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After 50 years without a sighting, the rare and quirky sailback houndshark has finally been spotted again in Papua New Guinea!
Because it’s been seen so rarely, scientists still know very little about it. But its striking features are already sparking debate about whether it should be given … View moreAfter 50 years without a sighting, the rare and quirky sailback houndshark has finally been spotted again in Papua New Guinea!
Because it’s been seen so rarely, scientists still know very little about it. But its striking features are already sparking debate about whether it should be given special protection, and some have even argued it could become an icon species for Papua New Guinea.
At a time when we so often hear about species disappearing, the return of this little shark is a reminder that nature can surprise us ... and that there’s always reason to hope.
You can read more about the sailback shark here
We hope this brings a smile!
Thought you were past your prime to become a rockstar? Don't sell yourself - or your health - short.
Research published this year has demonstrated that playing music helps keep dementia at bay - no matter how late in life the skill is picked up.
The basic idea behind this research is not… View moreThought you were past your prime to become a rockstar? Don't sell yourself - or your health - short.
Research published this year has demonstrated that playing music helps keep dementia at bay - no matter how late in life the skill is picked up.
The basic idea behind this research is not new - we know that 'cognitive reserve' (learning new things) plays a big role in delaying mental slowdown. But the reminder that "it is never too late" is welcome ...
We hope this news brings a smile!
It is Conservation Week! Do you have any big plans for Conservation Week?
So many native fauna and flora make New Zealand special - show us a picture of your backyard native species in the comments below 💚 Perhaps we can inspire others to find the beauty in our local species.
Spring’s here, and with it comes warmer weather and lots of activity from our birds. It’s a great time to get outside—many birds are easier to spot as they build nests, raise their chicks, or return from their Arctic adventures 👀
Keen to do some backyard birdwatching? The Department of … View moreSpring’s here, and with it comes warmer weather and lots of activity from our birds. It’s a great time to get outside—many birds are easier to spot as they build nests, raise their chicks, or return from their Arctic adventures 👀
Keen to do some backyard birdwatching? The Department of Conservation have put together a nifty guide on how to plan and plant a garden that attracts native birds.
We hope this brings a smile!
Many of our villages are lucky to have four-legged friends like Lulu the poodle!
Lulu is a loved companion with a big personality and an even bigger routine. She’s up at 6am sharp and she never misses an outing - whether it’s a trip to the caravan, a ride in the Bunnings trolley, or even a … View moreMany of our villages are lucky to have four-legged friends like Lulu the poodle!
Lulu is a loved companion with a big personality and an even bigger routine. She’s up at 6am sharp and she never misses an outing - whether it’s a trip to the caravan, a ride in the Bunnings trolley, or even a spin on the jetski with her own life jacket!
Click read more to learn about Lulu's village life.
It is lemon season - our trees are bursting and our gardens are covered in citrus peels ... what do you do with your excess lemons?
Share with your community your tips on:
🍋 Harvesting and storage
🍋 Creative uses: recipes, cleaning solutions, health benefits
🍋 Tree care and … View moreIt is lemon season - our trees are bursting and our gardens are covered in citrus peels ... what do you do with your excess lemons?
Share with your community your tips on:
🍋 Harvesting and storage
🍋 Creative uses: recipes, cleaning solutions, health benefits
🍋 Tree care and maintenance
We’ve worked our way through our usual batch of The Press puzzles … so now the Neighbourly Team are on the lookout for fresh challenges to keep our brains buzzing 🧠✨
We want to know: When you have a spare moment, what brain-boosting games, puzzles or activities do you reach for?
… View moreWe’ve worked our way through our usual batch of The Press puzzles … so now the Neighbourly Team are on the lookout for fresh challenges to keep our brains buzzing 🧠✨
We want to know: When you have a spare moment, what brain-boosting games, puzzles or activities do you reach for?
Inspire us in the comments below ...
We will give away free copies of the November 2025 issue to readers whose strawberry recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way enjoy strawberry (dessert, salad, main?!): mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by September 15, 2025.
Today is the first day of Wills Month, so Eleanor Cater from our peak body Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ has written this article for The Post....
