Maungaraki, Lower Hutt

Last chance for tickets!

Last chance for tickets!

For just $15, you could win a fully furnished home in Blenheim worth over $1 million. Buy your tickets today!

1565 days ago

Personalise your kitchenwares

The Team from Resene ColorShop Petone

Give living spaces a summery lift with these fun fruity homewares and Resene testpots.

Make the most of this weekend with these easy project ideas from Resene. Find out how to create them yourself

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1565 days ago

Do you need pruning and gardening tips?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

In this week’s issue of our ezine Get Growing, we’ve got pruning tips for shrubs, vines and climbers, and it’s time to protect new bulb shoots, trench trees and shrubs before moving them, give the lawn some winter TLC, use weeds to improve your soil and pickle and preserve your stored … View moreIn this week’s issue of our ezine Get Growing, we’ve got pruning tips for shrubs, vines and climbers, and it’s time to protect new bulb shoots, trench trees and shrubs before moving them, give the lawn some winter TLC, use weeds to improve your soil and pickle and preserve your stored harvests.

Make your own Modernist crate chair inspired by iconic Dutch furniture designer and architect Gerrit Reitveld in 1934. Plus go in the draw for Yates Sow Anytime Lawn Seed and ‘Café au Lait’ dahlias from Bulbs Direct.

Delivered every Friday to your email inbox, Get Growing digital magazine offers seasonal gardening advice from the NZ Gardener magazine's team of experts. Each week we answer all your burning questions on raising fruit and veges and tell you the top tasks to do in your backyard this weekend. Subscribe here:

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1565 days ago

DON’T FLUSH NAPPY WIPES ETC. Sewer main blocked and overflowing into stream

Joe from Korokoro

The sewer main by my house behind Korokoro school is blocked because of residents in Korokoro and possibly Maungaraki flushing things down the toilet they shouldn't.

Please can everyone pass on the request to all residents (anywhere really) to not flush anything, sanitary products, nappy … View more
The sewer main by my house behind Korokoro school is blocked because of residents in Korokoro and possibly Maungaraki flushing things down the toilet they shouldn't.

Please can everyone pass on the request to all residents (anywhere really) to not flush anything, sanitary products, nappy wipes, incorrectly named 'flushable' wipes, nothing should go in there except body waste and toilet paper. Roots grow into the pipes and these things snag, then build up and then overflow out of the manhole covers.

Raw sewage is pouring down the hill into the stream. The smell is overpowering and disgusting. It makes me really sad thinking of all that raw sewage going down the lovely wee stream into the valley. All the ecosystems polluted, the health risks, the smell. It’ll take months of rain to wash it all away. Please encourage all residents you know to not flush these things that block the sewers. Even if it says it is flushable it is not. 😩😥

There is excrement, tampons, nappy wipes strewn all over the ground and hillside and foul-smelling water is pouring down the bank. So gross!

This has happened quite a few times before, it was registered as happening 5 or 6 times before we bought the house on our LIM report, and it happened 3 or4 times right after we moved in 4ish years ago until they fixed one part of the sewer main pipe. So it is a frequent reoccurring problem.

Here is a dropbox link to a video of the overflow: www.dropbox.com...

1565 days ago

Have you got a homegrown hero in your neighbourhood?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Last year, Tracy Johnson was a nominated finalist in our Gardener of the Year competition for using her backyard to grow food for her community. Now, NZ Gardener and Ryman Healthcare are on the hunt for our 2020 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year! So if you know more amazing gardeners like … View moreLast year, Tracy Johnson was a nominated finalist in our Gardener of the Year competition for using her backyard to grow food for her community. Now, NZ Gardener and Ryman Healthcare are on the hunt for our 2020 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year! So if you know more amazing gardeners like Tracy, let us know. Here's how you can do that: www.stuff.co.nz...

1566 days ago

Help us support the growth of stronger families.

Hutt Valley Women's Refuge

This week the Hutt Valley Womens Refuge has launched a fundraising and awareness campaign calling for support for their work in growing stronger families.

