Waimairi Beach, Christchurch

Got a question for your neighbours?

Got a question for your neighbours?

Post here and let them help!

606 days ago

Don't forget to nominate a small business...

Prospa

Know the friendliest barista around? Does your mechanic always go the extra mile? Got a lawn-mowing legend? Hairdresser hero?

Give your favourite local business the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.

There's been hundreds of … View more
Know the friendliest barista around? Does your mechanic always go the extra mile? Got a lawn-mowing legend? Hairdresser hero?

Give your favourite local business the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2023 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.

There's been hundreds of incredible entries already but don't forget to nominate your local this week. The recognition will make their day (and they're in with a chance to win a $10,000 package!).

Share a few words about your favourite local now.
Nomiante now

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606 days ago

Your home, your safe haven

The Team from

Your home is your sanctuary, and that’s why Ryman villages are designed to be safe havens.

We’ve prepared for adverse events, so you don’t have to.

Your safety and your family’s peace of mind are our priority. Every Ryman village has staff available 24/7 and backup generators for … View more
Your home is your sanctuary, and that’s why Ryman villages are designed to be safe havens.

We’ve prepared for adverse events, so you don’t have to.

Your safety and your family’s peace of mind are our priority. Every Ryman village has staff available 24/7 and backup generators for emergencies. If something happens, you’re in safe hands.

We’ll take care of everything and make sure that you have what you need.

If you or a loved one are over 70, Ryman has a range of options from emergency accommodation through to townhouses or apartments available to purchase.
Learn More

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606 days ago

Road toll

Phill from Aranui

Hey guys if your like me and sick of the high number of deaths on our roads you should definitely check out this link. Share as many times as possible.
givealittle.co.nz...

610 days ago

Poll: How much is your monthly BROADBAND bill?

The Team from NZ Compare

Internet is something we need these days for work, study, keeping in touch with loved ones or just to watch a movie! It's another bill to manage right?!

With the cost of living rising, we want to know how much your broadband bill is setting you back each month?

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How much is your monthly BROADBAND bill?
  • 28.1% Under $75
    28.1% Complete
  • 27.6% Between $75-$85
    27.6% Complete
  • 44.3% Over $85
    44.3% Complete
1593 votes
607 days ago

Have you got a great recipe for jerusalem artichokes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive jerusalem artichoke recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by March 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the May issue of NZ … View moreEvery month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are still on the hunt for amazing and inventive jerusalem artichoke recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by March 26, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the May issue of NZ Gardener.

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607 days ago

How do you think Christchurch and surrounding districts should look in 20 years time ?

The Team from Citizens Advice Christchurch Area

If you want to have a say in the development of Christchurch then this is your chance. There are several ways to do this :

1. Go to the website www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz... and take part in the online survey huihuimai.nz...

2. Take part in one of the workshops. You can still register … View more
If you want to have a say in the development of Christchurch then this is your chance. There are several ways to do this :

1. Go to the website www.greaterchristchurch.org.nz... and take part in the online survey huihuimai.nz...

2. Take part in one of the workshops. You can still register for the Rangiora session www.eventbrite.com...

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608 days ago

kangaroo bounce fitness

Helena from Burwood

Hi does anyone know of any kangaroo bounce fitness classes available in Chch hoping to go try it out?
could you let me know thanks
Helena

608 days ago

Addictive Eaters Anonymous

The Team from Addictive Eaters Anonymous - Christchurch

MONTHLY AEA WEB EVENTS
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The AEA Web Event is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month… View more
MONTHLY AEA WEB EVENTS
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The AEA Web Event is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month which is this Sunday 19 March at 9.00am.
ALL NEWCOMERS WELCOME

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614 days ago

NZ: Share a favourite female historical figure...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!

Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as … View more
We're all mostly familiar with Kate Sheppard's role in the women's suffrage movement (and her face on the $10 note) and you've likely heard of the bold, Jean Batten. But who else should not be forgotten? Tell us why!

Let's celebrate Women's History month as well as International Women's Day (this Wednesday) by sharing some of the lesser-known, inspiring women who've played a part in New Zealand's history.

Share your thoughts below for the We Say You Say column of the local paper - write NFP if you wish your comments to be excluded.

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610 days ago

Clear the decks

The Team from Resene ColorShop Shirley

Refresh your outdoor spaces with Resene Lumbersider and Resene Walk-on with these easy ideas.

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614 days ago

Water Bills / Recycling

Bill from New Brighton

The question is :
Should I wash all my recyclable bottles, can and jars and risk just going over my daily limit for water, or turn around and tell the council "if you want them clean...YOU wash them ! "

612 days ago

Save at your local Resene ColorShop!

Resene National Head Office

Bring out the best in your home.

Get 20% off Resene premium paints, stains, wallpapers and accessories, on now at Resene ColorShops!

