Introducing our AMI Community Grant Finalists
This is day number eight of showcasing two of our AMI Community Grant finalists to share a bit more about the great work that they're doing in Kiwi communities. You can help support these organisations by voting for them to win their share of $20,000.
Foster Hope Charitable Trust
Foster Hope purchases items to go inside backpacks that are given to children when they go into foster care as sadly, it’s not unusual for a child to arrive in care with only the clothes that they’re standing in. Our backpacks include a book, soft toy, toiletries, a carry all bag and other bits and pieces to let the child know that their community cares about them. We would love to include packs of new underwear in the packs if we had additional funds. VOTE NOW!
Taradale Alleyway Improvement / Beautification project
Taradale has two alleyways that are unlit and therefore unsafe to use in the evenings and due to their rundown appearance and lack of adequate directional signage, they are not working as well as they could to link the community to the center of Taradale. The project includes: installing safety lighting for evenings, painting a mural on the 36 metre long large wall to celebrate the 130th year since Taradale was made a Town District; erecting mural panels; installing better signage. VOTE NOW!
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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40.8% I avoid spending money on coffee
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49% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.2% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Some Choice News!
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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