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Join the summer fun at Windmill Park
Only one week left to join Summer Netball for term 4☀️🏐
Grab your mates and get together for some Summer fun🏖😎
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Scam Alert: Cryptocurrency
Financial Markets Authority are warning the community about a new scam where scammers are hacking social media accounts in order to pretend to be a friend and loved one. When impersonating, they use special codes and sophisticated software to manipulate the target's cryptocurrency wallets
… View moreFinancial Markets Authority are warning the community about a new scam where scammers are hacking social media accounts in order to pretend to be a friend and loved one. When impersonating, they use special codes and sophisticated software to manipulate the target's cryptocurrency wallets
How to avoid scams involving hacked social media accounts:
- When approached by your family or friends on social media talking about investment opportunities, be wary.
- Consider contacting the loved one by other means toverify their identity, such as by phone.
- Be careful when anyone or any platform requires advance payments to withdraw funds.
What sectors are barely paying more than minimum wage?
While New Zealand might have about a dozen sectors paying at least a median $100,000 a year, there are almost as many paying barely more than the minimum wage.
Data compiled by Infometrics showed the median and mean salaries across industries throughout the country.
The data does not adjust for … View moreWhile New Zealand might have about a dozen sectors paying at least a median $100,000 a year, there are almost as many paying barely more than the minimum wage.
Data compiled by Infometrics showed the median and mean salaries across industries throughout the country.
The data does not adjust for hours worked, and some of the workers may not be working a 40-hour week.
But it shows that on an annual basis, many sectors were not delivering incomes that were equal to the minimum wage.
The minimum wage of $23.50 an hour works out to just under $49,000 a year for a full-time, 40-hour a week worker.
Fuel retailing was paying a median of almost exactly the same amount.
Food retailing was paying less, at $45,030. Accommodation was slightly more, at $49,240, and food and beverage services was significantly less at $40,170.
Also within $10,000 of minimum wage were "other store-based retailing" at $53,220, sport and recreation services at $53,350 and personal and other services at $54,170.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data last year showed that about 141,900 people would be directly affected by the minimum wage rising to $23.50, indicating they were at that point being paid less than that amount per hour.
Infometrics principal economist Nick Brunsdon said skills and experience explained a lot of the variation in incomes.
"Industries that need a more skilled workforce generally pay more - because they can get a lot of value out of their workers, and workers need a good incentive to gain those skills - for example, medicine. Industries that take in a lot of lower qualified staff, like hospitality, can get away with paying a lot less, and still get plenty of job applicants.
"There are other factors like desirability - some jobs might not have a high skill requirement but are somewhat undesirable - say underground coal mining - so higher pay is necessary to find workers."
CTU policy director and economist Craig Enney said "hours adequacy" was a big problem in many sectors.
"You've got someone who's working 20 hours a week or 25 hours, on $25 an hour, so you're earning $500 a week. Is that enough? No.
"The challenge is often about the structure of employment in some of those sectors…In hospo, in retail, in catering, in a range of other sort of service-based industries, it's wanting more hours and not getting it."
The latest labour market statistics showed the the number of underutilised people in the country had risen to 403,000.
"These are people who want more hours, want more work and can't get it. And that may be a key reason why, you know, total incomes are so inadequate for some people. And that's also partially helping to explain why the headline unemployment rate is not rising as quickly as some people had predicted."
Jake Lilley, a spokesperson for financial mentor network Fincap, said it was something mentors dealt with.
"They also help people work out what is realistic in terms of taking on hours while balancing additional childcare costs. Our latest Voices reporting recorded 31 percent of those supported by a financial mentor as having a mix of income from salary or wages as well as income support.
"It is a real juggle to navigate finances when unpredictable sporadic hours of work need reporting to Work and Income in what can be impractical timeframes. An example might be someone being asked to stay on for a longer shift by their manager and being unable to contact Work and Income when that day is the deadline to report other income.
"Someone might also not know exactly what their pay will be until a payslip is provided after the reporting date. Such situations can often result in overpayment debts from Work and Income compounding the difficulty of administering already tight finances."
