Only six people have paid fines for car window washing in five years
On the corner of Manukau Station Rd and Great South Rd in south Auckland is a busy intersection flanked by Rainbow’s End on one side, and a residential high-rise on the other.
In the middle of the intersection are two slight men, ducking between cars with a big soapy plastic bottle in one hand and a squeegee brush in the other.
They only have one brush between them – so while one makes the money, the other stops to talk to us.
He’s not keen on being named or photographed, but he does want us to know that window washing on the busy streets of Manukau is his choice.
“I don’t know what freedom is, but this is more freedom,” he said.
This window washer has been working his brush for about two years. Before that, he had a couple of shifts a week at an international mail company.
But doing this, he’s averaging $300 a week, cash-in-hand, and sometimes he really wins – once a man handed him $700, just like that.
Read more:
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Auckland has a thriving cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures across the country, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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42% I avoid spending money on coffee
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41.3% I still indulge at my local cafe
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16.7% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?
Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?
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76.1% Inside!
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23.9% On top!
Got more greens than you know what to do with? 🥦🌱🥕
Whether it’s a courgette takeover or a feijoa frenzy, don’t let those garden gems go to waste!
Our suggestion to you: Did you know you can grate and freeze excess courgettes to use in chocolate cake later? It sounds a bit dodgy, but it makes the cake incredibly moist ... and hey, it counts as a serving of veg, right? 🍫
What’s your go-to move for a bumper harvest? Drop your best "glut" recipes or preservation hacks in the comments below! 👇
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