1797 days ago

Graduation day for Advanced & Diploma Chefs

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

This week, we were very happy to host a graduation luncheon for the students, families and friends of the Advanced Level 4 programme and Level 5 Diploma Chefs.

The Diploma chefs achievement comes after nearly TWO years of chopping, preparing and cooking and many tests and assignments and a bunch of hard work plus some serious determination and the privilege of remote cooking through FOUR Lockdowns!

The Advanced Level 4 chefs started in June 2020 and worked through their programme with only THREE lockdowns and remote cooking. Needless to say, we are delighted to be able to award these qualifications after what can only be described as a roller-coasted period.

The menu included Gratinated Snapper with mushroom, spinach with Sauce Hollandaise, Pigeon Bay lamb with corn, polenta, baked cherry tomatoes and basil and Crêpe with raspberry parfait and vanilla cream to finish.

More messages from your neighbours
1 day 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? 🛻🚨🚓
  • 36.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
    36.5% Complete
  • 63.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
    63.5% Complete
362 votes
8 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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6 days ago

Poll: Is Auckland’s economy improving?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The latest reporting from The Post suggests a wave of optimism for 2026. With interest rates finally heading south, businesses are feeling more positive. But for many on the ground, the real-world recovery feels a bit like a slow-moving commute on Auckland's motorways.

We want to know: Are you seeing signs of Auckland's economy improving in your industry or neighbourhood? Whether it's busier shops, new projects kicking off, or just a shift in the mood ...

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Is Auckland’s economy improving?
  • 17.2% Yes
    17.2% Complete
  • 66.1% No
    66.1% Complete
  • 16.7% A little
    16.7% Complete
192 votes