are?
Stuff’s Homed team has done some serious data crunching to crown the seven best spots for 2022.
Congratulations to Berhampore, Wellington which took out the overall sweetest spot! You can check out the full list of winning suburbs in the Sweet Spots section on Stuff.
There’s also an interactive tool that you can tinker with to find your perfect place, based on the criteria that matter to you. Who knows, you might be inspired to make a change.
Find out if you have Spark’s Wireless Broadband at your address and start the exciting journey. Stay connected, surf the web, and confidently work from home from just $45/month. Not available everywhere
Spark modem connected to mains power required, costs $106.20 or available on IFP. Fair use … View moreFind out if you have Spark’s Wireless Broadband at your address and start the exciting journey. Stay connected, surf the web, and confidently work from home from just $45/month. Not available everywhere
Spark modem connected to mains power required, costs $106.20 or available on IFP. Fair use policy, data caps and Spark’s terms apply.
Passionate about your community or looking for an exciting and varied leadership role?
We are looking for candidates to stand in the local elections to fill 170 elected member positions as mayor, councillors and local board members.
Did you know Laingholm is one of the sweetest spots to live in NZ?
Stuff’s Homed team has done some serious data crunching to crown the seven best spots for 2022, and Laingholm is a winner!
You can check out the full list of winning suburbs in the Sweet Spots section on Stuff.
If … View moreDid you know Laingholm is one of the sweetest spots to live in NZ?
Stuff’s Homed team has done some serious data crunching to crown the seven best spots for 2022, and Laingholm is a winner!
You can check out the full list of winning suburbs in the Sweet Spots section on Stuff.
If it’s time for a change, why not check out the Sweet Spots interactive tool to find your next perfect place, based on the criteria that matter to you.
The 195 bus to New Lynn (Fri, 9th of June 2022) did not go via the Castleford stop (scheduled for 9:09) but departed the route - not for the first time either. Does the driver not know the route? My wife has been standing there for 45 min - two buses didn’t turn up, the third detoured. There is … View moreThe 195 bus to New Lynn (Fri, 9th of June 2022) did not go via the Castleford stop (scheduled for 9:09) but departed the route - not for the first time either. Does the driver not know the route? My wife has been standing there for 45 min - two buses didn’t turn up, the third detoured. There is only so much that can be explained by “Covid” - this is simply poor service …
Any similar experiences?
Every winter we hear and see stories of people living in extremely damp, mouldy conditions.
It’s a symptom of living in older wooden houses in a temperate climate with inadequate heating, ventilation and insulation. However, it isn’t just extreme cases that need to be fixed — most of us … View moreEvery winter we hear and see stories of people living in extremely damp, mouldy conditions.
It’s a symptom of living in older wooden houses in a temperate climate with inadequate heating, ventilation and insulation. However, it isn’t just extreme cases that need to be fixed — most of us would be more comfortable if we reduced the dampness in our homes.
A damp home is an unhealthy home, there’s no argument there. But it isn’t just that — damp air takes more energy to heat than dry air, so it literally pays to remove moisture from your home.
Musty smells, mouldy walls and ceilings, weeping windows and damp clothes in wardrobes are all signs you need to reduce moisture and increase ventilation or heating.
Start by reducing dampness sources. Moisture gets into your home in many ways. One of the biggest sources is moisture evaporating up from the ground through your floors (as much as 40L per day per 100m2). Check for dampness under your house and fix any drainage, guttering, downpipe or plumbing problems — then consider installing a sealed moisture control sheet.
Other daily activities can add moisture to your home:
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Drying clothes inside can add 5L of moisture per load. Make use of good winter days to dry clothes outside. Using the fastest spin speed on your washing machine minimises the amount of drying needed. If you use a vented clothes dryer, ensure it vents outside.
Clothes drying on rack indoors.
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Cooking can add up to 3L a day. Use pot lids when cooking to contain steam and a kitchen rangehood or fan that vents outside.
Showers and baths add up to 1.5L per day per person. Use an extractor fan when showering or taking a bath, or at least open a window. You can also fit a dome to your shower to contain moisture.
Don’t use unflued gas heaters to heat your home. Not only are they dangerous unless well vented, they add up to 1L of moisture to the air per hour.
Sources of moisture
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Once the main sources of dampness are removed or reduced, you can think about ventilation. Just living and breathing adds moisture into the home, and we can’t stop doing that. However, we can open windows to let a breeze through and vent moisture-laden air. It seems counter-intuitive to open windows on a cold winter day, but removing moisture will be healthier and make your heating more efficient. Get in the habit of airing your home every day or leaving windows slightly open.
Many of these tips are free or low-cost, but they can be highly effective. Further options start to get pricier.
You could consider a dehumidifier to target parts of the home that don’t get enough airflow and remain damp. However, they aren’t a magic bullet — the best dehumidifiers in our tests remove up to 9L per day at 12°C, but only desiccant models perform when it’s colder. They are effective at drying smaller spaces, and act as a small heater too (they put out about 300 to 400W of heat).
