Mount Roskill, Auckland

A historic mega strike involving more than 100,000 essential workers is set to march on despite several rallies being cancelled because of life-threatening weather.

Brian from Mount Roskill

Teachers, nurses and thousands of other workers are all expected to strike today, which police warn may lead to significant traffic disruptions.
All workers involved are still walking off the job despite a number of planned events being cancelled at the last minute in regions such as Canterbury, … View moreTeachers, nurses and thousands of other workers are all expected to strike today, which police warn may lead to significant traffic disruptions.
All workers involved are still walking off the job despite a number of planned events being cancelled at the last minute in regions such as Canterbury, Wellington and the Wairarapa.
Wellington, Wairarapa south of Carterton, the Canterbury High Country, Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains are all under a strong red wind warning.
The Post Primary Teachers’ Association said the strike cannot be cancelled because formal notices have already been sent to employers, RNZ reported.
Who is striking?
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More than 36,000 nurses are scheduled to strike from 11am to 3pm and about 40,000 to 50,000 teachers are also set to take similar action.
An estimated 11,500 other healthcare workers, including senior doctors, dentists, social workers and others, will join them.
Senior doctors were striking only in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, RNZ reported.
A Talbot Mills poll out yesterday showed more than six out of 10 New Zealanders backed the action.
Traffic disruptions
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In one of the larger rallies, thousands of workers are expected to march down Queen St, Auckland.
Police said they were aware of the strike action planned in central Auckland, which is expected to cause significant disruption on the roads.
The rally is due to start about midday at Aotea Square and will include a march down Queen St to Te Komititanga Square, where the event will conclude.
Police said motorists are advised to expect delays and to avoid Queen St and the surrounding areas if possible.
Public transport users should check Auckland Transport’s website for information on changes to services.
Mental health social worker Andy Colwell said he is striking because the Government needs to properly fund the public health system.
“The public of New Zealand needs to hear what is happening under this Government; people need to hear about the understaffing, under-resourcing and the impact this is having on services across the sector.
“Strike action is a legitimate form of action to take in order to fight for better pay and conditions of work,” Colwell said.
Public Service Minister Judith Collins said the strike is unfair, unproductive, unnecessary and should be called off.
“The strike will not help anyone.
“It is a stunt targeting the Government, but the people paying the price are the thousands of patients who have had appointments and surgeries cancelled, and the hundreds of thousands of kids who will miss another day at school,” Collins said.
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TOMORROW-----Strike action – expect delays

Brian from Mount Roskill

Police are aware of strike action planned in central Auckland tomorrow, which is expected to cause significant disruption on the roads.
The rally is due to start about midday at Aotea Square, and will include a march down Queen Street to Te Komititanga Square, where the event will conclude.
… View morePolice are aware of strike action planned in central Auckland tomorrow, which is expected to cause significant disruption on the roads.
The rally is due to start about midday at Aotea Square, and will include a march down Queen Street to Te Komititanga Square, where the event will conclude.
Motorists are advised to expect delays and avoid Queen Street and the surrounding areas if possible.
Plan ahead and allow extra time.
==========================
Public transport users should check Auckland Transport’s website for information on changes to services.
Police are working closely with event organisers to ensure the safety of all participants and the wider public.
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Table Round Mosaic Top, Solid steel legs

Judith from Mount Albert

This piece of art was bought in Mt Eden from an Art collective.

Price: $1,500

Furniture Chair

Judith from Mount Albert

Chair, solid wooden piece of furniture. Small hole in weaving.

Price: $50

Snow Board or Ski Jacket

Judith from Mount Albert

Unisex snow wear. In very good condition, bought in Canada so warm. Fit 10 or 12 year old or small adult. Red colour.

Price: $30

Water Proof Camera

Judith from Mount Albert

Downsizing. No longer snorkelling, under water camera In good condition.

