Buy one, give one for Kiwi families in need
Hi Neighbourly members, we all love a bargain, but buying a gift that really gives back seems like a much better way to kick off the holiday season, don’t you think?
We’re not sure who decided that Black Friday was suddenly a ‘thing’ down in our part of the world, so, as us Kiwis tend to do, we thought we’d put our own spin on it instead. One that is much more focused on community over consumerism, and equally about giving as it is about getting.
Curious?
Kicking off today and running through 'til Monday 2 December, we are doing our annual buy-one-give-one campaign.
That means for every Christmas Gift Box or Christmas Cracker set purchased, we’ll also give one to City Missions and food banks across the country to support families in need. Our aim is to give back to an organisation within the community that each of our customers live in.
The best part? There’s no car park congestion, over-crowded shopping malls or #walmartfights involved. You can shop online from the comfort of your own home, with the knowledge that you’re also doing good for fellow Kiwis in their own community.
You could say that our version of Black Friday is in fact a whole lot more colourful, adding brightness to what might otherwise be a fairly bleak Christmas for many families in New Zealand.
Together, we can make Christmas a bright and tasty time for families in need - and that sounds like a pretty good deal, don’t you think?!
Whether you’re buying for an avid foodie, a wannabe masterchef, a time-poor parent, or a student who needs help to step their signature spag bol up a notch, our Christmas Gift sets are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, are all gluten-free, with no MSG, and all-natural!
You’ll find more information about Raptor Naturals, our Christmas Gift Boxes and our Christmas Crackers on our website - www.raptornaturals.co.nz
Thanks for your support
Rachael and the Raptor Naturals team
Amberley’s new coastal defence delayed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Efforts to protect a Canterbury beach community from the sea have been delayed a month, as resource conditions are met.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie last month said work to build a $750,000 coastal bund to protect the Amberley Beach village would be completed before Christmas.
But with the festive season fast approaching, the start date has been postponed until January.
Council staff, the Amberley Beach Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Community Association and contractor Ready Mix Concrete are working to meet consent conditions from Environment Canterbury.
Once work begins, it will take about a month to complete, Mr Dobbie said.
‘‘Given the amount of time the work will take, it was felt it was better to delay the project rather than start the work and then stop work for two weeks over Christmas.’’
A bund is a type of embankment which protects against the sea.
While the residents’ association looks forward to the work being completed, committee member John Manson rejected suggestions the rising sea level was the problem.
His biggest fear was the increased risk of severe storms leading to six to seven metre waves, due to climate change.
‘‘There is a sense of urgency because we have had a three to four year calm period.
‘‘The last series of major storms we experienced was during 2020-21.’’
The new bund will be larger than the existing embankment and will be built into the sand to make it more resilient in a storm, Manson said.
It is being built up to a culvert at a lagoon to the north of the village.
But the residents’ association would like it built a further 180m to the north to prevent stormy seas causing the lagoon to overflow, which has been allowed in the consent.
Councillor Vanessa McPherson said she is hopeful the council will look at extending the bund, once initial work is completed.
‘‘This is one of the most proactive communities I have been involved with and you can see it with what the residents are achieving.
‘‘It is such a beautiful place. I love this beach. It has got its own personality. It is wild and it is emotional.’’
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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