1825 days ago

New Year Honours: New Zealand's top scientist Dr Juliet Gerrard becomes a dame

Caroline Williams Reporter from Central Leader

Asked how she feels about being made a dame, Dr Juliet Gerrard​ is somewhat lost for words, an unfamiliar position for the woman whose job is distilling the most up-to-date scientific information for those making the decisions that will shape our future.

Gerrard, currently Jacinda Ardern’s chief science advisor, has been named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit​ in the New Year Honours.

While she hasn’t really processed what it means on a personal level, it hasn’t stopped the Freemans Bay resident from sharing the news with her 75-year-old mum in the United Kingdom, who got a kick out of getting the good news on her birthday.

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More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.6% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.6% Complete
  • 21% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    21% Complete
  • 68.4% Nah - not for me
    68.4% Complete
405 votes
22 hours ago

WOOLWORTHS REWARDS CARD

Estelle from Mount Eden

To the lovely man who kindly let me use his Woolworths rewards card - I was buying brandy snaps etc can you please message me, thank you very much.
You made a comment you'll be asked why you are buying brandy snaps.
Estelle

11 days ago

Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.

We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?

Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.

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🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
  • 85.1% Same!
    85.1% Complete
  • 14.9% Would have liked to try something different
    14.9% Complete
564 votes