World Homeless Day
Event Description
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Join us at Federal Square aka St Patricks Square in Auckland CBD for World Homeless Day 2025—a powerful day of community, creativity, and hope. Every New Zealander deserves a safe place to call home. This event brings together street whānau, frontline workers,… View moreEvent Description
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Join us at Federal Square aka St Patricks Square in Auckland CBD for World Homeless Day 2025—a powerful day of community, creativity, and hope. Every New Zealander deserves a safe place to call home. This event brings together street whānau, frontline workers, advocates, artists, and the wider community to honour resilience and amplify the urgent call for collective action. We invite you to stand with us, listen, share, and be part of the change.
What to Expect
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Free health checks and vaccinations provided by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Hato Hone St John, and the National Health Coalition
Legal support from Auckland Community Law
Mobile showers and laundry courtesy of Orange Sky
Hot meals, breakfast packs, and gourmet burgers
Clothing, haircuts, and other essential services
On-site voting for General and Local Body Elections
Art exhibitions, live performances, and creative workshops
Keynote remarks from Helen Robinson (Auckland City Missioner) and Pam Elgar ONZM (Lifewise Executive Chair)
Live music: Hip hop/reggae star Che Fu and artist Hools will perform from 12:45 pm, bringing a vibrant mix of pop, hip-hop, funk, and soul
Who Is This Event For?
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This event is open to everyone—but best positioned for adults, especially those who want to learn more about homelessness in Aotearoa and support positive change.
Programme Outline
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10:00 AM: Event opens, welcome and community gathering Keynote remarks from Helen Robinson, Auckland City Missioner
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Health checks, legal support, meals, showers, clothing, haircuts, art exhibitions, creative workshops, and voting available throughout the day
12:20 PM: Lunch served to whānau
12:45 PM: Live performance by Che Fu and Hools
1:45PM: Close Pam Elgar ONZM, Lifewise
2:00 PM: Event closes
Transport Advice
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Federal Square is centrally located in Auckland CBD and easily accessible by public transport, including buses and trains. Limited parking is available nearby, but we encourage attendees to use public transport or carpool where possible. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
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Where---Federal Square aka St Patricks Square, 43 Wyndham Street and Federal Street, Auckland City Centre
St Patricks Cathedral on Wyndham Street
And across the Road from the ANZ Centre on Federal Street.
When----Friday 10 October 2025---10am-2pm
Cost---Free
Contact--Lifewise
marketing@lifewise.org.nz
021 241 1839
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Poll: Space or the Ocean — Where should our focus be? ☄️🌊
The Neighbourly team has been diving into a big question: should our curiosity take us up into space or down into the ocean?
It’s wild to think that more people have walked on the Moon than have reached the deepest point of the sea. Why is that?
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89.5% The Ocean!
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10.5% Space!
Bake Cupcakes, Change Animals’ Lives
Cupcake Day is back on Wednesday 29 October, and we need you!
Across New Zealand, animal lovers will be baking and selling cupcakes, raising funds to give vulnerable animals the second chances they deserve. Whether you host a morning tea, run a bake sale, or simply share treats with friends for… View moreCupcake Day is back on Wednesday 29 October, and we need you!
Across New Zealand, animal lovers will be baking and selling cupcakes, raising funds to give vulnerable animals the second chances they deserve. Whether you host a morning tea, run a bake sale, or simply share treats with friends for a donation, you’ll be part of a nationwide community making a real difference. Every cupcake counts so sign up today and help create a brighter future for animals in need.
SHOCKING!!!! The 20-somethings receiving NZ Super
There are about 3000 people across New Zealand receiving NZ Super who are not yet 65 - and three of them are not even 30.
Before 2020, it was possible for someone receiving NZ Super to add a non-qualifying partner.
This gives each person a payment of $787.58 a fortnight.
The option was removed … View moreThere are about 3000 people across New Zealand receiving NZ Super who are not yet 65 - and three of them are not even 30.
Before 2020, it was possible for someone receiving NZ Super to add a non-qualifying partner.
This gives each person a payment of $787.58 a fortnight.
The option was removed in 2020 but people who were already receiving the payment were allowed to remain on it.
Three are aged 25 to 29, six 30 to 34, nine 35 to 39 and 27 aged 40 to 44.
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The number is rounded to the nearest three.
