First day of our Coromandel Trip
Beautiful weather for our Coromandel Tour. We enjoyed a great morning tea at Luv Coffee, Whangamata, and a bonus was being in town during Beach Hop. So many cool Classic cars! We really appreciated our liqueurs & beer, washed down with a tasty pizza at The Hot Water Brewing Company. This place always gives great service & puts you in a good mood! Love their sign "Don't worry, Be Hoppy!" A great presentation at Cathedral Cove Macadamias, as usual. Many took advantage of the opportunity to buy their excellent products, and yes, we indulged our addiction & bought Macadamia Brittle again! Our Antipasto platters & flight of wines were a treat for lunch at Mercury Bay Winery & we enjoyed the presenter talking about his own &.. Italian wines. Our night time meal was at the beautiful Lost Spring. The meal had a mixed reception from clients: the market fish was tuna, which was unexpected! Some clients enjoyed a swim before returning to our accomodation. All of our group found the musician & his harmonica jarring; this place warrants something far more classy for BACKGROUND music, perhaps a grand piano with a good pianist playing current tunes or a Buble-like crooner.
A great way to spend a Friday!
(By the way, we still have seats for our Christmas lunch at Princes Gate this Sunday)
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.3% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.5% ... It is complicated
Poll: Could having a bigger university presence bring new opportunities and energy to the Bay of Plenty?
As reported in The Post, the University of Waikato is planting roots in Tauranga as it works on “ambitious plans” to grow its Durham St campus. The goal? To see Tauranga recognised as a true “university city.”
We want to know: Could having a bigger university presence bring new opportunities and energy to the region? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
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70% Yes!
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20% Nah
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10% Mmm, let's wait and see
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
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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