Lynfield news is brought to you by the team at Central Leader
Recent posts
Thank you for using Neighbourly
Compliments of the Season.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous NEW YEAR. I sincerely pray that GOD will bless each one of you and your family with good health, more wealth, endless joy, love and happiness in 2026 and the many many years ahead. STAY BLESSED.
I'm wondering if anyone knows anywhere to get cheap bark or wood chips
🧩 Got a riddle that can stump your Neighbourly community? Share your brain teasers with us and watch your neighbours scratch their heads 😕🤔❓
Send us your tricky puzzles!
Hey neighbours,
Waking up with sore shoulders and stiff mornings? Here’s the plot twist - it might actually be your mattress (and pillow) letting you down.
It’s the perfect time to upgrade. New Year, New Bed! Our Boxing Day Sale is still on, so why not treat yourself to a mattress that … View moreHey neighbours,
Waking up with sore shoulders and stiff mornings? Here’s the plot twist - it might actually be your mattress (and pillow) letting you down.
It’s the perfect time to upgrade. New Year, New Bed! Our Boxing Day Sale is still on, so why not treat yourself to a mattress that actually supports you and helps you wake up refreshed? Side sleeper? Back sleeper? Tossing and turning? We’ve got tips and solutions for every kind of snoozer.
Don’t settle for mornings that hurt, your bed should work with you, not against you. Curious about how your mattress could be affecting your shoulders? Check out our blog: beds4u.co.nz...
Find your nearest Beds4U store here: beds4u.co.nz/store-locator
Browse all Boxing Day deals: beds4u.co.nz/boxing-day
Here’s to starting 2026 waking up refreshed, because mornings should feel amazing!
Police are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.
A … View morePolice are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.
A Police investigation is underway after there were three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the mass disorder.
A portal has been set up to allow the public to upload any footage they have of the disorder and the serious assaults.
The portal is https://dahr.nc3.govt.nz/
Police have arrested one person but are asking for help to identify and locate others involved.
• Around 4:15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen Street.
A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4647.
• Around 4:30am there was another serious assault on a Cobden Steet just off Karangahape Road.
A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4462.
• Around 5am there was third serious assault at the Mobil Service Station on the corner or Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road.
A 46-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has been bailed to appear in court again on 16 January 2026.
The Police file number is 251228/4774.
Police would like to speak to anyone who has witnessed or filmed the assaults.
Witnesses can call Police directly on 105.
Please quote one of the above file numbers.
Fishser & Paykel 5.5kg top load wasing machine , clean & tidy, wash ok but not spinning well. Need to redo spinning cycles to get clothes dry. Pick up from Hillsborough New Year Eve or first week of 2026.
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation … View moreCharities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
=====================================================
Over the holiday period, the right game can make all the difference. So which board games should you try out – and which ones should you gift?
1. Sushi Go Party
This colourful, fast-paced game has great art, and a "menu" that can be changed depending on the number of players (up to … View moreOver the holiday period, the right game can make all the difference. So which board games should you try out – and which ones should you gift?
1. Sushi Go Party
This colourful, fast-paced game has great art, and a "menu" that can be changed depending on the number of players (up to eight) and their familiarity with the game.
Players win the game by creating the best combination of cards, depending on what's available, by rotating the cards from player to player like a sushi train. It's easy to learn and relatively cheap.
2. Wavelength
In this party game, teams have to try and guess the location of a hidden target on a spectrum, using a clue from one "psychic" team member. The ends of the spectrum reflect two binaries, such as hot–cold or optional–mandatory, and the target falls somewhere in between.
The closer the team gets to where the psychic thinks the target should go, the more points they score. Wavelength is one of those games where no matter if your team gets it right or wrong, you can expect people to give their two cents.
3. Mysterium and Mysterium Park
In these team games, players play mediums seeking the counsel of another player – a ghost – who gives them clues to important information about murders in the house, including the ghost’s own murder.
The ghost offers the other players tarot cards with abstract artwork with which they must attempt to discern the murder weapon, location and culprit.
4. The Quacks of Quedlinburg
This game sees players take the role of potion makers at the local fair, who must push their luck by drawing ingredients out of a bag to make the best potions without them blowing up in their face. It’s simple to teach and hilarious when someone else blows up their cauldron (although arguably less when it’s you).
5. Modern Art
This is one of the most celebrated games from board game designer luminary Reiner Knizia. Players are art dealers auctioning off beautiful paintings done by five professional artists. Players might even forget to play as they get caught up in simply admiring the pieces they are auctioning off.
