1261 days ago

1983: The last great royal tour

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

Good morning neighbours, an old gem for you...

Around 20,000 people came out to watch the Prince and Princess of Wales do a walkabout in Cathedral Square on April 28, 1983, despite “chilly, intermittent and penetrating rain”, but The Press also wondered if royal tours were approaching their use-by date.

The tone of the paper’s editorial was very different from that struck 30 years earlier, when the Queen toured.

“Rapid communications and travel have removed much of the novelty from Royal appearances in New Zealand,” The Press said. “The charm and interest remain enhanced this time by the presence of the future Queen, Princess Diana, and the baby who could some day be King William V.”

The Press looked into the future: “Before the end of the century Prince Charles can probably expect to be King Charles III. His son, at present in Auckland, may well still be on the throne in the unimaginable world of the year 2050.

“Although New Zealand has not the vigorous republican movement evident in Australia, the question is reasonably asked here whether an​ hereditary monarch, living 12,000 miles away, will continue to be the most appropriate head of State for New Zealand.”

Despite this, every move was still recorded and star power was very evident, as The Press reported.

“A faint touch of blue shone through the clouds about 10 minutes before the end of the walkabout. It highlighted the Princess’ hair and brought favourable comments from a cluster of young girls.

“Many people were surprised at how tall and slender the Princess is. ‘Her face is thinner than I expected, but much prettier,’ said one woman.

“The glowing natural complexion of the Princess needed little highlight, just a glimmer of gold eye-shadow, a touch of mascara, and a subtle lip-colouring.”

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More messages from your neighbours
10 hours ago

Six tips for improving security around your home

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.

2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.

3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.

4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.

5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.

6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property

Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.

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3 days ago

Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.

Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?

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Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
  • 43.4% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
    43.4% Complete
  • 56% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
    56% Complete
  • 0.6% Other - I'll share below
    0.6% Complete
1125 votes
1 day ago

World of Disney Wonder cards. FREE

Annie from Belfast

FREE to anyone who is trying to make up a set. Contact me and let me know what numbers you are after. Pick up in Belfast or I'm happy to post anywhere in New Zealand, but you will need to pay for the postage for that. text if you prefer 0220114987 Regards Annie

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