Come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop for expert advice and great savings!
Learn More

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612 days ago

Old used circular blades wanted

Sharlene from Kainga - Brooklands

The older the better.must be cheap

612 days ago

Applications closing soon!

Diana Isaac Retirement Village

Since 1999, our residents and team members have raised more than $5.1 million for charities across New Zealand and Australia.

Supporting fellow pioneers isn’t new. It’s in our DNA. Learn more about becoming our charity partner for 2022/23.

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619 days ago

Thousands receive their first excess water bill as council considers upping the limit

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From reporter Tina Law:

Excess water bills have been sent out to almost 4000 Christchurch residents, but the city council is now considering increasing how much water people can use before being stung with a charge.

The surprise move was made on Tuesday as the Christchurch City Council … View more
From reporter Tina Law:

Excess water bills have been sent out to almost 4000 Christchurch residents, but the city council is now considering increasing how much water people can use before being stung with a charge.

The surprise move was made on Tuesday as the Christchurch City Council agreed to put its draft budget, the annual plan, out for consultation. It has proposed a 5.68% average rates increase, down from a figure of 14.6% signalled late last year.

The average residential increase would be 5.79%. This would mean the average house (valued at $764,364) will have a rates increase of $3.52 per week or $183 a year, excluding any individual impact from the recent rating revaluation.

The council’s excess water charge, introduced in October following two lots of consultation, has been labelled as unfair by some residents, especially as almost a quarter (25,365) of Christchurch households share a meter and can not be charged.

Some councillors, including Sam MacDonald have never been in favour of the charge and on Tuesday, he asked the council to increase the daily allowance from 700 litres to 900 litres.

His bid was successful, but only just, with nine votes for and eight against.

The decision was made against staff advice and will be subject to public consultation as part of the draft budget, which comes out on March 10.

Under the existing rules, adopted last year, people are being charged a fixed rate of $1.35 for every 1000 litres they use over the 700-litre limit, which is the equivalent of 100 toilet flushes.

Bills have not been sent out for $25 or less, so people have to use more than 900 litres each day over 90 days to receive a bill under the current rule. Once a bill goes above $25, the householder is charged for all usage above 700 litres.

Any change would not be put in place until July, so would not affect the 3913 households who have just been sent a bill or others that will receive one before July.

The council said on Tuesday the average bill is $78 and the highest is $264.87.

Council chief financial officer Leah Scales said bills had already been sent out and any indication that the charge was changing next year would affect the council’s ability to recover that debt.

She said raising the limit to 900 litres would cost the council $641,000 this coming year and shift the burden of excess water use to all ratepayers, instead of those using the additional water.

The inequity around shared meters was not accurate, Scales said, because only 194 properties out of the 25,365 with shared water meters would have received a bill – less than 1% of the total.

Scales said the council planned to install individual meters in those properties first.

Councillors who voted to increase the limit were: Kelly Barber, Celeste Donovan, James Gough, Victoria Henstock, Yani Johanson, Aaron Keown, Sam MacDonald, Marks Peters and mayor Phil Mauger.

Those to vote against: deputy mayor Pauline Cotter, Melanie Coker, Tyrone Fields, Tyla Harrison-Hunt, Jake McLellan, Andrei Moore, Tim Scandrett and Sara Templeton.

Deputy mayor Pauline Cotter said revisiting the water charge was like “deja vu all over again” and 900 litres was almost double the average use of 540 litres.

“We’ve not even given this a chance to bed in. We have not given homeowners a chance to adopt practices to conserve.”

MacDonald said he would prefer to remove the charge altogether, but staff told him that was not possible during this draft budget process.

He said it was now up to the public to tell the council what they wanted.

A number of other last minute amendments were made to the draft budget including a move proposed by Henstock not to begin construction of the contentious Wheels to Wings cycleway for 12 months while staff and councillors work with affected communities on the detailed design.

Henstock failed in a similar bid last week after cycling advocates pushed for it to continue.

However, she received enough support from her fellow councillors on Tuesday (11 votes to six) after council transport head Lynette Ellis said the additional consultation could be done without causing delays because no major physical works were planned this year anyway.

Cotter, Coker, Donovan, McLellan, Moore and Templeton voted against this.

The council also decided, following a push by Donovan, to bring forward $300,000 to make improvements to New Brighton Mall, to support a $2.5 million community initiative in the area.

McLellan was successful in getting the council to consult on changes to the way rates are calculated via the uniform annual general charge. He wants the fixed charge reduced from $145 to $50, which he said would reduce the rates burden on lower income households.

Mauger said the proposed budget had been drafted against a tough backdrop of increases in interest rates, inflation and insurances. He said it went some way to take pressure off people’s cost of living while still providing the services the community wanted.

During last year’s election campaign, Mauger promised a 3% to 4% rates increase, but on Tuesday he said while it was looking possible last year, it was not any more due to inflation.

He said Christchurch’s proposed rates increase would be among the lowest in New Zealand, with a number of councils proposing increases in excess of 10%.

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