The bulk of the 3003 non-qualifying partners aged under 65 are between between 60 and 64.
In 2019, there were 13,231 non-qualifying partners receiving the payment.
A Cabinet paper at the time of the change noted that the payment was income tested but there were no work obligations for either partner.
It said the change was made as part of a shift towards assessing the pension on an individual basis.
"Partners who are unable to access the NQP provision will continue to have access to the main benefit system - eg Jobseeker Support, Support Supported Living Payment, or Emergency Benefit."
But economist Shamubeel Eaqub said people who were in that position were worse off.
"Unemployment payments are a lot less than super payments."
Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan agreed there was potential inequity between someone who had qualified for the higher payment because of their older partner, and someone who had not.
A person on JobSeeker Support at half the couple rate would get $307.42 before tax each week, compared to $476.47 for the NZ Super recipient.
Any additional income earned by the couple would reduce the JobSeeker entitlement but not the NZ Super payment.
Kiernan said about 2.5 percent of people aged 60 to 64 were on JobSeeker Support. That was a total of about 7800 people in August, compared to 8139 for 55 to 59-year-olds.
At the time of the change, the Retirement Policy Research Centre said there could be problems for couples if someone who was under 65 had to stop work to care for an older partner but could no longer access the same support.
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Auckland Diwali Festival
The countdown has begun! The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival 2025 returns to Tāmaki Makaurau this October with two incredible days of live music, dance and mouthwatering Indian food.
With so much to see and do, from free and ticketed events before and during the festival, visitors can enjoy … View moreThe countdown has begun! The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival 2025 returns to Tāmaki Makaurau this October with two incredible days of live music, dance and mouthwatering Indian food.
With so much to see and do, from free and ticketed events before and during the festival, visitors can enjoy activities in Aotea Square, on Queen Street, Rutland Street, within the Central City Library, and inside the Aotea Centre.
The festival itself is free to attend, and there are also ticketed performances and events to enjoy. The festival is a family-friendly, smoke-free, alcohol-free and vegetarian event.
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Where---Aotea Square, 291-297 Queen Street, Auckland City Centre 1010
When----Saturday 11 October 2025----Sunday 12 October 2025
Time----From 12pm-9pm
Cost----Free
Free Cultural Festival Food / Drink Music
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Law Enforcement Torch Run to blaze through Auckland this weekend
Police will be part of something special this weekend, supporting Auckland’s Special Olympics athletes to carry the Flame of Hope in support of The Special Olympics Games.
The games are to be held at the new Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch from Wednesday 10 until Sunday 14 of December this … View morePolice will be part of something special this weekend, supporting Auckland’s Special Olympics athletes to carry the Flame of Hope in support of The Special Olympics Games.
The games are to be held at the new Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch from Wednesday 10 until Sunday 14 of December this year.
Media is invited to attend the three exciting events in the Auckland area this weekend for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The events take place in central Auckland on Saturday and two venues in south Auckland on Sunday.
Media are welcome at all three events to take photos, video footage and conduct interviews with athletes and officers.
What: Law Enforcement Torch Run Auckland Central
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Where: Meet at Victoria Park at the intersection of Victoria Street West and Beaumont Street (Freemans Bay Auckland).
When: Saturday 11 October 2025 at 10am
Who: District Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and police
What: Law Enforcement Torch Run for Auckland Central Police.
What: Law Enforcement Torch Run Weymouth, South Auckland
Where: Meet at Mountfort Park, 10 Sykes Road Weymouth (Opposite the swimming pools).
When: Sunday 12 October 2025 at 10am
Who: District Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and police
What: First Law Enforcement Torch Run for Counties Manukau District.
What: Law Enforcement Torch Run Pukekohe, South Auckland
Where: Meet at Navigation Homes Stadium, (Lower car park), 21 Stadium Drive, Pukekohe.
When: Sunday 12 October 2025 at 2pm
Who: District Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and police
What: Second Law Enforcement Torch Run for Counties Manukau District.
Police contact: Inspector Mark Harrison 021 1907 805
Special Olympics contact: Coen Lammers 021 730 239
Known as Guardians of the Flame, police members, along with Special Olympics athletes, will carry the Flame of Hope as it traverses the country to get local communities excited about the upcoming December Games.
