Maungaraki, Lower Hutt

Wondering about something in your neighbourhood?

Wondering about something in your neighbourhood?

Whether it's a new building going up or a strange noise you keep hearing, ask your neighbours here.

1410 days ago

SPF your house over summer

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean (The Curtain Store)

When those super hot summer days and nights eventually come around, all you will want is a safe haven to save you from the heat. These are a few steps you can take to stay cool when the weather heats up.

• Make sure your ceilings are insulated - insulation can help keep out the suns heat
•… View more
When those super hot summer days and nights eventually come around, all you will want is a safe haven to save you from the heat. These are a few steps you can take to stay cool when the weather heats up.

• Make sure your ceilings are insulated - insulation can help keep out the suns heat
• Set your ceiling fans to rotate anti-clockwise.
• Turn your fans around, face them towards an open window so they can blow the hot air out of the house. Fill a mixing bowl with ice (or something equally cold, like an ice pack), and position it at an angle in front of a large fan so the air whips off the ice in an extra-chilled, extra-misty state. Trust us: It’s magic.
• If you have a heat pump, try out the fan-only or dehumidifier options to cool your house. They use less power than air conditioning and are still effective.
• Keep the windows open overnight and then close them in the morning to try and hold in the cold air.
• Install safety catches on your windows so you can leave them open all day, even when you're out.
• Close blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out during the hottest hours of the day, especially on windows that get direct sun. Some blinds are designed to let you see out, but still block most of the direct UV rays. As simple as this tip may seem, closing your curtains and blinds essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances – this reduces a home's heat load.
• When cooking, keep windows open, put lids on saucepans and use an extractor fan to reduce steam and heat.
• Ventilate – keep doors or windows open at opposite ends of the house to create a through-draught, or cross ventilation.
• Closing off unused rooms will prevent cool air from permeating these areas during the hottest part of the day. You’ll want to capitalize on the cooler night hours, too, letting air flow naturally through your home.
• Start the barbie - It’s obvious, but we’re going to say it anyway: using your oven or stove in the summer will make your house hotter. If it already feels like 50 degrees in your home, the last thing you want to do is turn on an oven.
• Make a few long-term improvements - you can make a couple changes to your home that will keep it cooler for seasons to come. Insulated window films, for example, are a smart purchase as they work similarly to blinds. And additions like awnings and planting trees or vines near light-facing windows will shield your home from the sun’s rays, reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs and make your investment even more worthwhile.

Hopefully these were of some use to you, and if you have anything to add or any comments please do below!

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1410 days ago

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Hi Neighbourly folk, I really enjoyed this post from Simon Woolf with its beautiful image and lovely words. I hope you all enjoy Christmas.

"Merry Christmas Eve Everyone.
This image is of possibly the Southern most Pohutakawa in the North Island. It is the third year since I noticed it, … View more
Hi Neighbourly folk, I really enjoyed this post from Simon Woolf with its beautiful image and lovely words. I hope you all enjoy Christmas.

"Merry Christmas Eve Everyone.
This image is of possibly the Southern most Pohutakawa in the North Island. It is the third year since I noticed it, shortly after we lost our great friend Eva McGauley. It didn't flower last year!
It is located in one of the most exposed places, anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand! Wellington's South Coast can be one of the most rugged, extreme environments anywhere in the world, and especially when an Antarctic blast hits Cook Strait. Winds exceeding 200kph, eight to 10 metre swells, and a sub zero wind chill factor are regular occurrences in this area.
Evie's Tree, for that's what we have called it, symbolises resilience, hope, strength and beauty, everthing Evie was.
After the past year, where we all have come through some adversity, Evie's Tree, proves that with adversity there is opportunity. If this stunning little pohutakawa can flower in the conditions it faces, we too can overcome most of which is thrown at us, and flourish too."
- Simon Woolf

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1411 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

This one could be a bit tricky. Many Wellingtonians see this on a daily basis but it has changed greatly in appearance over the years.

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1410 days ago

Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄

Robin from Techz Info Ltd

Wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year🎉🎉🎉

1411 days ago

Holiday hours

Breanna Mudge from Hutt City Council

The holiday season is upon us!
Make sure you take a look at how the upcoming holidays will affect our services and facilities.

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1411 days ago

What happened to Marion Granville?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Michael Sneller has given his first interview about the disappearance of his former partner Marion Granville. He wants anybody who can help to come forward.

1411 days ago

What happened to Marion Granville?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Michael Sneller has given his first interview about the disappearance of his former partner Marion Granville. He wants anybody who can help to come forward.

