Snail mail
Do you still write letters? Actual paper and pen letters? Do you fold them nicely in thirds and poo them in an envelope? Do you take the time to check and write out, legibly, the recipients address, on the front then check you got it right, according to your little, or big, address book?
Yes?
Wonderful. I’m glad people still do that.
Did you forget anything?
No?
Are you sure?
How about the return address?
No? You left it off on purpose?
It’s a surprise?
They’ll know who it’s from anyway?
Ahh, of course!
But will the person who moved into their house when they left, or passed away?
Every Christmas, in every house I’ve lived in, in a Havelock North, I receive mail, usually from West Midlands, UK, for people who have moved on. Usually years before. And no one knows them anymore, in the area. Sometimes the envelopes are thin , quite clearly letters or cards, other times thick, possibly with small presents in them.
And no one knows where the intended recipients are.
The dead letter office, or the bin, are the likely recipients, after I give up trying to locate the intended recipients.
If you move,make sure you tell people where you go, or put a permanent stop in your mail. Especially if you generally receive mail from overseas. Or if you just don’t want to get the mail.
And if you do have someone you usually hear from and haven’t for a while, contact them and say “hey, do you have my new address?”
That said, does anyone know the Cunningham’s, Hayley and John. Or Alex van Asch.
The Fords, formerly of Legorne Lane, are probably still missing their Christmas mail from the UK, too.
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.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 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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52.7% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.7% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.7% Other - I will share below!
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