Athletes, supporters and Police staff will assemble at the three different Auckland locations to run the flame.
“Lighting the Flame of Hope means that the games are just around the corner,” says Special Olympics Chief Executive Fran Scholey. The New Zealand Law Enforcement Torch Run that starts in Northland on October 4 will travel all the way down to Southland, before it ends up in Christchurch in the week before the games start.
The countdown is on!
Inspector Rupert Friend, New Zealand Police says, “We are always proud to take part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to help raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement.
“The Torch Run has grown over the years and now includes many fundraising platforms including Polar Plunges.
We held two plunges in Wellington and Christchurch this year where a total of $26,000 was raised for our New Zealand athletes.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a worldwide organisation and celebrated this year raising $1 billion to support the athletes of Special Olympics.
We encourage all kiwis to come out and show their support at Torch Run events up and down the country from October to December leading up to the games.”
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It's more common than you think!
Did you know that 93% of adults over the age of 65 have at least one chronic condition. And 79% have two or more. Our society is designed for able-bodied and healthy people, so it's no wonder that many people keep quiet when facing a chronic condition.
You might feel like you're the only… View moreDid you know that 93% of adults over the age of 65 have at least one chronic condition. And 79% have two or more. Our society is designed for able-bodied and healthy people, so it's no wonder that many people keep quiet when facing a chronic condition.
You might feel like you're the only person you know who needs a colostomy bag, or incontinence-wear, or a joint replacement, for example. But in New Zealand...
• approximately 7000 people have a colostomy bag,
• 50% of women aged 50-74 experience incontinence,
• and in 2023, there were 27,238 joint replacement procedures.
These numbers are not insignificant! So while you might not feel "normal" when living with a chronic condition, remember that you're certainly not "abnormal".
Regardless of what age you are, the only thing standing between being able-bodied or not is luck. Yes, we can take measures to stay healthy well into our later years, but our well-being is outside our control. It's time to normalise speaking out about topics that are often seen as hard to talk about, so people don't feel ashamed when trying to fit into a society that isn't designed for them.
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A gift for you when you subscribe to NZ House & Garden
Looking for inspiration for your home and garden? Subscribe to NZ House & Garden today and receive a luxurious bonus gift.
When you take out a 1- or 2-year subscription, you’ll receive a FREE ManukaRx Firming Day Cream, valued at $52 RRP.
Infused with the power of East Cape mānuka … View moreLooking for inspiration for your home and garden? Subscribe to NZ House & Garden today and receive a luxurious bonus gift.
When you take out a 1- or 2-year subscription, you’ll receive a FREE ManukaRx Firming Day Cream, valued at $52 RRP.
Infused with the power of East Cape mānuka oil, this lightweight daily cream is designed to hydrate, firm, and nourish your skin – the perfect treat to enjoy while you relax with your magazine.
Subscribe now for endless ideas, beautiful homes and gardens from across New Zealand, and a little indulgence just for you.
From the team at Mags4Gifts
T&Cs apply. Offer available to the first 300 people who subscribe to NZ House & Garden for 1 or 2 years before 26 October 2025
Small Group Tour Specialists
We are hosting coffee mornings in the coming weeks if you would like to come catch up and hear about our 2026 program.
Wintergarden Cafe, Parnell on Tuesday 14th October at 10.00 AM
Address: The café is located at the Auckland Domain, 20 Kiosk Road, Parnell.
There is two-hour free public… View moreWe are hosting coffee mornings in the coming weeks if you would like to come catch up and hear about our 2026 program.
Wintergarden Cafe, Parnell on Tuesday 14th October at 10.00 AM
Address: The café is located at the Auckland Domain, 20 Kiosk Road, Parnell.
There is two-hour free public parking nearby.
Please RSVP to Rochelle if you are keen to join us rochelle@calderandlawsontours.co.nz
or phone 0800 853 276
New Grief, Loss, And Healing Group
Each of us journeys through grief and loss in our own way.
This group offers a safe, welcoming space to share, listen, and heal together 🩵
All are welcome. Feel free to bring a friend or support person.
Koha appreciated.
• Location: Parnell Community Centre
• Time: 1-3pm
• Dates:… View moreEach of us journeys through grief and loss in our own way.
