Aotea, Porirua

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1385 days ago

Monster wasp nest

The Team from Wasp Wipeout

Well, after a (relatively) quiet couple of summers, the vespula wasps have come back big time in some locations! Auckland and the Waikato are reporting big numbers and you may have seen this story about the monster nest found just outside of Nelson. We're continuing our efforts to control the … View moreWell, after a (relatively) quiet couple of summers, the vespula wasps have come back big time in some locations! Auckland and the Waikato are reporting big numbers and you may have seen this story about the monster nest found just outside of Nelson. We're continuing our efforts to control the wasps through the Wasp Wipeout project, but did you know you can help as well? For information on how to help or DIY click here: bit.ly... You can also donate to the project here: givealittle.co.nz...

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1374 days ago

Meet Jason Tarawhiti

Reporter Community News

You might remember that a few months ago Neighbourly featured a picture of Muhammad Ali holding a young baby in Upper Hutt.
That baby was Jason Tarawhiti, who lives in Hamilton and who cherishes that picture.

1379 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Reporter Community News

The location is obvious but who knows the background to this photo?

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1381 days ago

Level 2 & Regional Parks

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

At Alert Level 2, facilities in our regional parks remain open for safe access to exercise and recreation, but we need to play it safe.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 you should keep group activities to 10 people or less, wash your hands regularly, and stay home if you are unwell.

For more … View more
At Alert Level 2, facilities in our regional parks remain open for safe access to exercise and recreation, but we need to play it safe.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 you should keep group activities to 10 people or less, wash your hands regularly, and stay home if you are unwell.

For more information check out gw.govt.nz/parks.

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1376 days ago

Introducing.. Busy Lizzy Gardens

Neighbourly.co.nz

Meet Liz from Busy Lizzy Gardens. Liz runs one of our fantastic Premium Businesses who have used Neighbourly Premium as a platform to build a strong local presence within their community.

Find out how you can Grow your Business with Neighbourly Premium
Find out more

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1377 days ago

Numbered Tokens or Balls for Raffle Draws

Brendon & Adele from Camborne

Hi has anyone got available to sell a set of numbered (1 to say 150) balls or discs for a club to pick numbers in prize draws)? Charitable club needs better than amateur items we are using a few times a year. Many thanks Brendon 027 4400436

1377 days ago

Only one month to go until Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2021 kicks off!

The Team from Neighbourhood Support New Zealand

This year's event runs from March 20 - 30th with the theme being 'The Great Plant Swap' as an easy way for neighbourhoods to grow stronger together.

Here's some ideas for ways you could get involved:

• swap seeds with a neighbour
• gift a plant you've grown to… View more
This year's event runs from March 20 - 30th with the theme being 'The Great Plant Swap' as an easy way for neighbourhoods to grow stronger together.

Here's some ideas for ways you could get involved:

• swap seeds with a neighbour
• gift a plant you've grown to a neighbour
• take some flowers to a neighbour
• organise a produce swap
• share garden tips or recipes for food in season
• create community gardens or berm pollinator pathways
• host an inclusive garden-themed working bee
• a friendly neighbourhood BBQ with homegrown ingredients

The options are endless! At the end of the day, our shared aim is to help bring people together by encouraging intentional connection with our neighbours. Whether that be organising a street party, sharing a cuppa, or simply saying ‘Kia Ora!” to those who live around you, every action helps to create a safer and more connected New Zealand.

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1377 days ago

Make a space themed headboard

The Team from Resene ColorShop Petone

Make a boring old headboard an exciting glow in the dark feature for a space themed kid’s room with Resene FX Nightlight glow in the dark paint.

Make the most of this weekend with this easy step by step project idea from Resene. Find out how you can create your own

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1378 days ago

Chess players get together

Ro Neighbourly Lead from Titahi Bay

A Chess enthusiast is keen to start a weekly 'meetup' of Chess players of differing ability.

IF there are enthusiastic and keen Chess players please contact me. By email is preferable. My email is > rohitha.fernando@gmail.com. Initially we are planning to meet weekly at The Porirua … View more
A Chess enthusiast is keen to start a weekly 'meetup' of Chess players of differing ability.

IF there are enthusiastic and keen Chess players please contact me. By email is preferable. My email is > rohitha.fernando@gmail.com. Initially we are planning to meet weekly at The Porirua Club of a Thursday starting next Thursday. Start time 7pm but we will need to register would be Enthusiasts at The Club so we would like people to meet at The Front Desk by 6.45pm.

1382 days ago

Auckland to move to Alert Level 2, rest of New Zealand to move to Alert Level 1

Neighbourly.co.nz

UPDATE
17 February
4.53pm

The rest of New Zealand will return at Alert Level 1 at 11.59pm tonight. Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield are currently providing an update to media at a post-cabinet press conference.

Here's what you need to know:
- New Zealand will return to Alert … View more
UPDATE
17 February
4.53pm

The rest of New Zealand will return at Alert Level 1 at 11.59pm tonight. Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield are currently providing an update to media at a post-cabinet press conference.

Here's what you need to know:
- New Zealand will return to Alert Level 1 with Auckland moving to Alert Level 2.
- These restrictions will be reviewed February 22.
- There has been an additional 1 case confirmed, with the positive case a member of the same household bubble.
- New locations of interest have been loaded on the Ministry of Health website.
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UPDATE
16 February
1.09pm

There are no new community cases Ashley Bloomfield confirmed in a 1pm update today. There are no new cases in MIQ facilities.
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UPDATE
15 February
4.20pm

Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield are currently providing an update to media at a post-cabinet press conference.