To start we are running our annual appeal over these days : July 31- August 2. The money raised will go towards supporting women and families… View more
This week the Hutt Valley Womens Refuge has launched a fundraising and awareness campaign calling for support for their work in growing stronger families.

To start we are running our annual appeal over these days : July 31- August 2. The money raised will go towards supporting women and families affected by family violence in our communities. We have some of the highest statistics in the country and we are stepping up to address this.

So look out for the collectors at a supermarket near you!
Donate today

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1566 days ago

Hyperbole

NumberWorks'nWords Lower Hutt

Have you heard of a Hyperbole? Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. Here are some examples. They are a lot of fun. Please share any Hyperboles you may have heard.

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1566 days ago

DIY Protecting your home from fires

Robert Anderson from

1. Check your smoke alarms
Smoke alarms provide an early warning in case of a fire inside your home. Traditional alarms beep when they detect smoke or fire, while smart detectors also send an alert to your phone. There should be a smoke detector in every room in your house except bathrooms, for … View more
1. Check your smoke alarms
Smoke alarms provide an early warning in case of a fire inside your home. Traditional alarms beep when they detect smoke or fire, while smart detectors also send an alert to your phone. There should be a smoke detector in every room in your house except bathrooms, for maximum protection. You also need one in the hallway between the living area and bedrooms.
Crucially, you are highly advised to test your smoke alarms at least once a year to ensure they still work. You are four times more likely to die in a house fire without a functioning smoke alarm!

2. Get a fire extinguisher
Having a fire extinguisher handy can make the difference between a small kitchen mishap that was successfully contained, and the house literally burning down. There are different types of fire extinguisher, classified according to the kind of fire they’re designed to tackle. Make sure you are aware of what the differences are and how to use each one in an emergency situation. A typical home extinguisher should have an ABC rating:
• Class A – combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, household rubbish, most plastics
• Class B – flammable liquids, solvents, oil, petrol, paints and lacquers
• Class C – gases including methane, propane, hydrogen, acetylene and natural gas
• Class D – combustible metals including magnesium and aluminium swarf
• Class E – Electrical fires
• Class F – chip pan fires, as an alternative to a fire blanket

3. Create a fire stopping landscape
A fire originating from outside, such as a wildfire, is best thwarted by preventing it from reaching your house in the first place. You can use landscape gardening design to slow down or stop the spread of fire towards your home, by adhering to these tips:
• Use hard landscaping such as concrete, stone or gravel around the house
• Clear any dry vegetation from around the home, particularly in the summer
• Use fire resistant plants such as lavender and honeysuckle for soft landscaping, and spread them out, to slow down fire and stop it from spreading
• Keep outdoor plants well watered during the summer months. Lush green planting is less likely to burn.

4. Use fire retardant materials
Let’s start with building materials; some are more vulnerable to fire than others. Using fire retardant alternatives and fireproofing your interiors are good first lines of defence against a potentially serious tragedy. Make the changes when you are refurbishing or redecorating your home. The Building.govt.nz website has a comprehensive list of everything you can do to help prevention of fire occurring. Designing for fire can also be designing for sustainability which is without a doubt a win-win!

When it comes to materials, concrete panels, stucco or brick for exterior walls, steel framing for windows and concrete or metal for roofing are all good choices. Fire retardant paint is also a good idea. For decking, concrete, tiles, stone or brick are better than wood.

Inside your home, choose fire resistant curtains and upholstery fabrics. Additional flameproofing can also be administered to your existing home fabrics and upholstered furniture in situ. Curtain Clean can service your existing upholstery anywhere in the country. Call us on 0800 579 0501 for prices and to find out more see www.curtainclean.co.nz...