This group offers a safe, welcoming space to share, listen, and heal together 🩵
All are welcome. Feel free to bring a friend or support person.
Koha appreciated.
• Location: Parnell Community Centre
• Time: 1-3pm
• Dates: Friday 7 November & 5 December
Enquiries:
• Kathy Peters
• kathpeters21@gmail.com
• 022 309 3300
NEW Walking Netball Sessions
Walk on down to Windmill Park to try out Walking Netball, a low-impact version of netball with no running or jumping.
No commitment or prior netball experience required, just pay $5 and show up on a Friday morning, 10am-11am
Starting this Friday, 10th October.
See you there!
How many job hunters are there for each job ad?
Finding work may not be as easy as "getting off the PlayStation": data shows there are many times more potential job hunters than jobs advertised.
The Rotorua Daily Post reported Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told local business leaders that unemployed school leavers needed to … View moreFinding work may not be as easy as "getting off the PlayStation": data shows there are many times more potential job hunters than jobs advertised.
The Rotorua Daily Post reported Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told local business leaders that unemployed school leavers needed to "get off the couch and stop playing PlayStation".
And he told Morning Report on Monday there were employers "crying out" for young people.
But data shows in almost all parts of the country, there were more people unemployed than there were jobs available.
Using just the number of people on Work Ready JobSeeker benefits, not including those who are on the benefit for sickness or disability reasons, there are just under four people for every job ad, nationwide.
That's down from about nine in 2020 but about twice the rate of 2021 and 2022 and the number has stayed relatively constant since then.
The number of unemployed per job ad is five, which is not as high as the 2010 peak but higher than the 2020 number.
Luxon said Hawke's Bay and the South Island were particularly keen on workers but Hawke's Bay had 7359 jobSeekers and 568 jobs on Seek.
Based only on Trade Me jobs data, Kawerau had the highest ratio of jobseekers to jobs, at 228.
Queenstown-Lakes was the only area in balance by that measure.
Professor Matthew Roskruge, from the Massey University school of economics, said it was an "incredibly difficult" time to be looking for a job.
"Especially where they don't have really specific experience or certification… the regions from what we have seen have been hit particularly hard. Public service cuts look like they've hit regions hard and we've seen manufacturing go, too."
He said policies designed to push people off the benefit would work better when the labour market was stronger. "It might make sense if there was demand out there for employees but if we increase supply they have got to have somewhere to go."
Craig Renney, policy director at the Council of Trade Unions and previously an adviser to former Finance Minister Grant Robertson, agreed it was a tough market. "We're seeing more and more people want more work and can't get it."
He said the number of unemployed per job ad would understate the real picture because about 400,000 people were underutilised - not working as much as they would like to.
"We still appear to be shedding work, we see on a weekly basis at major plants and in particular manufacturing sites closing across the country."
He said the situation was worse in the North Island then the South.
He said many job ads were for temporary positions or commission-based roles that would not give security.
He said young people had been particular hit by the downturn. The number of unemployed 15 to 19 year olds had risen by 10,000 in two years, to 37,200.
Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub said jobhunters without experience would be "at the back of the queue".
He said people should be careful about comparing regions because the boundaries could be arbitrary.
"People travel across territorial authority boundaries all the time."
But he said there were some localised areas of pain such as Tokoroa where there had been major employer closures.
"That means those local job opportunities are further reduced."
He said young people trying to enter a workforce during weak economic times could feel the effect for a long time.
"They miss out on that entry into the job, the career pathway. And then by the time the economy recovers, there's a new cohort of people who are competing for those positions."
Massey University Dean's Chair in Management Professor Jarrod Haar said it did not help anyone to have young people on benefits.
But he said it would be better to use the money that would have been spent on teenagers' benefits on encouraging businesses to hire them.
"The reality is there's just no jobs, you know, or let's be honest, there'll be the few jobs out there, but there'll be hundreds of young people wanting them, applying for them. And it'll be the case that demand outstrips supply in a big way."
Meanwhle, An orchardist says the horticulture industry is not crying out for workers.
Yummy Fruit Company chief executive Paul Paynter, who grows apples and stone fruit in Hawke's Bay, said the industry wasn't short staffed right now.
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