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Electrification of the motoring industry is not only inevitable, it is happening at a far faster rate than most people were probably expecting.
Our new weekly newsletter Quick Charge makes it easy to be informed and entertained, bringing you all of the biggest EV news, as well as regular updates… View moreElectrification of the motoring industry is not only inevitable, it is happening at a far faster rate than most people were probably expecting.
Our new weekly newsletter Quick Charge makes it easy to be informed and entertained, bringing you all of the biggest EV news, as well as regular updates on our various long-term tests and other bits and pieces that have caught our eye.
Sign up (it's free!) here.
Can anyone recommend a handyman/person for odd jobs around my home, carpentry, gate/fence repair rubbish removal and clearing my section and lawnmowing etc - in Ranui?
Wake up on Sunday morning to a treat in your inbox from the team at Sunday magazine.
As well as the weekly cover story, Sunday's free newsletter delivers the latest on food (including delicious recipes from our resident chef Sam Mannering), fashion, design, beauty and well-being direct to … View moreWake up on Sunday morning to a treat in your inbox from the team at Sunday magazine.
As well as the weekly cover story, Sunday's free newsletter delivers the latest on food (including delicious recipes from our resident chef Sam Mannering), fashion, design, beauty and well-being direct to your inbox.
Sign up here and we'll see you on Sunday!
Happy New Year neighbours! Why not make 2022 the year you pay less in KiwiSaver fees.
We're Simplicity and we keep our KiwiSaver fees low, so you can keep more of your money. Our average member saves $345* in KiwiSaver fees, every year. We call it the Simplicity Difference and the savings … View moreHappy New Year neighbours! Why not make 2022 the year you pay less in KiwiSaver fees.
We're Simplicity and we keep our KiwiSaver fees low, so you can keep more of your money. Our average member saves $345* in KiwiSaver fees, every year. We call it the Simplicity Difference and the savings really add up. To find out how much you could save, use the fee calculator here.
You can switch in minutes %)
*As of 20 January 2022. Simplicity NZ Ltd is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver Scheme. For a Product Disclosure Statement please visit our website simplicity.kiwi
Beautiful rare Turkish tea set
Milano Collection
Fine porcelain
6 cups and 6 saucers
Condition used but very good condition
Perfect for collectors
Hi guys just need someone with a trailer or a truck to move this swing seat from our house in Avondale to our friends house in Mount Roskill (it’s about a 10min drive). We are happy to negotiate payment to whatever you think is fair. Please message me directly if you think you’d be able to … View moreHi guys just need someone with a trailer or a truck to move this swing seat from our house in Avondale to our friends house in Mount Roskill (it’s about a 10min drive). We are happy to negotiate payment to whatever you think is fair. Please message me directly if you think you’d be able to help!
The 98-year-old painter who saved a village and a cat who hitched a ride to a charity shop in an old chair feature in today's Antidote - your much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness even in these unusual times. … View moreThe 98-year-old painter who saved a village and a cat who hitched a ride to a charity shop in an old chair feature in today's Antidote - your much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness even in these unusual times. Sign up here to get The Antidote delivered to your inbox (it's free!)
AND JUST LIKE THAT - WE'RE BACK!
Happy New 2022 to all our Service King supporters, customers, family and friends.
A new year is simply made up of 365 days, of which we're up to the first 20 already! Don't underestimate the power of small effective habits done daily or weekly to… View moreAND JUST LIKE THAT - WE'RE BACK!
Happy New 2022 to all our Service King supporters, customers, family and friends.
A new year is simply made up of 365 days, of which we're up to the first 20 already! Don't underestimate the power of small effective habits done daily or weekly to make this year, better than the last. Those small habits collectively combined you could say, are a bit like 'cleaning up your act'!
We've certainly got some clean habits forming in the pipeline this year. What will your daily/weekly habits be this year to clean up your act?
#HappyNewYear | #2022 | #CleanHabits | #GoodChanges
It's been a rough ride for Auckland. As we regroup as a city in 2022, it is time to act responsibly.
Yet Auckland Council will continue to swell into a bloated, cash-sucking, employee-thickened, debt-laden beast.
Under the Goff administration, the rates grab has accelerated at pace. Auckland… View moreIt's been a rough ride for Auckland. As we regroup as a city in 2022, it is time to act responsibly.
Yet Auckland Council will continue to swell into a bloated, cash-sucking, employee-thickened, debt-laden beast.
Under the Goff administration, the rates grab has accelerated at pace. Auckland Council is now harvesting more than $5.3 billion a year from Aucklanders. This is not demonstrating kindness post-lockdown.
This intake increase has been achieved through a combination of general rate increases of over 16 per cent per annum in some suburbs, significantly increased council fees, fuel tax, and the introduction of an extensive number of targeted rates.
These include: Water Quality Targeted Rate, Natural Environment Targeted Rate, Accommodation Providers Targeted Rate, Rodney Local Board Transport Targeted Rate and now a proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate. Then add the planned introduction of a rubbish collection Targeted Rate for central and north Auckland.
My concern is that, while all ratepayers are targeted to pay these taxes, only a few directly benefit from the projects the money delivers.
