Lynfield, Auckland

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Do you have any festive tips your community needs to know about? Post them here!

2023 days ago

New Zealand Wines!

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

The Certificate in NZ Wine runs over 4 sessions and is followed by an Advanced programme of another 4 sessions.

This week we have enjoyed tasting and learning about innovative estates such as Burn Cottage from Central Otago, Heron’s Flight who make an exceptional Sangiovese in Matakana. Always… View more
The Certificate in NZ Wine runs over 4 sessions and is followed by an Advanced programme of another 4 sessions.

This week we have enjoyed tasting and learning about innovative estates such as Burn Cottage from Central Otago, Heron’s Flight who make an exceptional Sangiovese in Matakana. Always a pleasure to taste the wines of Hans and Therese Herzog and we savoured the Mistral, a blend of 60% Viognier, 20% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne.

Te Mata’s Cape Crest showcases Hawkes Bay barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc and is interesting to compare with Sancerre from Henri Bourgeois also the owner of Clos Henri. Pegasus Bay’s Finale is New Zealand best example of a Sauternes style with deliciously ripe Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Learning about New Zealand’s wine geography and tasting some special wines along the way is always rewarding.

The wines that were tasted were -
- Hans Herzog Estate, Mistral 2016
- Burn Cottage Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2016
- Te Mata Estate Winery, Caupe Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2017
- Heron's Flight Vineyard - Matakana, Amphora Sangiovese 2016
- Pegasus Bay Winery, Finale 2017
- Henri Bourgeois Sancerre, 2018 (Clos Henri Vineyard)

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2023 days ago

Do you think DOC will catch the 'island-hopping' stoat which is still on the run?

Kendall Hutt Reporter from Central Leader

Hi neighbours. A stoat on the loose in Auckland's pest-free Hauraki Gulf could be island-hopping between them.
Stoat footprints were spotted by a ranger on Motutapu Island on May 20, just a few weeks after a stoat was confirmed on the neighbouring Motukorea/Browns Island in mid-March. Do you … View more
Hi neighbours. A stoat on the loose in Auckland's pest-free Hauraki Gulf could be island-hopping between them.
Stoat footprints were spotted by a ranger on Motutapu Island on May 20, just a few weeks after a stoat was confirmed on the neighbouring Motukorea/Browns Island in mid-March. Do you think DOC will catch it? Are you worried about native flora and fauna in the Hauraki Gulf?

2024 days ago

Our centres are fully operational.

NumberWorks'nWords New Lynn

It’s an exciting time for the kids re-entering the classroom, socialising with friends and getting reacquainted with the teachers.
If you’re a little unsure about how the isolation period may have affected your child’s learning journey, we are here to help.
Our tutoring program is well … View more
It’s an exciting time for the kids re-entering the classroom, socialising with friends and getting reacquainted with the teachers.
If you’re a little unsure about how the isolation period may have affected your child’s learning journey, we are here to help.
Our tutoring program is well positioned to meet the needs of your 5 - 16 year old one question at a time so it's not overwhelming.
We offer catch up, extension and exam prep programs.

Give us a call today to have a chat with one of our experts.

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2024 days ago

Adult art classes

Leilani from Mount Roskill

On Tuesday mornings we have good times doing a variety of art work at Blockhouse Bay Community Centre. For more information phone Leilani at 022 680 5389

2024 days ago

Certificate in New Zealand Wine

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Join us to learn about New Zealand wines online. NZQA Certificate in Wine Micro-Credential consists of 4 online interactive sessions, wine tastings and more delivered by Celia Hay.

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2025 days ago

Why a higher rates rise is right for Auckland

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, We would all like to pay less for something - like a rates bill. But you get only what you pay for and the option of a 2.5 per cent rise instead of 3.5, brings risk. What do you think? Read the story below:

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2024 days ago

Jetstar's piles in NZ with fares from $21 while Air NZ allows unaccompanied children to fly again