1411 days ago

Rubbish and recycling

Breanna Mudge from Hutt City Council

Does your rubbish and recycling get picked up on a Friday?
This year Christmas and New Year fall on a Friday and our collectors are having the day off.
To make sure your rubbish and recycling still gets collected, we are doing a Christmas run on Saturday 26 December and a New Year run on Saturday 2… View more
Does your rubbish and recycling get picked up on a Friday?
This year Christmas and New Year fall on a Friday and our collectors are having the day off.
To make sure your rubbish and recycling still gets collected, we are doing a Christmas run on Saturday 26 December and a New Year run on Saturday 2 January 2021.
If you'd like to take advantage of this opportunity, please make sure your rubbish and recycling is on the kerb by 7.30am.

To help our contractors during the months leading up to Christmas and New Year, please only put a maximum of 1-2 bins kerbside per household.
Please also:
• Look for numbers on the bottom of plastics and only put out number 1 and 2
• Rinse and wipe clean plastics, tins and glass
• Bundle cardboard into a tidy pile and place next to your recycling bin
• Take large boxes, that cannot be broken down to a manageable size, to a Lower Hutt recycling station
• Take any glass that exceeds more than one bin to a Lower Hutt recycling station
• Sort your recycling and ensure it does not contain food contamination or used tissues
Thank you!
huttcity.govt.nz/recycling

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1411 days ago

Riverbank Market

Breanna Mudge from Hutt City Council

The Riverbank Market Lower Hutt is taking a Christmas holiday and will not be open this Saturday, 26 December 2020, or next, 2 January 2021.

Make sure you head back to the market when it reopens on 9 January 2021.

1414 days ago

SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Dimple

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Meet Dimple.

"Hi my name is Dimple and I have been in foster care while the canine team got to know me. I have come from a very difficult background, so I am looking for a very special home, without children, other dogs or small animals. I can be very wary of people and take time to bond with… View more
Meet Dimple.

"Hi my name is Dimple and I have been in foster care while the canine team got to know me. I have come from a very difficult background, so I am looking for a very special home, without children, other dogs or small animals. I can be very wary of people and take time to bond with them, but once bonded I can be very smoochy. I can be very reactive while on a walk so will need a home that has experience with reactive dogs and will teach me through positive reinforcement that not everything is scary.
My foster mum has done a lot of work in socialising me with other dogs but I still have a long way to go. I am not keen on visiting dog parks or similar environments. I can be very affectionate, fun and quite the character once I'm comfortable in my space. I am toilet trained, and I do come with a medical waiver that my new home would be made aware of. If you are keen for a dog who you can put in the extra work with training then contact the canine team to learn more about me and set up a meeting if you seem like a good match!"

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1416 days ago

Poll: Do you follow the America's Cup?

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Now that America's Cup racing has finally started.,are you following it?
Tell us what you think.

Please put NFP if you do not want your comment used by Stuff.

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Do you follow the America's Cup?
  • 39.6% Yes, I love it
    39.6% Complete
  • 49.9% No, it is boring
    49.9% Complete
  • 10.5% I don't have an opinion
    10.5% Complete
897 votes
1415 days ago

Pet of the Day: Paschal Moses

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

We have a bonus Pet of the Day this week - Paschal Moses.
He belonged to Margaret Stevenson-Wright and his picture arrived with the following message.

"Given that my boy cat of 16.5 years will not see another Christmas – we decided to feature him on our Christmas greetings this year."

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1411 days ago
1412 days ago

Happy Holidays! 🎅💚

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

Our National Office will be closed from today (Tuesday, 22 December) onward into the new year with the first of staff set to return on Monday, 11 January. No emails or calls will be returned during the closure and our social media will not be monitored.

From all of us at Neighbourhood Support New … View more
Our National Office will be closed from today (Tuesday, 22 December) onward into the new year with the first of staff set to return on Monday, 11 January. No emails or calls will be returned during the closure and our social media will not be monitored.

From all of us at Neighbourhood Support New Zealand - thank you for your mahi and support over the past year! Wishing you a safe and joy-filled holiday season ahead.

1412 days ago

🏊Good news!🏊

Grace from Hutt City Council

We've appointed AECOM to coordinate and manage the construction of the new Naenae Pool!

The next steps are geotechnical testing and site preparation, and early next year the project team will be working with the community on pool design. We'll also be looking at new sustainable … View more
We've appointed AECOM to coordinate and manage the construction of the new Naenae Pool!

The next steps are geotechnical testing and site preparation, and early next year the project team will be working with the community on pool design. We'll also be looking at new sustainable technologies which will limit the impact of the pool on the environment.

All workers on the project will be paid at least the Living Wage and we'll be looking for opportunities for local companies and service providers.

More information available below.

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