Papakowhai, Porirua

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Win a brand new home!

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1304 days ago

Murals to tell Porirua's stories

Reporter Community News

Porirua City Council has secured funding for a major public mural project in Porirua’s CBD.
Artists Miriama Grace Smith, Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel are using their acclaimed street art skills and their own rich Māori heritage to bring a vibrant female energy into the space. All three artists have … View more
Porirua City Council has secured funding for a major public mural project in Porirua’s CBD.
Artists Miriama Grace Smith, Xoe Hall and Gina Kiel are using their acclaimed street art skills and their own rich Māori heritage to bring a vibrant female energy into the space. All three artists have distinct and colourful styles and unique points of view which promises to bring a fresh new energy to Ferry Place.
“The Ferry Place Murals project will be Porirua City’s first public art park and we are delighted that three well-known wāhine street artists will be transforming seven walls there,” says Robyn Steel, manager strategic partnerships.
“The murals are underway and will take about four weeks to transform this industrial-looking car park and service area to a 360-degree immersive art experience for all who enter it.”

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1305 days ago

Wellington Better Home and Living Show

Jade Promotions (Home & Living)

The Wellington Better Home and Living Show is BACK! Transform your home and lifestyle with a huge range of exhibitors in one easy location at the Wellington Better Home and Living Show on from the 14-16 May at Sky Stadium.

Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer

There are so many … View more
The Wellington Better Home and Living Show is BACK! Transform your home and lifestyle with a huge range of exhibitors in one easy location at the Wellington Better Home and Living Show on from the 14-16 May at Sky Stadium.

Join the fun with our 2 for 1 Adult Ticket Offer

There are so many fabulous reasons to visit the show with a huge range featuring everything from featuring kitchens, builders, renovators, architects, plants, tools, heating & insulation, spas, interior design and more! You can also enjoy a range of health and beauty products, sustainable living, art and artisan foods. We are also excited to welcome delicious new street food vendors to the show, alongside great coffee it makes the ideal day out.

Save the date in your diaries and connect with local businesses from the 14 – 16 May at the Wellington Better Home and Living Show

Fri & Sat 10 – 5, Sun 10 4
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Adults $8
Gold Card Friday $4
Under 16 free.
Find out more

1309 days ago

SPCA Pet of the Day: Meet Vada

Reporter Community News

"Hi there my name is Vader aka Vaddie. I came into SPCA under unfortunate circumstances and have been under the care of the Veterinarian and Canine Team. I am now ready for my forever home.
It has taken a bit of time for me to come out of my shell and learn to trust people but once to do I am … View more
"Hi there my name is Vader aka Vaddie. I came into SPCA under unfortunate circumstances and have been under the care of the Veterinarian and Canine Team. I am now ready for my forever home.
It has taken a bit of time for me to come out of my shell and learn to trust people but once to do I am very loving and loyal. I would love quiet, predictable home with someone around for parts or all of the day as I am not comfortable with being left alone and thrive with company. I would love a home that enjoys going for walks and adventures but at the same understands that I am not always comfortable around the hustle and bustle of city life, I can be a very sensitive soul. I do however, have a playful side. I love playing with toys."

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1306 days ago

Mother's Day is this weekend

Sunday Star Times

Are you still looking for the perfect Mother's Day treat?

From now until Mother's Day, subscribe to the Sunday Star-Times for 6 months and you will receive a free Antipodes skincare gift, valued at $115!

Follow the link, select the 6 month option and use the promo code … View more
Are you still looking for the perfect Mother's Day treat?

From now until Mother's Day, subscribe to the Sunday Star-Times for 6 months and you will receive a free Antipodes skincare gift, valued at $115!

Follow the link, select the 6 month option and use the promo code SSTMOTHERSDAY at the checkout to redeem.

Hurry! Offer ends Sunday. T&C's apply.
Subscribe Now

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1306 days ago

Impact wrench to lend for 30 mins?

Shaan from Ascot Park

Hi all,

First time posting! Hope you're all well.

Does anyone have an impact wrench that I can please borrow to undo an outrageously tight sprocket nut on my bike?

Cheers,
Shaan

1307 days ago

Did you know that many NZders find searching for a tradie overwelming? We can help with this!

The Team from Web Infinity NZ

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1307 days ago

Are you a Tradie? Want More Customers? We Can Help with Proven Track Record

The Team from Web Infinity NZ

We specialise in getting tradies more customers via Google.
Includes easy affordable packages. We'll handle it all for you.
Visit webinfinity.nz... now to find out how.

1307 days ago

Are you our next Houseplant Hero?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Have you got New Zealand‘s best collection of houseplants?
We’re searching for indoor plant obsessives who have created impressive urban jungles… and there’s some great prizes to be won!

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1310 days ago

Wellington dairy owner torn between India and New Zealand

Reporter Community News

Hullo Neighbourly folk, the scenes we have seen on our TVs about Covid in India are heart-breaking but spare a thought for the Indian community in New Zealand. People like Dipa Patel must be worried sick.
Her heart is in the Indian city of Mumbai, where her family is quarantined and two of her … View more
Hullo Neighbourly folk, the scenes we have seen on our TVs about Covid in India are heart-breaking but spare a thought for the Indian community in New Zealand. People like Dipa Patel must be worried sick.
Her heart is in the Indian city of Mumbai, where her family is quarantined and two of her cousins have died from Covid-19.

