Warning about purchasing power tool batteries from Aliexpress
I have just purchased 4 x Makita 18v 6Ah batteries from Aliexpress. These were claimed to be genuine Makita with the rating above. I assumed that they probably wouldn't be 6Ah because Chinese sourced batteries are always less than claimed. The first thing I noticed was each battery felt a lot lighter than my 5Ah OEM batteries. That says that each cell is a lot less than claimed. Before posting this I also bought a battery load tester and tested the new batteries. 2 of the 4 have now tested as being 2.4Ah so probably using 1200mAh cells (should be 3Ah or 3000mAh). I opened one up and all the cells inside are unmarked. My conclusion is that this company has just committed blatant theft as has been my experience with Chinese supplied batteries. For comparison a genuine Makita battery rated 4Ah AND 8 years old still tested as being 3.2Ah.
The new batteries are still usable but obviously not the capacity claimed by the company nor are they Makita OEM.
Bottom line DO NOT purchase power tool batteries through Aliexpress until they start to police their suppliers.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.5% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.9% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.8% Other - I will share below!
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