Modern Art remains a fiendishly clever game that is easy to learn but hard to master.
6. Heat: Pedal to the Metal
This strategic racing game is based on 1960s Formula 1 racing. The base game boasts four tracks on two gorgeous boards, and lovely little cars that pass each other and risk spinning out around corners.
7. Nemesis
By far the most expensive (and complicated) game on this list, Nemesis can best be described as Alien: the board game.
Players have to move through a spaceship, discovering rooms and items as they go, taking care not to alert the horrific extraterrestrials that have managed to get onto the ship – represented by amazingly designed pieces. It’s a truly tense and fun experience for a full afternoon.
=====================================================
Hey neighbours!
Our Boxing Day Bed Sale is still on, but it’s ending soon! If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your bed, now’s the perfect time to act.
Enjoy some of our lowest prices of the year, with limited-time promotions across a wide range of beds and mattresses.
Stocks are… View moreHey neighbours!
Our Boxing Day Bed Sale is still on, but it’s ending soon! If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your bed, now’s the perfect time to act.
Enjoy some of our lowest prices of the year, with limited-time promotions across a wide range of beds and mattresses.
Stocks are limited, and once the sale ends, the deals are gone, so don’t miss out! Pop in and take advantage while you still can. A better night’s sleep is waiting for you!
Find your nearest Beds4U store: beds4u.co.nz/store-locator
Browse all Boxing Day deals: beds4u.co.nz/boxing-day
Every March, the New Zealand Red Cross sends out teams of street volunteers across the country. With their white buckets and red vests, they're instantly recognisable. The idea, says philanthropy director Jasmine Edwards, is to raise awareness for Red Cross’ work and hopefully get some … View moreEvery March, the New Zealand Red Cross sends out teams of street volunteers across the country. With their white buckets and red vests, they're instantly recognisable. The idea, says philanthropy director Jasmine Edwards, is to raise awareness for Red Cross’ work and hopefully get some donations in the process. “It’s part of our largest fundraising event of the year,” she says.
But, over the past five years, the amount the street appeal brings in has been trending down. Edwards describes a combination of contributing factors: COVID, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and a lack of cash. “We’ve seen a pretty steady decline in people carrying cash, and that’s had a big impact on our street appeals,” she says. “It’s really affected what we’re able to raise.” That, in turn, affects how much aid work the Red Cross can do.
Edwards and the teams she co-ordinates have pivoted to other fundraising methods. They’ve trialled EFTPOS, tap-and-go donation machines and even QR codes. Each has downsides, says Edwards. EFTPOS isn’t quick, and QR codes often rely on the person taking a photo and remembering to donate later. “The tap-and-go machines are quicker because you just pop your card on, but they’re quite costly. You could never afford to have one of those at every site.”
So far, the cashless options haven’t worked as well as people reaching into their pockets and grabbing a couple of notes or a handful of coins to throw into the Red Cross buckets. However, those days, it seems, are over. In 2023, Stats NZ reported just 7% of transactions were made in cash. Everyone is using alternative methods to pay for goods and services these days, from EFTPOS and apps like Afterpay to swiping their phones and watches loaded with their credit cards.
Edwards wonders how long Red Cross has got until it needs to make more changes to its street appeals. “Our volunteers have amazing conversations with people on the street,” she says. “It’s a real moment of human connection. You can’t quite replicate that with online donations.”
Cash is king – until it’s not
=====================
Cash use is declining – rapidly. In its 2023 Cash Use Survey, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand found cash usage for everyday purchases had decreased from 95.8% in 2019 to 60.4% in 2021 and just 57.2% in 2023. The bank says 15% of New Zealanders prefer to use cash for everyday payments, but only 8% are regular or daily cash users.
Despite this decline, cash remains important, according to the Reserve Bank: it all depends on the situation. “Research establishes that New Zealanders place a high value on having access to cash,” a spokesperson told Consumer NZ. They cited short-lived personal emergencies, long-term complex personal challenges, community-level emergencies and digital payment outages as reasons for cash’s importance.
In December 2024, the Australian government announced it would mandate businesses selling essential goods and services in that country to accept cash from 2026. “For many Australians, cash is more than a payment method, it’s a lifeline,” officials said. Australians support this, with a survey by Australia’s consumer watchdog Choice showing 97% of respondents think stores shouldn’t be able to turn down cash for essentials.
