425 days ago

Update on Rubbish Bin Tags

From 1 March, North Shore residents will no longer need to attach a bin tag to their general rubbish bin. Rubbish collections are moving from being partially rates-funded to be fully-rates funded. The amount that you pay in your rates (or rent) will depend on the size of bin that you currently use.
Until 1 March, you should continue to use the usual tags, however I am hearing that many dairies are running out of tags. I've checked with Auckland Council, and they say that dairies and small retailers are no longer being supplied with tags, but supermarkets will continue to be supplied until February. They should be provided with enough tags to last until 1 March.

If you end up with too many tags after the new service starts, you will be able to take them to your local library for a refund up until the end of April.
There are pros and cons with the move to fully-rates funded collections:
➡️ The benefits are that we will no longer be paying more (on average) than other parts of Auckland for our general rubbish; we will no longer have to dash out to the dairy for a rubbish tag when we realise late at night that we've run out; there will be no more tag thefts; tags will no longer be going to landfill; there should be less trucks on the road as many private operators will stop collecting general rubbish.
➡️ The disbenefits are that there will be no financial incentive to reduce household rubbish; there will be an increase in the total cost for anyone who doesn't put rubbish out every week.

All of Auckland will move to rates-funded rubbish collection by September 2025. Currently some parts of Auckland already pay through their rates, some use the orange bags that we used to have, and other areas (including Rodney) don't have any council rubbish service.
Originally all of Auckland was going to move to paying for each rubbish collection, however it was found that there was no discernible difference between the amount of rubbish collected in rates-paying areas vs tag-paying areas.

Meanwhile, we are waiting on a decision on whether Auckland will be moving from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collections in 2026. This is something that I do not support due to the difficulties it will create for many people.

More messages from your neighbours

4 minutes ago

A reminder this hunting season

The Team from New Zealand Police

As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.

Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.

Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”

Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.

The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”

Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?

“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.

Poll: How important is the ability to book a doctor’s appointment online?

The Doctors

Hi Neighbours
Here at The Doctors we would love to hear how you prefer to book your doctor’s appointments. With busy schedules, different people find different methods easier.

For some, online booking is very convenient, you can make an appointment anytime without needing to wait on the phone. Others still prefer calling the clinic and speaking to a real person, especially if they have specific questions about their visit.

Your feedback helps us understand what works best for our patients and how we can improve access to care. Find out more