2986 days ago

Thank you :)

Julie Kaio Reporter from Franklin County News

Thank you. We don’t say those two words nearly enough. So at this busy time of year I want to make sure you hear them from us. It’s a great privilege to run a local newspaper. We’re there for all the joys and the frustrations of this area. We get to see our communities at their best and, occasionally, when they’re struggling. But what is a highlight for us is getting to know you. So a big thank you to all our readers who support us. Thank you to all of you who contribute to this paper. We appreciate all the people who have told us their stories. And thank you to all our friends in businesses who support us with their advertising. 2017 has been a momentous year. But what has been on display too often in the news has been what divides us rather than what brings us together. So as we head off for Christmas, I hope we remember all the things that bind us together. Like friends and families and the great places we choose to live. Let’s be thankful for all the good things we have right here. Merry Christmas, happy holidays. And thank you.
Julie Kaio, News Director

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More messages from your neighbours
18 hours ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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20 days ago

Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.

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1 day ago

Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!

William Hansby Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.

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