1842 days ago

NZ's friendliest regions and towns

Lorna Thornber Reporter from Stuff Travel

Hi there,
Canterbury has been named the fifth most welcoming region in the world in the Booking.com Traveller Review Awards, while Oamaru, Hokitika and Invercargill have been named the most welcoming towns in NZ. They were followed by Cambridge, Picton, Lake Tekapo, Kerikeri, Palmerston North, Paihia and Twizel.
We'd be really keen to hear your thoughts on this based on your own travels around New Zealand. Do you think Canterbury is NZ's most welcoming region? And are these our most welcoming towns?
Where in NZ have you been made to feel particularly welcome on your travels?
As usual, please put 'NFP' in your comment if you don't want it to be included in an article. Cheers.

More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

Poll: What do you think should happen with Chateau Tongariro?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

The Government has refused to commit to saving the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, leaving demolition, decommissioning or private restoration all on the table despite strong community pressure to preserve the iconic building.

In a formal response to a petition led by Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton, ministers acknowledged the Chateau’s cultural and economic significance but said no changes to current policy or legislation were warranted Chateau Petition response.

What do you think should happen with Chateau Tongariro? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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What do you think should happen with Chateau Tongariro?
  • 5.3% Demolish it
    5.3% Complete
  • 0% Decommission it
    0% Complete
  • 94.7% A private operator should restore it
    94.7% Complete
  • 0% Other - explain in the comments
    0% Complete
19 votes
4 days ago

Tamahere home in dentist case was once centre of accountant’s fraud

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

It’s been a feature in a recent Hamilton District Court trial , but a Tamahere mansion already has an complicated history.

The property in Woodcock Rd - notable for having a hydroslide in the back yard - the scene of now-disproved alleged sexual offending by Hamilton dentist Rahul Gautam - made headlines more than 15 years ago, when it was a focus in the case of accountant Gary Soffe.

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1 day ago

Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙

One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.

So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?

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Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
  • 60.8% Yes, supporting people is important!
    60.8% Complete
  • 23.8% No, individuals should take responsibility
    23.8% Complete
  • 15.4% ... It is complicated
    15.4% Complete
324 votes