1129 days ago

Matakana student scores in top 1% of International Baccalaureate

Sapeer Mayron Reporter from Rodney Times

“I didn’t really have a life.”

That’s how 18-year-old Asher Goddard described his 2022, as he studied hard enough to attain his goal: earn 45 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and get into the university of his dreams.


And he did it – Goddard got the 45 points, a perfect score, putting him in a very small club indeed: the top 1% of IB students all over the world.

He was one of 18,174 students who did the diploma, and the average score was 30.91 points.

Goddard, who has graduated from Kristin School in Albany, is taking his perfect score all the way to the University of Melbourne to study physics.


Goddard and his family came to Auckland five years ago from Crested Butte, Colorado, in time for him to begin school at Kristin.

Read more about this stellar student from your neighbourhood:

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More messages from your neighbours
20 days ago

Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.

Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.

We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?

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As a customer, what do you think about automation?
  • 9.4% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
    9.4% Complete
  • 43.4% I want to be able to choose.
    43.4% Complete
  • 47.2% Against. I want to deal with people.
    47.2% Complete
2391 votes
19 days ago

Time to Tickle Your Thinker 🧠

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

If a zookeeper had 100 pairs of animals in her zoo, and two pairs of babies are born for each one of the original animals, then (sadly) 23 animals don’t survive, how many animals do you have left in total?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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4 days ago

Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

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.

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