Auckland Council is sitting on $16 billion of total liabilities, including council's borrowings along with its interest rate hedging, which is an increase in debt of $5 billion under Goff.
Using debt to pay for infrastructure is reasonable - future generations helping to pay for the assets they will benefit from is fair. The problem is, this council is unable to get the books trending back towards the black.
Furthermore, despite all the spending, Auckland still has gridlock; unaffordable housing; empty "ghost buses"; and most roads no better than they were pre-amalgamation.
Auckland has been adversely led into a perpetual state of deficit - debt levels are now $29,611 upon every Auckland household.
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There are now more than 12,000 staff at Auckland Council. Since the Super City was created, the payroll bill has more than doubled and is running just shy of $1 billion a year. One in every four staff members earns more than $100,000 per annum. Middle management overkill. Scandalous.
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Auckland Council's own surveys show council's decision-making ability is not trusted by 80 per cent of Aucklanders. Not a healthy, customer-focused, lean organisation.
A scythe needs to be taken to peel council back to core business. It has taken on too many projects and agendas that are actually the domain of central Government - from climate change, business development, to promoting various social agendas.
The payroll bill requires an immediate 20 per cent reduction. This would be a $190 million reduction in costs, which is the equivalent of saving 12 per cent in future rate increases.
Such a cost-cutting exercise must simultaneously not harm the customer's interactions with council but instead greatly enhance them by driving for customer service excellence - including the removal of red tape, greater public transparency over spending, and an unswerving commitment for delivering core council services.
Mayor Goff is proposing a 6 per cent overall average rates increase for this year. This has to be openly challenged as a broken promise. Last year, he guaranteed Aucklanders' rates would not increase by more than 3.5 per cent, following last year's "one-off 5 per cent emergency" rates increase.
The 6 per cent total rates increase is comprised of both a 3.5 per cent average general rates increase, plus an additional climate change tax which will add another 2.5 per cent average rates increase on to our bills. The proposed rate will be paying for business-as-usual council projects such as electric buses, electric ferries, cycleways, and tree-planting which are already planned for.
As I constantly debate at Town Hall, Aucklanders already pay general rates and a regional fuel tax to deliver these types of projects. The council needs to stop "double-dipping" into ratepayer's pockets. After the traumatic year we've just had, it's simply wrong.
Plus there is already a council budget of $152 million for tackling climate change. Surely this money would be better directed into flood prevention measures in suburbs such as Kumeu and Howick; the building of seawalls; or proactive council planning to alleviate storm-water runoff from all the new housing?
Let's call this new climate tax what it really is - a disguised rates hike designed to fill Auckland Council's financial hole after Covid.
Council must cut operational spending and reprioritise within existing budgets.
I urge you to question your local councillor; the Mayor; share this article; start conversations; and ask questions. This is our city, our economic future and our rates.
To lead our city out of these hard times will require its leadership to demonstrate better financial acumen, and a more caring one.
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www.nzherald.co.nz...
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Ending this year with the New Zealand Wine (Advanced) Micro-credential and a group of 13 enthusiasts tasting a selection leading of New Zealand Wines. We also prepare a menu of classic dishes to help develop a more in-depth understanding of wine and food pairing.
This is what we tasted:
• … View moreEnding this year with the New Zealand Wine (Advanced) Micro-credential and a group of 13 enthusiasts tasting a selection leading of New Zealand Wines. We also prepare a menu of classic dishes to help develop a more in-depth understanding of wine and food pairing.
This is what we tasted:
• Spinach, salmon and cream cheese mille-feuille
• Smoked chicken, brie and cranberry pie
• Pork and chilli kofta, yoghurt sauce
• Beef eye fillet, roasted beetroot and red wine jus
• Raspberry chocolate brownie, whipped cream
Wines tasted -
• Lime Rock, Grüner Veltliner, 2020
• Framingam, Riesling, 2020
• Hans Herzog, Mistral, 2017
• Amisfield, Pinot Noir, 2019
• Heron’s Flight, Sangiovese, 2016
• Loveblock, Sweet Moscato, 2014
We live in unusual times. It all gets a bit much some days. So we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too.
Sign up here to get The Antidote delivered to your inbox each day.
Today: … View moreWe live in unusual times. It all gets a bit much some days. So we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too.
Sign up here to get The Antidote delivered to your inbox each day.
Today: The story of a husband for sale on Trade Me, a skipper with a digger, kiwi chicks in the skies and many, many beers for Betty White.
Hi neighbours!
Need to rehab your money? Grow your wealth? Just understand your finances a bit better? Here's how you can start.
MoneyIQ will give you all the basics you need to get your money sorted and start working towards a brighter, richer future.
The heat is on! Make the most of your summer with great bargains from your Red Cross Shop Henderson. Selected women’s wear 1/2 price, selected women’s shoes 1/2 price, kid’s clothing 1/2 price, plastic ware and camping/summer gears 1/2 price.
Come visit us at:
435 Great North Road, … View moreThe heat is on! Make the most of your summer with great bargains from your Red Cross Shop Henderson. Selected women’s wear 1/2 price, selected women’s shoes 1/2 price, kid’s clothing 1/2 price, plastic ware and camping/summer gears 1/2 price.
Come visit us at:
435 Great North Road, Henderson
(09) 8351152
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