Son comes to rescue of pensioner about to lose his home
A pensioner about to lose his home for unpaid rates is resting easy after his son made an arrangement with the council that wanted him out.
Stuff reported on Thursday that 75-year-old retired engineer Justin Gregory was facing the loss of his house due to unpaid rates.
His home was one of two advertised as up for sale after Napier City Council gained High Court orders under the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.
Another homeowner, Sharon McCleary, was also facing the loss of her home.
By mid afternoon, relatives of McCleary and Gregory, had contacted the council.
A council spokeswoman said “we are pleased that family members of both Mr Gregory and Ms McCleary have been in contact with council, and we are hopeful that a good outcome can be reached for everyone involved.”
Poll: What do you do with your stuff when you get the urge to declutter?
Life gets busy—really busy. Between work, family, appointments, and a never-ending to-do list, it’s easy for things to pile up. Add fast fashion, online sales, and homewares aisles that whisper “just one more basket won’t hurt”, and suddenly we’re swimming in stuff and tat.
Sometimes, that stuff is cozy and familiar. But other times, after a long day, you walk through the door, look around, and think: “Okay. Something’s got to go.”
And when that urge to declutter hits, the question is—where does it all go? We're not talking about broken bits and pieces, but those perfectly good things that simply no longer fit your life or your space.
In her piece When decluttering can’t be avoided much longer, Joanna Davis shares the everyday items she's finally ready to part with—and it might just inspire your own clear-out mission.
We want to know:
🧹 How often do you get the urge to declutter?
🎯 Are there certain things you’ve got your eye on to donate or rehome?
💛 Do you have any favourite charities, op-shops, or community organisations you support with your preloved items?
Let’s swap stories, share ideas, and help great stuff find a second life—outside our closets and shelves.
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73.9% Op-shops!
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9.6% I pop items on the local online Market.
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5.3% Friends and family - I buy with care, and so I give with care.
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4.6% The tip - if I don't want it, others won't either.
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2.4% I love an old fashioned Garage Sale or a local car-boot market.
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2.4% I repurpose - I craft, rework, and give things new life.
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1.7% Other - share your secrets below.
📬 Mail’s in — and it delivered a brain bender! Ready to solve? 🧠✉️
Give this puzzle a whirl, can you figure it out?
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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Choice News Tuesday: Dog adoption numbers rise
Have you seen James Gunn's 'Superman' yet?
The new movie stars Krypto, Superman's capable and floofy sidekick. Following the movie release, online searches for dog adoption surged globally! Krypto is based on Gunn's own rescue dog, Ozu. The Neighbourly team is sure that Gunn is pleased that his own rescue pup may lead to more fluffy adoptions!
Looking to match with your own super pet? The SPCA is spotlighting animals waiting for their new and committed families.
We hope this news brings a smile!
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