Fundraising Concert for The Community Cat Coalition, Sat Oct 29th 7.30pm
Here's a fun way to support a group of hard-working volunteers who care for stray cats, by attending a variety concert! WorkShop 26 is a small arty venue in the commercial district of Blockhouse Bay. Seats are limited, so we strongly advise you to pre-book your seats.
Address: 26 Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay.
Saturday October 29th 7.30 pm
The lineup includes:
ANDREW GRAHAM singer/songwriter/guitarist/beat maker/event organiser - a community minded all round nice guy whose delightful personality shines through in his original upbeat songs.
SHANE HOLLANDS poet/band front man/president of the NZ Poetry Society - one of NZ's top beat poets. Known for his work with bands Freaky Meat and Moebeus Orchestra, as well as for organising many wordcore events, Shane will give us an up close and personal solo performance of some of his original works
RICK TOPP singer/guitarist/songwriter/comedian - a lovable accomplished performer who delivers engaging songs from folk and country roots. Rick can claim to have fathered and mentored one of NZ's top female performers, but we won't do any name dropping here!
RANDAL and DIANNE singers/guitarists/traveling minstrels - great performers on their own and as a duo we get double the blessings and some lovely harmonies as well. Randal has just returned from Canada, where he has been regularly performing his music. This will be a chance for him to reconnect with his Kiwi friends and fans.
MURRAY HADDOW poet/comedian/reluctant entertainer - we've told Murray he has to jump up and do a couple of his comedy poems, seeing as he lives here. This will be a very welcome rare appearance, as Murray seldom hits the stage these days.
LOKO aka MATTY HARRIS hip hop musician/rapper/artist - Workshop 26's resident who made the headlines and featured on billboards around NZ for the documentary LOKO, about his colourful life. Loko will perform some of his original works with dramatic passion.
ALL PROCEEDS will go to support the work of The Community Cat Coalition Inc. (CCC) who provide humane solutions for Auckland's stray cat colonies. Their work includes "Trap-neuter-return, or trap-neuter-adopt to good homes". What they do stabilises then reduces cat populations, humanely and sustainably improving animal welfare outcomes while at the same time helping to achieve the native biodiversity goals of Auckland Council and DOC.
Tea, coffee and biscuits provided. Please bring any other refreshments you might require and some gold coins for a cash raffle.
Entry $15 donation to CCC (or a little more if you can afford it thank you.) To secure tickets, please text 021 117 9349 and we'll send you the bank account details. Refunds will be given for any cancellations due to illness. Some door sales may be available on the night.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.5% Yes
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14.8% No
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2.8% Other - I'll share below
The Story of Tahu and the Sacred Visitor - Day 10
In a small kāinga (village) nestled by the ngahere (forest), lived an elderly woman named Tahu. She was a simple kuia (elder), devoted to the atua and known for her aroha (love and compassion). Though she lived humbly, Tahu’s heart was rich with kindness and her hands were always busy caring for others in her community.
One night, Tahu had a vision during her karakia (prayers). The atua spoke to her, saying that a great rangatira (chief) on a sacred journey would one day visit her home. This visitor would be a symbol of mana (prestige) and the spirit of aroha. Tahu woke with a sense of purpose and spent her days preparing for this rangatira’s arrival.
She tidied her whare (home) and tended to her māra (garden), ensuring everything was in perfect condition. Each day, she gathered the freshest kumara and sweetest berries from the ngahere, tasting them carefully to ensure they were fit for her guest. Although her people sometimes laughed at her efforts, saying, “Tahu, why prepare so much for someone who might never come?” she remained steadfast in her devotion.
One day, the great rangatira, Tāwhirimātea, arrived at her humble whare with his companion. Tahu’s heart swelled with joy as she welcomed them, offering water and the food she had so carefully prepared.
However, one of Tāwhirimātea’s companions noticed Tahu tasting the berries before offering them. He frowned and whispered, “It is disrespectful to offer food that has already been tasted.”
But Tāwhirimātea smiled and replied, “You judge her actions, but I understand her intentions. Tahu is not tasting out of disrespect—she is ensuring that only the sweetest and best berries are served. It is her aroha that makes this kai truly sacred.” He ate the berries with gratitude, blessing Tahu for her kindness.
The atua smiled upon Tahu, and the mana of her aroha inspired her whānau to live with the same compassion and care for others.
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Moral of the Story
This story teaches that acts of aroha (love and compassion), no matter how humble, hold the greatest mana. True kindness is not measured by wealth or grandeur but by the heart and intention behind our actions. Like Tahu, we are reminded to serve others with sincerity and respect, knowing that aroha strengthens the bonds of whānau and community.
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