Brian from New Lynn

The airline's return will be welcomed by travellers who had faced higher fares over the past six weeks as Air New Zealand was unable to fly with full planes. It comes as Air NZ says unaccompanied minors will be able to travel again - as will pets as checked bagged. Air NZ plans to operate … View moreThe airline's return will be welcomed by travellers who had faced higher fares over the past six weeks as Air New Zealand was unable to fly with full planes. It comes as Air NZ says unaccompanied minors will be able to travel again - as will pets as checked bagged. Air NZ plans to operate around 55 percent of its usual domestic capacity (compared to pre-COVID-19 levels) from July and August. On Monday the airline began operating to all 20 of the domestic ports it previously flew to. Jetstar said it will operate 75 flights a week, about 60 per cent of its pre-Covid 19 schedule, now that we are resuming life in Level 1. Customers with bookings on the remaining 40 per cent of flights have been contacted and offered a range of options including credits for later journeys.Promotional fares include Auckland to Wellington from $21, Auckland to Christchurch from $21, Christchurch to Wellington from $32, Auckland to Dunedin from $45 and Auckland to Queenstown from $48. The airline said it will closely monitor demand, with further domestic flights likely to be added to the schedule in coming months. Jetstar group chief executive Gareth Evans said the airline was ''well and truly ready to take off''. "Passengers would notice a number of wellbeing initiatives as our flights resume, which have been developed based on best-practice medical advice and customer feedback, such as masks and sanitising wipes. "This is in addition to the measures we already have in place such as extra cleaning and Hepa filters on board which remove 99.9 per cent of all particles, including viruses.'' The airline was introducing more flexibility into bookings, enabling customers to book with greater confidence."
Jetstar's New Zealand domestic schedule from 1 July includes:
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• Auckland to Christchurch (24 weekly return flights)
• Auckland to Dunedin (3 return weekly flights)
• Auckland to Wellington (27 return weekly flights)
• Auckland to Queenstown (14 return weekly flights)
• Christchurch to Wellington (7 return weekly flights)
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The sale runs until Wednesday. The return of Jetstar comes as Air New Zealand expands its domestic network with flights to Timaru and Taupo resuming, and the airline building up to running at more than 55 per cent capacity. Across the Tasman Qantas and Jetstar are flying just 15 per cent of their normal domestic capacity as interstate restrictions remain tight. Air New Zealand General Manager Customer Experience Nikki Goodman said Alert Level 1 will mark a return to normal with regards to domestic flying. "Social distancing is no longer a requirement, unaccompanied minors will once again be able to travel domestically, and customers will be able to travel around New Zealand again with pets as checked baggage." Domestic lounges, with the exception of Auckland where renovations are underway, will reopen and hot food will be available again. Goodman asked people to be patient as the airline increased flights. "As we get back into more frequent flying, please be patient with us, as our contact centre and customer care teams continue to receive a high volume of enquiries. If your travel isn't urgent, we'd appreciate if you would wait to contact us so that those with imminent travel can be prioritised. We're thrilled to welcome more people on board, but please remember to be kind to our frontline employees – and if you are unwell or have Covid-19 symptoms please do not travel."
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2024 days ago

Warm Up for Winter!

Royal Oak Shopping Mall

We missed you all but we are back! Support your local and be kind.

Simply spend $15 at any participating store and be into WIN! Then either head to our website to enter online or complete an entry form available from our stores.

Terms and conditions apply.

Promotion ends Sunday 21 June … View more
We missed you all but we are back! Support your local and be kind.

Simply spend $15 at any participating store and be into WIN! Then either head to our website to enter online or complete an entry form available from our stores.

Terms and conditions apply.

Promotion ends Sunday 21 June 2020 at 5pm.
Find out more

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2024 days ago

COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension

Baptist from Avondale

The following is the extract from Work & Income Website for further details please click on the link below
www.workandincome.govt.nz...


COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension

A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly… View more
The following is the extract from Work & Income Website for further details please click on the link below
www.workandincome.govt.nz...


COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension

A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly impacted by COVID-19 after the Wage Subsidy ends.

The Wage Subsidy Extension will be available from 10 June 2020 until 1 September 2020 so employers can keep paying their employees.

Applications open from 10 June 2020.

Loss of revenue criteria changed 5 June

The Government announced a change in criteria from a 50% revenue drop to a 40% revenue drop.

This means you must have had a revenue loss of at least 40% for a continuous 30 day period. This period needs to be in the 40 days before you apply (but no earlier than 10 May 2020) and must be compared to the closest period last year.

Other key points

• If you're applying for an employee you've already applied for the Wage Subsidy for, you can't apply for them until their 12 week Wage Subsidy has finished.

• It will cover 8 weeks per employee from the date you submit your application.

• It will be paid to you as a lump sum at the same weekly rate as the Wage Subsidy.

• If you've given an employee notice of redundancy before you apply, you can't apply for those employees unless the redundancy notice is withdrawn.

• You'll need to agree to certain obligations, such as to:

o pass the subsidy on to your employees

o retain your employees for the duration of the subsidy

o do your best to pay your employees at least 80% of their normal pay

o take active steps to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on your business.

Repayments

If your employee's usual wages are less than the subsidy, you must pay them their usual wages. Any difference should be used for the wages of other affected staff.

If there are no other employees to use the subsidy for, then the remaining amount should be paid back.

Self-employed

If you're self-employed, the income you regularly draw from your business may be less than the amount you receive for the Wage Subsidy Extension. In this case, the remaining amount should be paid back.

Receiving more than one COVID-19 payment

You won't be able to receive more than one COVID-19 payment from us for the same employee at the same time. This includes the:

• Wage Subsidy

• Leave Support Scheme, and

• Wage Subsidy Extension.

Related links

COVID-19 Wage Subsidy

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

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