1352 days ago

Mānawatia a Matariki ... Happy Māori New Year!

Saint Johns Butchery

We get to enjoy our first Matariki public holiday this Friday. It's not just another long weekend, but a time of renewal and celebration that begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster. It's an opportunity to remember those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki, to celebrate the present by gathering together and giving thanks for what we have, and to look to the future and the promise of a new year.

If you're keen to view the rising of the Matariki star cluster, it can be found low on the horizon in the north east of the sky from around 5.30am. To find Matariki, look to the left of Tautoru (Orion's Belt or the bottom three stars of 'the pot') and find the bright orange star, Taumata-kuku (Alderbaran). Follow an imaginary line from Tautoru, across to Taumata-kuku and keep going left until you see a cluster of stars ... Matariki.

The Saint Johns Butchery store will be open all weekend, with our friendly team of butchers ready to assist you in your selection of meaty treats. Our opening hours this long weekend:
Friday ... 7.30am - 5.00pm
Saturday ... 8.00am - 6.00pm
Sunday ... 8.30am - 5.00pm

Mānawatia a Matariki ... Happy Māori New Year!

Graphic: Te Ara Encyclopaedia of New Zealand

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4 days ago

Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?

What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?

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If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
  • 38.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
    38.1% Complete
  • 61.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
    61.9% Complete
743 votes
10 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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1 day ago

🎉 Riddle me this, legends! 🎉

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

He/She who makes it, sells it.
He/She who buys it, doesn't use it.
The user doesn't know they are using it.
What is it?

(Shezz from Ngāruawāhia kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Shezz!)

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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