Here's what you need to know:
- The Prime Minister says there's a variety of scenarios on how the virus got into the community. To date, health officials are still attempting to establish the source of the outbreak.
- 42 people have been identified as close contacts.
- The first batch of Pfizer vaccines - 60,000 doses - arrived this morning on a Singapore Airlines flight.
- Vaccines will be offered to border and MIQ workers from this Saturday.
- This will be the largest vaccine programme in New Zealand's history, Jacinda Ardern says.
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UPDATE
February 15
1.36pm

The Ministry of Health has confirmed five new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation. There are no new community cases.
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UPDATE
February 15
8.18am

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the first two February cases are the highly infectious UK strain. There is no link to any MIQ infections.
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All regions outside Auckland have moved to Alert Level 2.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addressed the nation at 7.00pm Sunday, announcing all regions excluding Auckland, will move to Alert Level 2 from 11.59pm tonight.

Here's what you need to know:
- Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited.
- Mask use is encouraged when it is difficult to maintain physical distancing.
- From 11.59pm tonight, travel to Auckland will no longer be possible with the heightened alert level - unless you are returning home.
- The full list of rules under Alert Level 2 can be found here.
- Here's the full list of locations of interest where the cases visited.

Neighbourly will update this message as further information comes to hand.

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1379 days ago

Nigel Clarke, senior advisor to the Porirua City Council

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

This week’s speaker was Nigel Clarke, senior advisor to the Porirua City Council on harbour and catchment.

Porirua is defined by its spectacular two-armed harbour, but keeping it healthy has become a serious challenge. It is surrounded by roading and housing, and there are fifteen catchments … View more
This week’s speaker was Nigel Clarke, senior advisor to the Porirua City Council on harbour and catchment.

Porirua is defined by its spectacular two-armed harbour, but keeping it healthy has become a serious challenge. It is surrounded by roading and housing, and there are fifteen catchments feeding into it, some of them rising in neighbouring jurisdictions.

Long ago, and before the 1855 earthquake, ships could sail into the Pauatahanui arm to discharge at Ration Point. The harbour is shallow now, averaging one metre in depth, and vulnerable to silting.

The health of the harbour has been in decline for some time, with a 50% loss of birds and 80% of seagrass from the 1978 benchmark. Pollutants such as heavy metals, chemicals and plastics flow into the waterways when wastewater overflows occur.

Reversing these problems will take a long time- perhaps 40 years.

Nigel talked us through the bureaucratic maze which he has to navigate: reports, committees, monitoring and collaboration with numerous other agencies, leading to strategies and action plans.

In the end, the tools available to the Council are limited. Engineering works are in hand to contain wastewater, trees can be planted and by-laws tightened up. Major developments like Transmission Gully, and the work of building contractors can be monitored. But the underlying issue is that much pollution is caused by the actions of thousands of householders around the city, and their lifestyles are not easily changed.

Nigel stressed the importance of education and awareness, and community action such as the protection of Taupo Swamp, in which the club is involved already.

Editor's note: Nigel has been kind enough to share his presentation for those who would like to go through it again more slowly.

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1379 days ago

Register for Open Day

Whitby Collegiate

Come along and see Whitby Collegiate at our next Open Day on Sunday 14 March from 11am to 1pm.

Whitby Collegiate is the first progressive, independent, co-educational school in the Wellington region for Years 7 to 13. 

• Excellent teacher to student ratios.
• Strong academic results.
View more
Come along and see Whitby Collegiate at our next Open Day on Sunday 14 March from 11am to 1pm.

Whitby Collegiate is the first progressive, independent, co-educational school in the Wellington region for Years 7 to 13. 

• Excellent teacher to student ratios.
• Strong academic results.
• A supportive learning environment.
• Buses running to and from the Kāpiti Coast, Porirua, Johnsonville and the
Hutt Valley.

Register for the Sunday 14 March Open Day here.
Find out more

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1379 days ago

Free AgriSkills Training with UCOL @Taratahi

UCOL

UCOL at Taratahi have short residential courses starting now, providing candidates with a jump start to a career on the land.

These are fully-funded courses delivered in partnership with MPI and provide skills and training to meet needs across the primary industries.

Starting from March there… View more
UCOL at Taratahi have short residential courses starting now, providing candidates with a jump start to a career on the land.

These are fully-funded courses delivered in partnership with MPI and provide skills and training to meet needs across the primary industries.

Starting from March there are courses in Apiculture, Dairy, Shearing, Fencing, general Ag-contracting and specialist vehicle training.

All courses are residential at Taratahi, both the cost of board and training is covered*.

Following training at Taratahi, UCOL has fee-free agriculture certificates and diplomas or job opportunities that await.

Get in touch with UCOL today (0800 GO UCOL), secure your place and get the skills to start your career on the land.

*Candidates must be over 18 for residential stay, self-catering at weekends.
Find out more

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1381 days ago

Sprinkler ban for Wellington region

Reporter Community News

Due to low water supply in Wellington region and not enough rain, there is now a BAN on residential sprinklers and irrigation systems in Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and Wellington City council areas.

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1408 days ago

Porirua's Aotea Lagoon: Home to the pond where ducks dare not dive

Reporter Community News

It's one of Porirua's most popular parks, yet the smell and unsightly appearance of Aotea Lagoon and duck pond is proving greatly unpopular with locals, with the city council vowing to fix the ongoing problems.
Warm, sunny weather has made the lagoon’s splash pad and playground an … View more
It's one of Porirua's most popular parks, yet the smell and unsightly appearance of Aotea Lagoon and duck pond is proving greatly unpopular with locals, with the city council vowing to fix the ongoing problems.
Warm, sunny weather has made the lagoon’s splash pad and playground an attractive proposition for children but, just metres away, the few birds that brave the murky duck pond carve a path through algae-infested waters.

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