Price: $50

Rocking chair

Judith from Mount Albert

Very comfortable, vintage, bought in Canada in 1968 and been in family ever since. Downsizing now so need to sell precious items. In good shape.

Price: $50

Whittaker’s chocolate price: Blocks as high as $8.49 in supermarkets after hike

Brian from Mount Roskill

It now costs up to $8.49 to buy a block of Whittaker’s chocolate after the company upped its prices.
New World stores across Auckland were selling regular 250g blocks for $8.49 on Monday. Just last Friday, they were $7.69, 80c cheaper.
The cheapest Auckland price the Herald could find was $6.39… View moreIt now costs up to $8.49 to buy a block of Whittaker’s chocolate after the company upped its prices.
New World stores across Auckland were selling regular 250g blocks for $8.49 on Monday. Just last Friday, they were $7.69, 80c cheaper.
The cheapest Auckland price the Herald could find was $6.39 at Pak’nSave in Botany.
Blocks at Sylvia Park and Ormiston were $6.49, while other Pakn’Save supermarkets were selling them for $7.09.
Woolworths stores were selling the blocks for $7.69 on Monday.
Prices of other Whittaker’s products have also increased.
Last week, New World was selling 100g blocks for $5.99. Today, they cost $6.99.
The 45g bars, including “Peanut Slabs”, last week cost $2.09. Now they are $2.69.
Hike driven by a jump in ingredient and operating costs
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The company announced prices would be increased across its range of products last Friday.
“At Whittaker’s, we’re proud to craft all of our chocolate right here in New Zealand, using the finest ingredients,” the company said on its social media.
“For us, increasing our prices is always a last resort, however, over the past year, the cost of ingredients and operating costs have continued to rise.
“We’ll never compromise on the size or quality of our products so this price increase will enable us to continue bringing you our delicious chocolate made with the very best, ethically sourced ingredients.”
The announcement comes after Statistics NZ yesterday revealed food prices had increased 4.1% in the 12 months to September.
The average price of milk was 15.1% higher than a year ago. Stats NZ said the 3.9% increase in prices in the grocery food category had driven the overall food price.
Butter prices were 28.9% higher than a year ago and cheese prices rose 31.4%.
The social media response to Whittaker’s announcement appeared to be understanding of the cost pressures and appreciative of the company’s commitment to quality and block size.
“I’ll give credit where credit’s due. You are always up front when increasing prices and very clear in not compromising on quality, unlike competitors who slowly reduce their sizing and quality and hope the customer won’t notice. Will always buy Whittaker’s,” one social media user said.
“Consistent quality and transparency means I will always buy your chocolate,” another said.
“Love your chocolate, love that it never shrinks, and the recipe never changes. Happy to support local. We’re loyal to Whittaker’s,” another social media user said.
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Happy DIWALI

Brian from Mount Roskill

Here's wishing all neighbours celebrating this festival a very happy Deepavalli. May millions of lamps illuminate your life with joy, prosperity, good health and more wealth.
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BUYER BEWARE---The supermarket deals that are too good to be true – and how to spot them