But that’s not the case in New Zealand, where there are no rules to protect cash. If a business doesn’t want to accept cash, it just has to put up a sign saying so. The only rules limit how much a consumer can pay in coins. “The Reserve Bank is currently considering further changes to the law to support the cash system and ensure New Zealanders can access and use cash as desired,” the Reserve Bank spokesperson said.
How cash can help you spend less
=============================
Tom Hartmann, the personal finance lead at New Zealand’s independent money guide Sorted, says cash can be used as an important tool for some people to make better budgetary choices. He says credit cards or apps like Afterpay removes a buffer and encourage consumers to spend more. “You go up to the till; you get what you want; you pay, wave, swipe, whatever you do ...,” he says. “It’s all pleasure because you’re getting the thing, and any pain is sort of reserved for the future, when you get the bill.”
Cash, he says, helps those who may be struggling with their budgets get their spending under control. “With cash, it’s a different experience. You’re holding cash in one hand, and you receive the goods in the other. So, your brain is processing the trade-off right in that moment – is this worth the pain of letting go of this cash for what I’m getting?”
Carrying cash, he admits, is becoming an antiquated notion. It depends on your personality. When he’s got cash, he’s more likely to spend it faster. But Hartmann recalls a conversation he recently had with his 17-year-old son, who has an entirely different attitude. “He sold something on Trade Me recently, and he wanted to be paid in cash, because he holds on to [cash] better,” Hartmann says.
How small businesses are coping
===========================
Every Sunday, Carol Gunn opens the Grey Lynn community centre early to let in stall-holders. By 8am, the markets are humming with customers grabbing freshly-baked pastries, recently picked vegetables, hot drinks, cheese, eggs and more. Gunn has noticed more stall-holders offering EFTPOS and credit card facilities, and fewer customers taking cash.
But she also recognises the issues, saying operating EFTPOS machines can be pricey for stall-holders, especially when they’re just getting going. “At this time of the year, we get lots of NCEA students trying out business ideas as part of their course assessments – they can only use cash,” she says. “We get community fundraisers who can only use cash. Getting rid of cash could disenfranchise the grass-roots activities in society.”
Frank Argent, the owner of Barefoot Gardens, a small produce farm in Kumeu, Auckland, agreed. While bagging up my potatoes and chillis recently, he told me about 40% of his customers paid in cash, which he encouraged. Why? “Every time you swipe your card, the bank takes a sizable chunk,” he said. “For a small business like ours, it adds up to a reasonable amount over a week.”
Other factors to consider in the death of cash
=====================================
There are still many elderly people who cannot use, or forget how to use, tech. Cash, therefore, remains very important to them for everyday items like groceries. “A cashless society makes things very difficult for older [generations],” one financial advisor told me.
Natural disasters or emergencies can affect internet networks, shutting down EFTPOS and credit capabilities. “Cash is often the only option at that time,” an advisor said. “Everyone should have a small amount of cash put aside.” How much is a personal decision, but the National Emergency Management Agency suggests it’s logical to have enough for three days’ worth of food and petrol. It also says small denominations, like $5 notes, are useful because some businesses may not be able to offer change.
Putting coins into a piggy bank is often a child’s first interaction with money. An advisor said the process can teach children important financial basics about saving money from an early age.
The king is dead; long live the king!
=============================
Claire Matthews, an associate professor at Massey University’s business school, says it’s too soon to say we’re on the brink of becoming a cashless society. “We have already moved a long way towards it, but I think cash transactions will be difficult to eliminate,” she says. “I think probably most of us are ready to move to a cashless society. But there are a few who aren’t and will likely find it very hard.”
But my own experiences suggest the shift could be happening faster than anyone thinks. While researching this piece, I found a sign at my local Pak’nSave declaring the store’s self-service check-outs would soon stop accepting cash. “Cashless,” warned a printed sign in red.
Then, at a recent Auckland Football Club match, I approached a cashier while balancing drinks and hot chips. When I handed her a $50 note, she turned it away, saying, presciently, “We don’t accept cash here”. I smiled and waved my phone over the terminal. That $50 will have to wait for another day.
====================================================
Together for over 25 years.
Married for over 16 years.
I look around.
Flowers? Check.
… View moreTogether for over 25 years.
Married for over 16 years.
I look around.
Flowers? Check.
Chocolates? Toblerone - Double Check.
Cuddles? Check. And Check again.
AND breakfast in bed for my wife every day.
‘Impossible Relationship Standards’ my ass.
I call it a lack of effort.
© Neighbourly 2026
Loading…