It’s really hard to give well. Many people have shared this same thought with me over the years as they try to work out where it would be … View moreToday is the first day of Wills Month, so Eleanor Cater from our peak body Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ has written this article for The Post....
It’s really hard to give well. Many people have shared this same thought with me over the years as they try to work out where it would be best to place their donations and giving intent, in order to shift the dial on the problems that they see locally.
There’s a real Kiwi drive to make a difference, we see it in our consistently high place on the World Giving Index (though that is slipping) and we hear it in countless giving stories from across the nation. From the Ashburton farmers (two brothers) who have launched local tertiary scholarships, to the Hawke’s Bay family who have started a fund supporting dementia services in honour of their wife and mum, to the Wellington mother who has discovered, through her giving journey, political activism. We see countless journeys of people who are learning how to give well into communities, who really want to make their donations count, and who are discovering something significant about themselves along the way.
Needing some ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) to calm your nerves? Visit an artificial purr-engine!
Use the sliders on the site to change whether the purr is a sleepy purr or an excited purr.
We hope this link brings a smile!
Whether it's craft, haberdashery, or woodwork, or we'd love to see what you've been working on lately.
💚 You may even spark someone else's creativity...
Tell us about your current project or show us a picture in the comments below.
The beauty of this delicious pasta recipe is its simplicity, says Ryman Village Chef Bojan Sabo.
With accessible ingredients, straightforward preparation and super quick cooking time, it’s been a favourite of Bojan’s since his previous role as a chef in an Italian restaurant.
It was even … View moreThe beauty of this delicious pasta recipe is its simplicity, says Ryman Village Chef Bojan Sabo.
With accessible ingredients, straightforward preparation and super quick cooking time, it’s been a favourite of Bojan’s since his previous role as a chef in an Italian restaurant.
It was even selected as a standout dish in the 2022 Iconic Auckland Eats.
Click read more for the recipe.
We’ve hit a tipping point, where choosing clean energy is the smart choice, and not just because we want to reduce our carbon emissions 🌍⚡💸
Thanks to major tech improvements and mass production over the past decade, the cost of wind, solar, and other renewables has dropped fast. As a … View moreWe’ve hit a tipping point, where choosing clean energy is the smart choice, and not just because we want to reduce our carbon emissions 🌍⚡💸
Thanks to major tech improvements and mass production over the past decade, the cost of wind, solar, and other renewables has dropped fast. As a result, most new power capacity built around the world came from renewables, and every continent added more clean energy than fossil fuels.
Money — the ultimate decision-maker in politics and business — is finally lining up with climate action. A big win for the planet (and maybe our wallets?)
We hope this news brings a smile!
'A Museum of Humanity' is the new film celebrating the Hamilton Gardens.
Produced by the Hamilton Gardens Development Trust with sponsorship from The Donny Fund that we manage, it is the movie version of 'The Time Travellers Guide to the Hamilton Gardens' book.
You can … View more'A Museum of Humanity' is the new film celebrating the Hamilton Gardens.
Produced by the Hamilton Gardens Development Trust with sponsorship from The Donny Fund that we manage, it is the movie version of 'The Time Travellers Guide to the Hamilton Gardens' book.
You can check out its trailer at the bottom of the Donny Fund page on the Momentum Waikato website at the link below.
It’s been a little full-on at the office lately, and the Neighbourly team found ourselves chatting about something we all experience: stress.
We got talking about the power of nature — green spaces like parks, bush walks, or even just sitting under a tree, and blue spaces like the ocean, … View moreIt’s been a little full-on at the office lately, and the Neighbourly team found ourselves chatting about something we all experience: stress.
We got talking about the power of nature — green spaces like parks, bush walks, or even just sitting under a tree, and blue spaces like the ocean, lakes, or rivers. Research agrees: being in nature really does help calm the mind. We’re lucky here in Aotearoa to have such beautiful spots right on our doorstep!
But sometimes, getting out for a walk or escaping to the beach isn’t an option. So we’re curious...
We want to know: What do you do to find a moment of calm when life gets a bit too much?
A hot cuppa? A good playlist? Staring out the window?
Let us know ... your go-to might help someone else breathe a little easier, too.
© Neighbourly 2025
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