Metropolitan Wellington to ease sprinkler ban, watering restrictions remain
From Friday 9 February, the ban on using garden sprinklers in Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt and Porirua will be lifted. Garden watering restrictions will still be in effect.
The four cities have been under a sprinkler ban that was introduced at the end of a particularly dry November.
Thanks to the response from the community, and in spite of a record hot January, the region’s storage lakes are now in good shape to last for the remainder of summer.
This means restrictions can now be eased to allow for the limited use of garden sprinklers and irrigation systems.
This is a good position to be in, but it’s important that people keep being responsible with water usage.
Sprinklers are actually a relatively wasteful way to water plants, and their use is limited by the garden watering restrictions still in place.
These allow the use of a single sprinkler or irrigation system, between the hours of 6-8 am and 7-9pm only on alternate days according to your house number.
Sprinkler use permitted at:
- odd-numbered houses on odd dates (1st, 3rd, 15th etc)
- even-numbered houses on even dates (2nd, 4th, 18th etc)
only between the hours of 6-8am and 7-9pm.
This restriction level will remain in place until further notice, or the end of Daylight Savings (1 April 2018) – except in Upper Hutt, where this restriction remains in place all year round.
We’d also like to remind people that the easing of restrictions is a good time to check and refill any emergency water storage containers, or to install an emergency tank if you don’t have one yet.
Tips for good watering practice:
- Use a trigger or wand to ensure water goes only where it’s needed
- Concentrate watering on the roots of plants not the leaves
- Use mulch to keep moisture in and weeds out
Latest scams to look out for 👀
Neighbourly hopes to keep you safe by keeping you informed of the latest scams circulating. This week, we are sharing two common text message scams:
NZTA / Waka Kotahi scam:
- The scam is a text message saying it's from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and it encourages the recipient to pay an overdue road toll by visiting a fake website, threatening to take the matter to court within 15 days if they don’t pay up.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- While it is not the first time toll payments have been utilised by scammers, the threat of court action could see more people fall victim.
- The sender will either be a unknown phone number or unknown email address.
Want to report one of these scams? Do so, on Netsafe
NZ Post scam:
- This scam arrives by test message and says it's from NZ Post.
- The premise is that delivery of your parcel was unsuccessful so in order to rearrange delivery. you must click on a link to give your correct address.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- NZ Post advises people not to click the link, but to report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs by forwarding it to 7726.
Think you may have fallen prey to a scam? Get in touch with Netsafe or contact your bank if it involved your bank details.
Remember, if you didn't expect the message and you are now asked to share personal details or money, then stop contact and seek advice elsewhere.
Feel free to share any below that you've encountered recently. This may help others across the country be aware.
Show us your winter craft or DIY projects
When we are stuck inside, it can be a time to get creative. And we think Neighbourly members are quite a creative bunch. So, let's fill the Neighbourly newsfeed with crafty creations from across the country.
Share a photo below of your craft projects, recent DIY, or your hobby. You may just inspire someone else!
Poll: Have you had a pen pal?
With the invention of the internet and mobile phone communication, pen pals seem to be a thing of the past but it was a common practice at one point.
Did you have a pen pal? Where did you meet them? Share below!
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66.9% Yes
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32.9% No
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0.3% Other - I'll share below!
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