Colonial Knob, Porirua

1156 days ago

Endangered native tree revived

Porirua City Council

A tree in danger of dying out in New Zealand has been revived thanks to the keen eye of a Porirua City Council nursery employee.

The waiwaka tree, or swamp maire (Syzygium maire), was believed to have completely died off in Porirua until Andrew Jinks discovered a small group of them on his walk… View more
A tree in danger of dying out in New Zealand has been revived thanks to the keen eye of a Porirua City Council nursery employee.

The waiwaka tree, or swamp maire (Syzygium maire), was believed to have completely died off in Porirua until Andrew Jinks discovered a small group of them on his walk home through Rānui last year.

The native wetland tree grows throughout coastal and lowland swamps of the North Island and are important species to regenerate native wetland forests and to protect coastal areas from erosion, but are currently considered critically threatened.

Andrew was heading up Bromley View when a small gully of trees caught his eye. He noticed other natives such as totara and rimu in the gully and decided to take a closer look, spotting the waiwaka.

“It was actually the first time I had seen the tree in person but I knew it had distinctive pale and flaky bark, so I took a couple snaps and sent it to a local ecologist friend of mine to help classify it.” The last reported siting of the waiwaka growing in Porirua was over 100 years ago but Andrew and Porirua City Council will reintroduce the tree to our city’s harbour, parks, and surrounding forests.

Hundreds of seedlings have been grown at the city nursery, from the fruit of the small group of trees found by Andrew. These seedlings will begin to be replanted in the coming months in places like the Elsdon wetland and Hokorito Stream in Titahi Bay.

Andrew recalls when he first came to New Zealand in 1986 from Wales and the sight of pine trees and gorse covering the hills of Wellington. “We used to play the game ‘count the possums’ when we were driving on the highway,” he says, “and now I see native birds and plants, like the kohekohe, reclaiming their native habitat all around Porirua.” Situated at 106 Sievers Grove in eastern Porirua, the nursery offers a variety of plants at wholesale prices. Normally open to the public 12.30–3.30pm on weekdays, it is closed until 17 September.

Follow: Facebook / Twitter
Visit: poriruacity.govt.nz.
Call: (04) 237 5089
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1157 days ago

Happy Māori Language Week

The Team from Graeme Dingle Foundation Wellington

Ngā mihi o te wiki o te reo Māori e hoa mā | Happy Māori Language Week

Māori Language Week has officially started across Aotearoa. Throughout the week, we will be posting common words which you can start to use in everyday conversations such as kia pai te rā which means have a great day ⭐

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1158 days ago

Gardening time

Ian Hamilton from Natures choice gardening services - Aotea

Spring is here and we are ready to help you get the yard back into shape!
Call us today - we are still catching up a we bit due to lock down but message us for a few quote 0272430951

1171 days ago

Print company soaring with success

Competenz

Family-owned Auckland print company Soar is flying high, with two of its team winning accolades at the prestigious Pride in Print 2021 awards.

Print apprentice Travis Jordan was named the Print Industry Apprentice of the Year, while Alex Huynh won the Workplace Trainer of the Year. For Travis, … View more
Family-owned Auckland print company Soar is flying high, with two of its team winning accolades at the prestigious Pride in Print 2021 awards.

Print apprentice Travis Jordan was named the Print Industry Apprentice of the Year, while Alex Huynh won the Workplace Trainer of the Year. For Travis, the award is an acknowledgement of the time and effort he has put into his craft.

“It’s really special and a reminder that you get out what you put in,” he says. “The award is something I’ll happily carry with me throughout my career.”

It's awesome to see not only one of our apprentices getting recognition, but also the skilled team member who trained him winning an award.

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1160 days ago

Get your financial life in order with MoneyIQ

Angela Quigan Reporter from Stuff

Hey neighbours, is it time to get your finances in order? If lockdown has focused your mind on the state of your bank account, we’re here to help.

Stuff has launched MoneyIQ, an eight-week email course that will give you all the basics you need to get your money sorted and start working towards … View more
Hey neighbours, is it time to get your finances in order? If lockdown has focused your mind on the state of your bank account, we’re here to help.

Stuff has launched MoneyIQ, an eight-week email course that will give you all the basics you need to get your money sorted and start working towards a brighter, richer future. You can sign up for free here.

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1160 days ago

Career Navigator

The Team from Graeme Dingle Foundation Wellington

Graeme Dingle Foundation Southland asked Andrew Mullins from NZAS, one of their Career Navigator Mentor's, some questions about their Career Journey.

So we wanted to ask you, what's the best advice you have been given? Let us know below in the comments, we'd love to hear from you!

View more
Graeme Dingle Foundation Southland asked Andrew Mullins from NZAS, one of their Career Navigator Mentor's, some questions about their Career Journey.

So we wanted to ask you, what's the best advice you have been given? Let us know below in the comments, we'd love to hear from you!

To find out more about our Career Navigator Programme click the link below!

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1162 days ago

Way Back Wednesday

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

This should not be too hard. Who is this?

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1160 days ago

Open for business

Rod from Hive World Honey

We are open again for honey sales.
Bring your refillable jar and make sure you wear your mask and scan our tracer code. on the door

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1160 days ago

Friday Feathered Friend

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Today we have photographs and words from Simon Woolf.

"The bird feeders are now bringing in a few more different varieties of small birds. Today a flock of greenfinches visited, and a sole yellowhammer! The yellowhammer (pictured right) was a real treat, as you know they are around as they … View more
Today we have photographs and words from Simon Woolf.

"The bird feeders are now bringing in a few more different varieties of small birds. Today a flock of greenfinches visited, and a sole yellowhammer! The yellowhammer (pictured right) was a real treat, as you know they are around as they are very tuneful, however they are difficult to see at times. Our kaka also visited at least twice today!"