Mould
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Mould is known to cause inflammation, allergies and infections.
It is a relatively straightforward process to remove mould from hard non-porous surfaces, such as glass or ceramic tile. However, removing mould from porous substances such as wallboard, wood and carpets is more difficult and more hazardous. This is because spores can be released when disturbing rotten material, which can cause inflammation, allergies and infections.
New homes
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In new buildings, some moisture is trapped during the construction process. Wet timber may also have been used. The sequencing and timing of the construction process is important to avoid this and be sure to avoid storing construction materials out in the open where possible.
Under the floor
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To prevent damp air from building up under the floor:
Ensure there is sufficient ventilation. Vents are often obstructed by vegetation and should be cleared.
Make sure water isn’t draining from paths or gardens under the house. You may need to create channels or underground drains to divert surface run-off.
Cover the ground area beneath your home with heavy-grade polythene, taped at the joints and trimmed neatly against the foundation walls.
Ventilating
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Let moist air out and dry air in by:
Opening your windows – especially in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Even in winter, it’s worth opening windows to let the house dry out.
Closing doors to contain steam/condensation in wet areas.
Using extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens (but never vent them into the roof space above the ceiling or under the floor. Always vent them outside).
Venting clothes dryers to the outside. A typical load contains 5 litres of water. This is released as water vapour, which can end up creating thousands of litres of damp air.
Installing vents into windows.
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Using a forced ventilation system. That said, forced ventilation systems can be expensive to install. Try to address the cause of the moisture build-up instead.
Clothes drying on rack indoors.
Insulating
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Block off draughts. Use draught seal tape around windows and doors. Block off unused chimneys, but ensure it’s not an airtight seal as air needs to circulate into the chimney to allow drying if rain gets in.
Insulate your ceiling. This helps keep your home warm and reduces condensation; 42% of heat loss is through the ceiling/roof. Older homes often don’t have any ceiling or wall insulation.
Consider installing double or secondary glazing.
Check existing insulation is in good condition. As a guide, insulation should fill up to the top of the roof/ceiling joists.
Insulate beneath the floor. The floor accounts for 10% of heat loss. You will need reasonable access under the floor and, in windy sites, the insulation will need to be protected by a separate layer of lining material, for example plywood or fibre cement.
Well-fitted heavy curtains, drawn on winter nights, will help retain heat gained from the sun during the day.
Heating
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If the indoor temperature is at least 7ºC warmer than the outdoor temperature, it’ll prevent condensation forming on colder surfaces. The World Health Organisation recommends an indoor temperature of at least 16ºC in bedrooms and 18ºC in living areas.
Use low levels of heat all the time rather than high levels in short bursts. This reduces condensation.
Don't use unflued gas or kerosene heaters inside – they release up to 1L of water per hour.
In damp cupboards, consider installing a cupboard heater.
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Unleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go … View moreUnleash the artist within you, showcase your DIY creative skills and spruce up an old item or completely repurpose it! Resene and Neighbourly are challenging everyday Kiwis like YOU to take part in the Resene Upcycling Awards.
We want to see your amazing creations so don't be afraid to go all out! Check out some of the previous entires here.
Take part in the 2022 Resene Upcycling Awards. There are four great prizes worth $500 up for grabs: a $200 Resene voucher and a $300 Prezzy® card!
Retirement is an exciting time, filled with possibilities. Our fixed fee guarantee is one of the ways we provide financial certainty. Ryman residents love it as it helps them reduce rising living costs and surprise expenses.
Enjoy the quality amenities at every Ryman village and splurge a little… View moreRetirement is an exciting time, filled with possibilities. Our fixed fee guarantee is one of the ways we provide financial certainty. Ryman residents love it as it helps them reduce rising living costs and surprise expenses.
Enjoy the quality amenities at every Ryman village and splurge a little on yourself if you feel like it! Take up that hobby you’ve dreamed of or plan a holiday somewhere warm.
It’s easy to live life your way when you have freedom to do the things you enjoy. It’s another example of how we’re pioneering retirement living.
Popular cookie brand Mrs Higgins has recalled a specific batch of their product due to the possible presence of white plastic.
The cookies affected are the Mrs Higgins Shortbread Cookies in the 350g bag with a Best Before date of 4/10/22.
These cookies are found at all Countdown stores across… View morePopular cookie brand Mrs Higgins has recalled a specific batch of their product due to the possible presence of white plastic.
The cookies affected are the Mrs Higgins Shortbread Cookies in the 350g bag with a Best Before date of 4/10/22.
These cookies are found at all Countdown stores across New Zealand and customers can return these affected goods for a full refund.
This recall does not affect any other of the Mrs Higgins products.
"Don't leave it too late" - Brian and Lyn's advice to retirees.
Read about their move to Murray Halberg Village below.
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