628 days ago

A beautiful start to the school year

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

A beautiful summers day, for the first day of the 2023 school year.

Take care out there, everyone. And drivers, stay OFF your phones, even if you aren’t moving. If you are on the road it is illegal, dangerous and stupid to be on your phone.

If you must still use them, learn how to do it handsfree. My kid can. Why can’t you?

And you really don’t need to drive all the way to the school gates to drop them off and pick them up.

If they can manage manouvering around the school, like Olympian’s, during the day, they can manage manoeuvring to the car, a street or 2 away.

Don’t park in the bus stops. Every school week, every year, outside every school, people park in the bus stops. The sections of Guthrie Rd, either side of Nimon St, are BUS STOPS, between 2.45 and 3.30pm. DO NOT PARK IN THEM! No, you won’t be just a couple of minutes. Yes, it is a HUGE problem. Don’t do it. Outside any school.

If you don’t want to sit in traffic for an hour, waiting for your precious cargo, park further away. I leave to pick mine up at 3pm. When his school finishes. I’m home by 3.15pm. And there are 3 schools in the one block. 2 with entrances right next to each other, in a cul de sac with access to the third.

I park 2 streets away. And the same cars are still sitting there, when I leave, as when I arrived, and they are no closer to the school.

Stop BEING the traffic you are so worried about.

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

Poll: Would you commute by public transport if it was free?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Using your car is convenient, except for finding parking.

Cycling lets you leave anytime, but you might arrive soaked.

So, neighbours, if public transport had the perk of being free, would it be your main way to commute?

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Would you commute by public transport if it was free?
  • 67.8% Yes
    67.8% Complete
  • 28.8% No
    28.8% Complete
  • 3.3% Other - I'll share below
    3.3% Complete
2331 votes
4 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for gooseberry?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Love gooseberries? Share your favourite way to enjoy them. We're looking for our readers' favourite family recipes for this delicious crop. Send yours to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the magazine, you will receive a free copy of our December 2024 issue.

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11 days ago

Six tips for improving security around your home

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.

2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.

3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.

4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.

5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.

6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property

Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.

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