1164 days ago

Father and son graduate together

Competenz

Another great story!
Southland father and son, Robert and Bobby Baird have recently received their forestry qualifications, proving you are never too old to learn.

While Robert has practical experience gained during four decades in the bush, he says vocational training like the qualification he… View more
Another great story!
Southland father and son, Robert and Bobby Baird have recently received their forestry qualifications, proving you are never too old to learn.

While Robert has practical experience gained during four decades in the bush, he says vocational training like the qualification he has just done is helping keep people safe.

Competenz assessor Neville Muir worked with Bairds throughout their training programme.

“Bobby is very driven to succeed and very organised. He’s also very keen to continue upskilling his crew and there are a lot of different certificates still to do,” he says.

While Bobby is his boss at work, Robert turns back into ‘dad’ at the end of the day. “I give him a hand during the day when he’s got a lot of work on. We have a great relationship and it’s a magic thing to be able to do to work with your son.”

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1161 days ago

Council services and facilities at Alert Level 2

Lessi Riccio from Wellington City Council

Under Alert Level 2, most of Council’s services and facilities have returned to normal operations, but contact tracing, mask wearing and some restrictions will be in place to keep staff and the community safe.

To keep everyone safe when visiting any of our facilities or venues under Alert level … View more
Under Alert Level 2, most of Council’s services and facilities have returned to normal operations, but contact tracing, mask wearing and some restrictions will be in place to keep staff and the community safe.

To keep everyone safe when visiting any of our facilities or venues under Alert level 2:

😷 Wear a mask if you are 12 years and over – unless you hold an exemption from the Ministry of Health COVID-19 website. You can remove masks to eat and drink, and when exercising or swimming.

🤳 Scanning or signing in is a condition of entry for all Council facilities and venues. This applies to visitors, contractors and couriers entering our spaces.

↔️ Most sites will need to limit the number of visitors to provide 2-metres social distancing for them – please follow the signs and guidance of our staff.

💛 Please follow the guidance of our staff and signage to keep everyone safe when sharing our spaces.

As the Health Order we are following has not been released by central government, this guidance may be subject to change.

For more information on our services and facilities during Alert Level 2, visit our news channel, Our Wellington: wellington.govt.nz...

#OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

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1161 days ago

'Poo in a loo and don't leave your rubbish', DOC rangers tell Kiwis

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

A DOC report says Kiwis have been exploring the outdoors in record numbers but their behaviour has not always been up to scratch.
Rangers say kiwis enjoying the great outdoors are failing to use toilets, littering, letting their dogs run rampant and damaging conservation areas in off-road vehicles.… View more
A DOC report says Kiwis have been exploring the outdoors in record numbers but their behaviour has not always been up to scratch.
Rangers say kiwis enjoying the great outdoors are failing to use toilets, littering, letting their dogs run rampant and damaging conservation areas in off-road vehicles.
Have you been out and about more since our borders have been closed and what is your experience?

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1162 days ago

KIWI, KIWI, KIWI... CAN, CAN, CAN! 💚

The Team from Graeme Dingle Foundation Wellington

Kiwi Can is our energy-packed primary school programme, aimed at children aged 5 to 12 years. It teaches values such as integrity and respect, helps build resilience and delivers fun-filled learning to schools all around the country.

To find out more about our Kiwi Can programme, head to our … View more
Kiwi Can is our energy-packed primary school programme, aimed at children aged 5 to 12 years. It teaches values such as integrity and respect, helps build resilience and delivers fun-filled learning to schools all around the country.

To find out more about our Kiwi Can programme, head to our website today!

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1162 days ago

It's the simple things...

Neighbourly.co.nz

Hey neighbours,

Wrapped up in our bubbles - it's certainly been a tough few weeks. With our daily routines challenged, we were able to slow down and enjoy the better things in life. That's why we want you be a part of the Neighbourly joy movement and share the simple things that make … View more
Hey neighbours,

Wrapped up in our bubbles - it's certainly been a tough few weeks. With our daily routines challenged, we were able to slow down and enjoy the better things in life. That's why we want you be a part of the Neighbourly joy movement and share the simple things that make you happy.

Share a photo or story with your neighbours and you could be in to win Good Joe Coffee and Best Ugly Bagels (or bagels for your whole street!).
Share now!

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1164 days ago

SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Zoe

Nicholas Boyack Reporter from Community News

Over lockdown Neighbourly is running stories on SPCA pets that have been successfully adopted. This week it is Zoe.

“The adoption has progressed really well with our little Zoe. Before we went to pick her up, I had a whole list of elegant princess type of names to rename her, but now that she … View more
Over lockdown Neighbourly is running stories on SPCA pets that have been successfully adopted. This week it is Zoe.

“The adoption has progressed really well with our little Zoe. Before we went to pick her up, I had a whole list of elegant princess type of names to rename her, but now that she has fully settled in, we have come to realise she is quite the opposite of that and more of a mischief cheeky troublemaker.
After a couple of weeks of slowly introducing each other, Zoe and her feline brother have gotten along a lot better than we anticipated. What she lacks in hearing she definitely makes up in with her voice and all the random noises she constantly makes. We bought her a large expensive cat tower and of course she much prefers to sleep and play around in a paper bag, so that has been fun being woken up at 3am with her rustling around in the bag.
Her new favourite area of the house is the bathroom where she loves to sit on the bath for hours and watch the water slowly drip out of the tap or go and rip up every single piece of toilet paper. She is constantly making us laugh and is so full of character and is loved by all our family and friends. Thanks so much for everything.”

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