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1567 days ago

New Zealand versus overseas holidays

Lorna Thornber Reporter from Stuff Travel

Hi everyone, 
We'd be keen to hear from those of you who had to cancel an overseas trip due to Covid-19 and holidayed in New Zealand instead. How did you find your NZ trip? Was it better or worse than you expected? Did you enjoy it as much as you think you would have enjoyed your overseas … View more
Hi everyone, 
We'd be keen to hear from those of you who had to cancel an overseas trip due to Covid-19 and holidayed in New Zealand instead. How did you find your NZ trip? Was it better or worse than you expected? Did you enjoy it as much as you think you would have enjoyed your overseas holiday? And did it change your views about holidaying domestically?
Feel free to comment below or message me directly. Please remember your comments may be included in the article, unless you say you don't want them to be. Thank you.

1566 days ago

Neighbourly 101: How to Report a Post

Neighbourly.co.nz

See any posts that don't meet the Neighbourly Guidelines? Help Neighbourly stay neighbourly by reporting concerning content. Simply click the '...' button at the bottom of a post, click 'Report this message' and select your reason for reporting. This sends a silent alert to… View moreSee any posts that don't meet the Neighbourly Guidelines? Help Neighbourly stay neighbourly by reporting concerning content. Simply click the '...' button at the bottom of a post, click 'Report this message' and select your reason for reporting. This sends a silent alert to the Neighbourly Team so the post can be reviewed against the Neighbourly Guidelines. Thanks for helping keep Neighbourly community friendly and an enjoyable place to stay connected.

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1567 days ago

Cosy Care Suite living at Elderslea

Oceania Healthcare

Nestled on a peaceful street in the heart of Upper Hutt, you’ll discover Oceania’s Elderslea - a place where you can stay toasty all winter, with the added comfort of Rest Home & Hospital care.

There’s enough space in your Care Suite to curl up with a good book or entertain your … View more
Nestled on a peaceful street in the heart of Upper Hutt, you’ll discover Oceania’s Elderslea - a place where you can stay toasty all winter, with the added comfort of Rest Home & Hospital care.

There’s enough space in your Care Suite to curl up with a good book or entertain your friends and family with tea and biscuits, just as you always have.

Even in the midst of winter, your days will be filled with the things you love – from venturing out on a scenic van trip, to enjoying delicious home-cooked meals like roast chicken with all the trimmings.

Elderslea is located at 29 Redwood Street, Elderslea, Upper Hutt.
Find out more

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1567 days ago

Here's our AMI Kind Neighbours Kirsty and Jeremy, nominated by Kathy Chandler from Motueka.

Neighbourly.co.nz

Here's a wee bit of a throwback to life under lockdown. Check out how this couple in Motueka helped out their neighbours who were new to the area. Have you got an unsung hero in your neighbourhood? You can make your nominations here!

"We have a lovely young couple across the road from… View more
Here's a wee bit of a throwback to life under lockdown. Check out how this couple in Motueka helped out their neighbours who were new to the area. Have you got an unsung hero in your neighbourhood? You can make your nominations here!

"We have a lovely young couple across the road from us at number 13, Glenaven Drive, called Kirsty and Jeremy. We have recently moved to Motueka and they have been very helpful and friendly right from the start. During Lockdown they did shopping for us and let us have soil from their excavations for our garden improvements. Later on, they have given us lemons, gave spare concrete when they had some delivered for themselves and watered our plants when we were able to go away and visit our new grandchild. They are gems and have made us really happy that we've chosen Motueka as our home."

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1567 days ago

FACTORY YARN SALE

Megan from Tirohanga

6th - 8th August
Three days only
9am - 4pm daily

A4 FlyerAUG2020_new date.pdf Download View

1567 days ago

Do you need a retaining wall?

Joshua from

Do you have a slope in your garden that keeps slipping, but don’t want trees on your bank? Retaining walls help to prevent soil erosion, while also offering you a level ground to plant on. If this sounds like a bit of you, look no further than Price Smart Gardening and Landscaping!

For a … View more
Do you have a slope in your garden that keeps slipping, but don’t want trees on your bank? Retaining walls help to prevent soil erosion, while also offering you a level ground to plant on. If this sounds like a bit of you, look no further than Price Smart Gardening and Landscaping!

For a reasonable estimate, Give us a call at 027 548 9818 or visit www.pricesmart.co.nz...

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