Brian from Mount Roskill

We’ve all felt it – that small thrill when you spot a yellow “special” tag on the shelf or see a loyalty discount appear on your receipt. But in New Zealand, not every bargain is what it seems. Watchdogs say pricing errors and misleading promotions may be costing shoppers millions each … View moreWe’ve all felt it – that small thrill when you spot a yellow “special” tag on the shelf or see a loyalty discount appear on your receipt. But in New Zealand, not every bargain is what it seems. Watchdogs say pricing errors and misleading promotions may be costing shoppers millions each year, and some supermarkets are now facing criminal charges for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
What the law says
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Under the Fair Trading Act 1986, retailers must not mislead or deceive consumers about prices or promotions. Advertising a discount that is not genuine, or charging more at the checkout than the shelf price, can breach the act.
The Commerce Commission has warned that supermarket pricing inaccuracies “can lead to consumers paying more than they should”. Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden said in May 2024 that if even a small percentage of transactions are wrong, “New Zealanders could be losing tens of millions of dollars a year from supermarket pricing errors”.
In December 2024, the Commission announced it had filed criminal charges under the Fair Trading Act against Woolworths New Zealand Ltd and the operators of Pak’nSave Silverdale and Pak’nSave Mill Street for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading “specials”. The companies have said they are cooperating fully and the proceedings are ongoing.
The consumer push-back
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Public frustration over scanning errors and endless specials led Consumer NZ to launch its Price It Right campaign in 2024. The organisation is calling for a mandatory pricing-accuracy code and automatic refunds where scanned prices exceed shelf prices. It reports receiving hundreds of examples from shoppers through its website.
Chief executive Jon Duffy said at the launch: “Shoppers deserve confidence that the price they see is the price they pay.”
Loyalty maths – small print, small returns
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Supermarket loyalty schemes are legal but often over-promised. Programmes such as Onecard, Clubcard and Flybuys offer member pricing or points that typically return around 0.5–1% of spending, depending on redemption. In other words, a $100 shop may yield roughly $1 in value.
Consumer NZ’s 2024 supermarket survey found more than half of respondents don’t trust specials or loyalty discounts, and many dislike how their data is shared with partner companies. These arrangements are permitted, but the perception gap suggests loyalty perks should be viewed as modest bonuses, not game-changing savings.
Four red flags to watch for
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The phantom “was” price: When a product says “was $10, now $8”, the higher price must have been charged for a reasonable period. Otherwise, it may be misleading under the Fair Trading Act.
The multibuy trap: “Two for $5” isn’t always cheaper. Compare the unit price – the cost per 100g or per item printed on the shelf label.
Shelf-to-till mismatch: If an item scans higher than the displayed price, you are legally entitled to pay the lower one. Consumer NZ argues supermarkets should automatically refund the difference.
Perpetual specials: When an item is almost always “on special”, that may suggest the “regular” price is theoretical. The act requires discounts to represent genuine, time-limited reductions.
Five quick ways to check a deal
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Compare unit prices. It’s the fairest way to judge value across sizes and brands.
Keep photos of regular buys. A quick snapshot shows whether a current special is truly cheaper.
Do the maths. If the saving is marginal, it may just be marketing.
Mind expiry dates. Deep discounts on near-dated stock aren’t bargains if half goes to waste.
Check your receipt before leaving. Pricing mistakes are easiest to fix on the spot.
Why it matters
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Supermarkets process thousands of price changes every day, so occasional mistakes are inevitable. But repeated errors or perpetual specials undermine trust, especially when grocery costs are rising faster than inflation.
Stats NZ data shows food prices increased 4.6% in the year to June 2025, driven largely by higher dairy, meat and produce costs. That makes accurate pricing and transparent discounting more important than ever.
The Commerce Commission’s ongoing grocery market study aims to improve competition and clarity. Until stronger safeguards arrive, individual vigilance remains the best defence.
A genuine bargain is one you can verify, not just one wrapped in yellow signage. If the maths works, enjoy the saving. If it doesn’t, walk away.
True deals still exist – they just take sharper eyes and a little arithmetic to find them.
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Kids Size 10 Ski Jacket

Janai from Sandringham

Selling this kids ski jacket as no longer required.

As per photos it’s in excellent condition with plenty of life left in it. Great reputable American brand (Sunice).

Size 10. Unisex. Waterproof and insulated.

From smoke and pet free home.

Pick up is from Sandringham (near St Luke’s … View moreSelling this kids ski jacket as no longer required.

As per photos it’s in excellent condition with plenty of life left in it. Great reputable American brand (Sunice).

Size 10. Unisex. Waterproof and insulated.

From smoke and pet free home.

Pick up is from Sandringham (near St Luke’s mall).

Price: $40

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Mabel from Hillsborough

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