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1309 days ago

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

Come together for good with friends, whānau and workmates by hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast this May. You’ll be joining thousands of Kiwis around the country to raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

You can host any time in May, and by taking part, you’ll be helping fund … View more
Come together for good with friends, whānau and workmates by hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast this May. You’ll be joining thousands of Kiwis around the country to raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

You can host any time in May, and by taking part, you’ll be helping fund ground-breaking work by some of our country’s top breast cancer researchers, educate people about breast health, and provide free support services for breast cancer patients and their families.

What are you waiting for! Sign up today.
Find out more

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1310 days ago

Pet of the Day: Meet Felix

Reporter Community News

This week we feature a cat named Felix submitted by Keely McBride.
"Nap time for my daughter's cat Felix."

Remember if you want your pet featured on Neighbourly, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz with a recent photo. Please remember to say what suburb you live in.

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1311 days ago

Feathered Friday Friend

Reporter Community News

Words and picture from Louise Thomas.

"Australasian gannet/tākapu (Morus serrator) on the wing this afternoon. One of two to be seen at Lowry Bay, Lower Hutt, diving and feeding close to shore for the past few weeks."

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1310 days ago

Another win for Whittaker's Chocolate

Reporter Community News

It is no great surprise but Whittaker’s has retained the top spot in Reader’s Digest’s annual Trusted Brands survey.
Whittaker’s came top overall, followed by Toyota, Samsung, Tip Top, St John NZ, Mainland, Dettol, Mitre 10, Anchor and Sony.
Whittaker’s chocolate also took the NZ Iconic … View more
It is no great surprise but Whittaker’s has retained the top spot in Reader’s Digest’s annual Trusted Brands survey.
Whittaker’s came top overall, followed by Toyota, Samsung, Tip Top, St John NZ, Mainland, Dettol, Mitre 10, Anchor and Sony.
Whittaker’s chocolate also took the NZ Iconic Brand Category for the ninth consecutive year, ahead of Tip Top and Watties.

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1310 days ago

Jerry Nasalio and Sara Toloi from the Salvation Army

Rhondda Sweetman from Plimmerton Rotary

Last evening we had visitors from the Salvation Army (SA): Jerry Nasalio and Sara Toloi. They gave us an insight into some of the work of the Sallies in Porirua East and brought along their posh new van for us to inspect.

Sara’s work is fairly conventional: she runs the food bank, for which … View more
Last evening we had visitors from the Salvation Army (SA): Jerry Nasalio and Sara Toloi. They gave us an insight into some of the work of the Sallies in Porirua East and brought along their posh new van for us to inspect.

Sara’s work is fairly conventional: she runs the food bank, for which there is a high need in Porirua. It is open Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 1.00 pm. Families are able to obtain food boxes three to five times per annum, the size being dependent on the size of the family. Each box contains enough supplies for a week. If families need help more often, they are referred to the SA budgeting service and/or a social worker. Countdown is a generous donor to the food bank.

The Sallies have been running a community finance programme for several years, but Jerry is in charge of a new venture, a mobile food shop, and an ethical financing service for needy families. It has been running for a year, here and in South Auckland.

In low decile and immigrant communities, unscrupulous high-interest third-tier lenders have been preying on vulnerable families. The Government (Kris Faafoi in particular) took some action to stem this scourge but the problem remains. Jerry’s goal is to ‘disrupt the market’ and offer a better alternative to those families who have to borrow to get by.

Client families are able to obtain appliances and food on credit from the SA, and the loans are interest-free. There is a preliminary needs and budgeting interview in the mobile office, which establishes the weekly repayment. The SA then orders the goods which are then delivered to the family. Countdown’s existing online shopping service is used for food supplies.

Families that are living beyond their means may have their applications declined and are referred to other SA services such as housing or budgeting.

Jerry’s worst ongoing problem is that many families cannot understand even the simplest financial issues and are therefore vulnerable to predatory lenders. Educating them is a big part of Jerry’s job, but he is making progress.

For the club, this was a useful insight into the problems faced by the neediest members of the community.

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1312 days ago

Teenager bringing high-speed internet to Upper Hutt

Reporter Community News

A company run by a 16-year-old which has brought high-speed internet access to hundreds of households in the Hutt Valley that have been “forgotten" by the big telcos is expanding its services to other parts of the country in a bid to help more residents in isolated areas get connected.
Alex … View more
A company run by a 16-year-old which has brought high-speed internet access to hundreds of households in the Hutt Valley that have been “forgotten" by the big telcos is expanding its services to other parts of the country in a bid to help more residents in isolated areas get connected.
Alex Stewart came up with the idea for his business, WombatNET, when he was 13 and staying at the remote settlement of Turakina Beach, near Whanganui. Older people would often ask the tech-savvy teenager for help with their digital devices, and he soon realised how many people in the area were grappling with the same problem – unreliable and slow internet access.
After doing some research, he discovered that while it was relatively straightforward to connect properties to the fixed wireless broadband network using radio waves transmitted by towers, large internet providers often seemed reluctant to do so because it could be more expensive than using cables. So Stewart decided to meet the need himself.
In early 2020, WombatNET put up its first tower on private land just outside Upper Hutt. Since then, the company has built another 10 around Mangaroa and Whitemans Valley.
With demand for the service growing quickly through online and social media marketing and word of mouth, and as more people began to work from home amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Stewart was struggling to juggle running a start-up with his school work.

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