2803 days ago

Winter energy payments: What do you think?

Robert Steven Reporter from Taupō Times

Have you received an extra $30 this week?

An extra $31.82 is now being paid to all couples 65 years and older who receive New Zealand Superannuation. Single superannuitants are receiving $20.46 per week, automatically.

** What does everyone think about the payment? ***
*** Great idea, or a waste of government money as it's not targeted?***

Please write NFP if you'd prefer your comment wasn't used in a print story.

The payment runs for 12 weeks and is to help with increased winter heating costs.
The payment is not means tested.

Winston Peters, who earns $335,000 per annum, is receiving the payment and says he does not intend to refuse it.

People on Jobseeker Support and Sole Parent Support also receive the payment.

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More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?

What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?

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If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
  • 37.2% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
    37.2% Complete
  • 62.8% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
    62.8% Complete
912 votes
12 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

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3 days ago

🍦 A Challenge for the Sweetest Tooth!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We all love a scoop (or three) of ice cream... but the owner at Little Liberty Creamery in Taranaki is taking things to a whole new level for 2026!

Her goal? 52 new flavours this year. That’s one brand-new, experimental creation every single week! 🤯

The Great Flavour Debate: We want to know what the current "Gold Standard" is for you.

What is the crème de la crème of ice cream flavours?
🍦 The Purist: Are you a "perfect vanilla or nothing" kind of person?
🍫 The Chocoholic: The darker and chunkier the better?
🧂 The Salty-Sweet: Is Salted Caramel still the reigning champ?
🌈 The Wildcard: Are you into the experimental stuff—think lavender, chilli, or charcoal?

Tell us your absolute favourite flavour in the comments below! 👇

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