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The leader of the National Party has announced a plan to ban cellphones from all classrooms to minimize distractions for students. The Labour party has commented that this is commonplace already and is a decision best left for individual schools. Do you think a ban should be enforced?
Tell us about gardeners doing something worth celebrating in your community, and they could be in the running for the Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year! The winner will receive Vegepod product worth $1000. And the most colourful character receives $1000 worth of Resene paint.
Send up to five… View moreTell us about gardeners doing something worth celebrating in your community, and they could be in the running for the Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year! The winner will receive Vegepod product worth $1000. And the most colourful character receives $1000 worth of Resene paint.
Send up to five high-resolution photos and explain why you wish to nominate a person or group to be the Ryman Healthcare 2023 Gardener of the Year. Email your entry to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Or post your nomination to 2023 Gardener of the Year, NZ Gardener, PO Box 6341, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142.
A growing Central Otago town may be denied a 500 section development, after Waka Kotahi cited concerns over climate change and the lack of public transport.
But that position has angered outspoken Otago Regional Council councillor, Michael Laws, who lives in Cromwell.
‘’Waka Kotahi are … View moreA growing Central Otago town may be denied a 500 section development, after Waka Kotahi cited concerns over climate change and the lack of public transport.
But that position has angered outspoken Otago Regional Council councillor, Michael Laws, who lives in Cromwell.
‘’Waka Kotahi are sabotaging growth in Central Otago and the likes,’’ he said on Thursday, the same day as submissions to the Central Otago District Council closed.
‘’This is something that will benefit our entire region.’’
About 10km west of Cromwell, company Fulton Hogan plans to rezone about 118ha of a former quarry into a 90ha residential area, including a 5ha business park and 22ha industrial area.
But a major road block for that development is the position taken by Waka Kotahi, which partly funds public transport in Queenstown and Dunedin – but not in Central Otago – one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
Read the full story from reporters Joanne Naish and Hamish McNeilly here (subscription required).
Win one of three $5,000 grants to support your community's love of dance!
Whether it’s pre-schoolers or seniors, Scottish dancing or salsa, kapa haka or Kathak, breakdance or ballet – if you’re encouraging people of all ages and abilities to keep moving through dance, we want to hear … View moreWin one of three $5,000 grants to support your community's love of dance!
Whether it’s pre-schoolers or seniors, Scottish dancing or salsa, kapa haka or Kathak, breakdance or ballet – if you’re encouraging people of all ages and abilities to keep moving through dance, we want to hear from you!
Know someone who could use our support? Apply now!
To find out the answer, click the link below and take our ‘Truth about alcohol' quiz.
www.heartfoundation.org.nz...
Lottery closing soon! Buy your tickets today for a chance to win this fully furnished home in South Island’s stunning Wānaka!
Worth over $1.5 million this Jennian Homes build features four bedrooms, two bathrooms and boasts a stylish open-plan kitchen, living and dining area for year-round … View moreLottery closing soon! Buy your tickets today for a chance to win this fully furnished home in South Island’s stunning Wānaka!
Worth over $1.5 million this Jennian Homes build features four bedrooms, two bathrooms and boasts a stylish open-plan kitchen, living and dining area for year-round entertainment.
Make this property your permanent residence, a holiday home, rent it or even sell it – it could be all yours for only $15! Be in to win by purchasing your tickets today.
Spoil the TV connoisseur in your life with a subscription to NZ’s most popular entertainment magazine. The TV Guide contains TV listings, entertainment, gossip, competitions, puzzles, and more!
This Father’s Day, gift a 1-year subscription to The TV Guide and save $57 off RRP - 52 issues … View moreSpoil the TV connoisseur in your life with a subscription to NZ’s most popular entertainment magazine. The TV Guide contains TV listings, entertainment, gossip, competitions, puzzles, and more!
This Father’s Day, gift a 1-year subscription to The TV Guide and save $57 off RRP - 52 issues delivered weekly straight to their home. Offer available until 2 September 2023.
The team at The TV Guide.
Hi there,
We're on the lookout for the most beautiful spots in New Zealand, and would love to hear your favourites.
While it will be impossible to include all of them in one article, we'd appreciate your help in narrowing it down. What do you think are most beautiful places in … View moreHi there,
We're on the lookout for the most beautiful spots in New Zealand, and would love to hear your favourites.
While it will be impossible to include all of them in one article, we'd appreciate your help in narrowing it down. What do you think are most beautiful places in NZ's regions? Do you have a favourite spot in the Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury, Southland or elsewhere?
Feel free to comment below, send me a message or email me at lorna.thornber@stuff.co.nz. Please include 'NFP' in your comment if you do not want it or your name included in an article. Thanks in advance for taking the time to share.
With online being the main mode of communication these days, it's no wonder that there has been a worldwide mail decline and here in Aotearoa, NZ Post has needed to lay off 750 full-time staff. Do you think it's time to say goodbye to the trusty letterbox?
Heart attack is a leading cause of death in New Zealand.
Learn to recognise the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack, so you know what to do if you see or experience them. Don’t try to walk it off, wash it off or push through it. Make the right call, it may save your life.
The Blood Service says it needs 40,000 new donors in the next 12 months to ensure it can meet demand of those needing plasma and blood. Suggestions have been made to pay people for donating, however there are concerns about the dangers of that. Do you think we should pay people for these … View moreThe Blood Service says it needs 40,000 new donors in the next 12 months to ensure it can meet demand of those needing plasma and blood. Suggestions have been made to pay people for donating, however there are concerns about the dangers of that. Do you think we should pay people for these donations?
