Blind and Curtain Cord Safety for protecting children
Take these four simple steps to ensure that blind and curtain cords/chains are out of reach of children, particularly from children under six.
1. Check your blind and curtain cords
• Check for loose or looped cords that your child can reach from the floor or by climbing on furniture.
• Immediately tie cords out of reach and move away any furniture children might climb on to reach them.
• Do this anywhere you are staying, including on holiday.
2. Secure your cords out of reach
• Buy cleats or tensioning devices for securing cords from a hardware store or curtain and blind shop.
• Use screws to fix each cleat or tensioning device in a place that is out of reach of children.
• Never secure these devices with materials that may fail when a load is placed on them, such as double-sided tape or glue.
• If you cannot fix your unsafe cords and chains out of reach yourself, get a reliable tradesperson to do it for you. If you are renting your home, seek help from your landlord or agent.
3. Choose safe blinds and curtains. Buy new curtains and blinds which:
• comply with the national mandatory standard
• have warning labels to remind you of dangers to children
• provide a way to secure cords/chains so there are no loops or strands that children can reach, or
• operate without exposed cords/chains.
4. Keep children away from all cords/chains
• Move anything a young child can sit in, stand or climb on (like cots, highchairs, beds, sofas, tables, chairs and bookshelves) away from cords/ chains—even those tied around a cleat, as your child may be able to untie them.
• Do not let children play near cords/chains they can reach.
• Never leave children alone in a room with cords/chains they can reach.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.3% Critical thinking
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29.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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