FREEDOM, EQUALITY IN SPADES IN NZ
NZ may have somewhat lost many of the features that have made us a great nation worldwide in the past but not that of democracy.
in the latest survey (2023) on the most democratic countries in the world, NZ sits in second place behind Norway.
Interestingly both countries are similar in population and sit at either end of the globe.
Australia ranks ninth, the UK 21st and the USA sliding to 26th.
The USA has never been in the top 10 since these international surveys started which is ironic because Americans think and are told they are the greatest democratic nation the world has ever seen. Land of the free. Yeah right.
So living in a exceedingly democratic country and all that is meant to entail, it seems even more ludicrous that the city of Upper Hutt, has landed in a situation with its water pipes that has gone unresolved and almost unchecked over a lengthy period of years and a blind eye to it has been cast by elected councillors and Mayors and the staff they harbour.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Tai Chi News 2025 Issue #01
Happy Holidays from Not Strictly Tai Chi !
Huge THANK YOU to all who attended my Tai Chi classes during 2024.
If you're already missing them, then you may be looking forward to more Tai Chi in the New Year? (I know I am)
We often start back well before other Tai Chi clubs, and the same is true is 2025, as we return mid January
See attachment for details
Newcomers, beginners, and people from other Tai Chi groups welcome
see you there
Andrew Hardwick
Tai Chi Instructor
Member of NZ National Tai Chi Ch'uan Association Inc.
Call 0211532508 for more info