Celebrating heritage
Funds raised by Lotto New Zealand players fuels growth of Hakaru community hall
From joyous celebrations like weddings and birthdays, to solemn gatherings for farewells; Hakaru Community Hall stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its community.
The hall has been the heart of Hakaru for nearly a century and recently underwent a refresh to meet the changing needs of the community with funding support from Te Puna Tahua Lottery Grants Board.
“The grant has been huge in helping us make improvements, including the installation of a new entrance and upgrading of some of our older amenities,” says Secretary Dennis Reeve.
Over the years, the Hall has witnessed generations come together in times of happiness and sorrow and symbolises more than just a space, it’s a bond that unites the Hakaru community.
The grant also recently helped the hall committee to expand its offerings from hosting dance, yoga, and pilates classes to providing a space for local musicians to practice.
With every step forward, Hakaru Hall is committed to fostering connection, culture, and community spirit for another century to come with the help of local grants.
This is just one of the incredible causes keeping our heritage alive, with 100% of Lotto New Zealand’s profits going back to support thousands of great causes all over Aotearoa. So, every time you play any Lotto New Zealand game, it’s a win for our communities.
Read more Local Grants recipient stories
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Suellen’s sweet Christmas tradition
The festive season is always a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, and this time of year poses the perfect opportunity to bring a real showstopper to the Christmas table.
For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche, an impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with spun sugar that is popular at weddings in France and Italy.
What began as a birthday treat at a local French café has become a cherished Christmas tradition for Suellen and her 17-year-old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Sadie. Every year, the trio gather in Suellen’s apartment at William Sanders Village to cook this festive dessert - a holiday highlight they all treasure.
Click read more for the recipe.
Would you like a free copy of our February 2025 issue?
Kia ora neighbours. We give away free copies to readers whose recipes are used in our magazine. We're still on the hunt for tomato recipes, so send your family's favourite way to use up your homegrown harvest, to: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. If we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of the mag
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