Meeting an ever increasing need in our communities, Christmas Box provides more than just food, it brings a reminder that people care. By alleviating some of the pressure families feel, especially in the time of inflation and cost-of-living, a Christmas Box sparks hope that goes beyond Christmas.
… View moreMeeting an ever increasing need in our communities, Christmas Box provides more than just food, it brings a reminder that people care. By alleviating some of the pressure families feel, especially in the time of inflation and cost-of-living, a Christmas Box sparks hope that goes beyond Christmas.
Don’t wait for December, it’s time to start thinking about how you can help today!
For just $40 a box, you can give the gift of hope and 100% of your donation will go to families who are doing it tough this year. Your generosity makes a difference.
Have you ever tried to look for a new power plan to end up stuck, super confused by all the specific lingo that’s used? Things like kWh, standard vs. low users, or free hours of power? Don’t get us started on controlled and anytime meters!
If you’re unsure of some of these terms, it … View moreHave you ever tried to look for a new power plan to end up stuck, super confused by all the specific lingo that’s used? Things like kWh, standard vs. low users, or free hours of power? Don’t get us started on controlled and anytime meters!
If you’re unsure of some of these terms, it really won’t help you feel confident in comparing different plans. We don’t want to see our Neighbours get tripped up and stuck with a big bill this chilly season!
So to help you, we’ve put together a list of all the power terminology that you need to know!
Read reporter Debbie Jamieson's full story
Two large-scale Queenstown accommodation developments have been accepted for fast-tracking as developers eye tourism opportunities.
One is a six-storey hotel with up to 185 rooms, on the Man St car park in central Queenstown.
The other is a … View moreRead reporter Debbie Jamieson's full story
Two large-scale Queenstown accommodation developments have been accepted for fast-tracking as developers eye tourism opportunities.
One is a six-storey hotel with up to 185 rooms, on the Man St car park in central Queenstown.
The other is a proposal to provide 400 to 600 residential units for temporary worker accommodation in Frankton.
Plans for both are yet to be lodged with the Environment Protection Authority and considered by an expert consenting panel.
The proposals show an ongoing enthusiasm by Queenstown developers to use the fast-track consenting process established during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The legislation blocked the public from the resource consent process in order to fast track projects that created jobs and stimulated the economy.
here (subscription required).
By reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Anna Hill remembers her last meal.
It was a salmon benedict at a Dunedin café, back in October 2021.
She hasn’t eaten a proper meal since, but can barely drink water.
‘’I can’t even move without regurgitating. Animals get put down for less.’’
… View moreBy reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Anna Hill remembers her last meal.
It was a salmon benedict at a Dunedin café, back in October 2021.
She hasn’t eaten a proper meal since, but can barely drink water.
‘’I can’t even move without regurgitating. Animals get put down for less.’’
When Hill was pregnant with her youngest, she started experienced chest pains whenever she ate or drank anything,
‘’It’s just horrendously painful when I was eating.’’
But it got worse, much worse.
Fifteen minutes after giving birth to her youngest, she deteriorated and could no longer swallow and was ‘nil by mouth’.
With food and drink struggling to go down, she would often vomit, requiring an ever-present bucket to be by her side.
‘’I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t work,’’ the former hospital nurse said.
‘’I want to go back to my old job, but I can’t even swallow my own saliva.’’
The 38-year-old mother-of-four has no energy to take her youngest child to the park, for a walk, or even hold her for any extended period.
Hill has to constantly pounding her chest to alleviate the pain.
’’I have no quality of life, this has ruined my life.’’
After the birth of her daughter 19-months ago, she found the pain persisted coupled with an inability to sleep.
After the birth of her daughter the pain persisted, but was compounded by her inability to sleep.
Constantly dehydrated and unable to breastfeed her baby daughter, she again sought a diagnosis from her doctor, who she had visited dozens of times over the issue.
Visits to specialists confirmed she had a rare disease, with the majority of muscles in her oesophagus, which connects the throat to the stomach, effectively dead.
While Hill no longer felt hungry, she often felt thirsty, but the pain of trying to drink made that a difficult task as ‘’my throat just shuts’’.
While her specialists were talking about the possibility of surgery, they had parked that plan in favour of a temporary feeding tube, which she would receive next week.
But Hill wanted an operation to restore her oesophagus, and started to look overseas for options.
’’I can’t afford to wait.’’
She found a surgeon in Delhi, India who could treat her by making a new oesophagus out of her stomach, followed by three weeks’ recuperation.
That would hopefully lead to Hill being able to eat and drink like normal, and she is unequivocal about what she would like.
‘’If I could have anything I would have a cup of coffee.’’
But unable to get a loan because she was unemployed, a friend of Hill’s created a Givealittle page, which had raised just under $4000 of the $25,000 goal.
’’I’ve lost everything. Literally I’ve lost everything. All my savings has been spent on medications and doctor’s visits.
‘’I’ve lost my career . . . I’ve lost everything.’’
Her three older children, who lost their father in a motor vehicle crash on Christmas Day in 2021, were worried they were about to lose their mother.
‘’It has been a real s... time.’’
‘’Imagine not getting up in the morning and not having a sip of coffee or tea, or anything, that is like me every day.’’
‘’I’ve spent two Christmases unable to eat or drink, and I am just over it.’’
Homebound, she had lost 38kgs and was now just over 50kg, with little energy left for basic tasks.
Unable to eat or drink she had lost some 38 kilograms, and was now down to just over 50kg.
‘’I just sit here and dribble into a towel, or a bucket,’’ Hill says as she pounds her chest.
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