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Would you give up your home for a life on the road? When Lynette and John Valk sold their three-bedroom home in Blenheim to live in a nine-metre motorhome and explore New Zealand, it was easier than they thought, and they don't regret a thing.
"We have seen so many hidden gems of New… View moreWould you give up your home for a life on the road? When Lynette and John Valk sold their three-bedroom home in Blenheim to live in a nine-metre motorhome and explore New Zealand, it was easier than they thought, and they don't regret a thing.
"We have seen so many hidden gems of New Zealand that we would never have seen if we were still living in a house," says Lynette.
Does the idea of selling up to make a big life change appeal to you? What changes would you like to make?
In this week's issue of Get Growing we have advice on planting bunching onions and shallots, repurposing broken pots, perennials with issues (what do you regret planting?), planning for summer strawberries and lifting and dividing lily bulbs.
Subscribe to Get Growing and be in to WIN one of… View moreIn this week's issue of Get Growing we have advice on planting bunching onions and shallots, repurposing broken pots, perennials with issues (what do you regret planting?), planning for summer strawberries and lifting and dividing lily bulbs.
Subscribe to Get Growing and be in to WIN one of 50 copies of NZ Gardener's latest special edition, 365 Days of Flowers, a practical and inspirational collector’s magazine that provides expert advice on planning, planting and growing year-round flowers for the garden or vase.
Our plant of the week in Get Growing is the festive abutilon and we have the latest scientific information on guava moth and what you can do to try and prevent it from affecting your fruit trees. Try sensational Catalonian recipes from Barcelona Cult Recipes and enter to win some great prizes!
Delivered every Friday to your email inbox, Get Growing digital magazine offers seasonal gardening advice from the NZ Gardener magazine's team of experts. Each week we answer all your burning questions on raising fruit and veges and tell you the top tasks to do in your backyard this weekend. Subscribe here.
For competition T&Cs click here.
The Upper Hutt Animal Rescue Society have had a bumper kitten season this year and we also have quite a few cats still at the Haven. This means that once again we are going through a lot of feline food to feed our lovely fur babies.
Can you help us please. We have food collection bins at Upper … View moreThe Upper Hutt Animal Rescue Society have had a bumper kitten season this year and we also have quite a few cats still at the Haven. This means that once again we are going through a lot of feline food to feed our lovely fur babies.
Can you help us please. We have food collection bins at Upper Hutt Pak n Save and Maidstone Countdown. But of course if you want some cat and kitten cuddles, you can always drop them in here at Haven. We are at 4 King Charles Drive, Kingsley Heights and open from 10am – 2pm weekdays, and 10am – 3pm weekends.
Our fur babies say “mmmmeeeeooooowwww” (feline speak for thanks)
A digger operator from Wainuiomata has been crowned the supreme winner at the Hutt Valley Sports Awa…
Vote for your favourite new release from Stuff Pix and you could win it to watch at your place. With so many movies ready to rent right now, there's something for everyone at Stuff Pix - check them out at stuffpix.co.nz today.
Once upon a time, every Kiwi dreamed of a quarter-acre section complete with a house, two-car garage, rotary clothesline and vege garden. This ideal persists for many, but some are rewriting their home ownership dream to include more efficient spaces, communal areas and green technology.
At the … View moreOnce upon a time, every Kiwi dreamed of a quarter-acre section complete with a house, two-car garage, rotary clothesline and vege garden. This ideal persists for many, but some are rewriting their home ownership dream to include more efficient spaces, communal areas and green technology.
At the end of the day, the question we all ask ourselves is: what kind of home will allow us and our families to live well in 2018 and beyond? Small living offers some appealing solutions, and every year there are more and more options for small homes on the market, as well as ideas for shrinking our environmental footprint.
1. APARTMENTS
Kiwis are embracing the more compact lifestyle offered by apartment living and not just in Auckland. The Salt development in Mt Maunganui includes 52 apartments, 19 townhouses, a cafe and childcare centre and is almost completely sold.
The Pinnacle complex in Wellington is due for completion at the end of this year and the same developers are also building Victoria Street Precinct, a neighbouring apartment building containing 140 dwellings which all sold off the plans. If you love eating out and seeing movies, but can take or leave several hours of gardening every weekend, apartment life could be for you.
Pros
+ Less maintenance
+ Safe environment
+ Community vibe
+ Central location
+ Consent, design and build process managed for you
+ Services often managed, too
Cons
+ Less green space
+ Proximity to neighbours
+ Body corporate fees and regulations can be costly and restrictive
+ Pets not always allowed
+ Less design freedom
Budget
Very dependent on your site and various other factors, but will be in the ballpark of $4K per square metre.
2. SMALL NEW BUILDS
A “small house” describes a home that is less than 93 square metres. So why bother with a small house when you could just design and build a generous home to suit your family? Part of the answer is: efficiency and ease.
Small house architecture is all about an efficient use of space that is customised to suit the way you live. “Small homes are easier to heat, cool, ventilate and clean,” says Tim Gittos of Space Craft Architects. He’s seeing increasing amounts of infill building on the scraps of leftover land in our cities. “For first-home buyers, small new-builds closer to the city centre have become a viable alternative to larger houses or cookie-cutter homes on the city outskirts,” he says.
Space Craft is also working on some exciting co-housing projects, where people club together to buy land and build small houses with shared common areas. “This is a very exciting new area to be a part of,” he says.
Pros
+ Can customise to suit site and preferences
+ High quality and finishing
+ Options for communal living
Cons
+ Can be a more expensive option
+ Can take longer from design to build
Considerations
+ The consent process will be similar to a normal new-build
+ Some subdivisions have minimum home-size requirements
Budget
+ Price depends on location, size and other factors.
+ A one-bedroom apartment in The Pinnacle in Wellington is priced at $395K while a three-bedroom is pricedat $920K.
3. TINY HOMES
A “tiny house” usually has a floor area of 46 square metres or less, with many built on trailers. You can try your hand at DIY but it will be a lot easier to enlist an expert. Build Tiny is a new Kiwi business that’s all about building design-led tiny houses.
Gina Stevens, the designer at Build Tiny, says the best thing about going tiny is the cost savings. “You can take the cash you save and spend it on travel, experiences, good food and wine, or simply work less,” she says. And her advice for people who are thinking about a tiny house? “Try before you buy. We recommend people stay in as many tiny homes as possible to experience tiny-house living first-hand.”
Pros
+ Semi-permanent homes can be moved
+ Less maintenance, savings on bills and insurance
+ Affordable option
Cons
+ Small space for families or pets
+ Lack of storage
+ Less solitary space or privacy
Considerations
+ Ensure you think through waste disposal, site and access requirements
Budget
A Build Tiny home will cost between $60K and $120K-plus. Costs may be less if you build your own, but you will need to allow for your own labour costs.
4. CONTAINER HOMES
The potential for recycled shipping containers to become raw building materials has really entered the mainstream, with containers showing up all over the place as garden sheds and storage units, as well as granny flats and baches. The popularity of the container look is also inspiring a new wave of designs – Podlife creates small modular buildings that look like extremely stylish containers.
Pros
+ Lower foundation costs
+ Structurally strong
+ Stylish and functional designs
+ Will fit small sections
+ Easy to transport
Cons
+ Consent can be tricky, but most building companies will help you manage this
+ Design options can be limited
Budget
A 10-square-metre pod from Podlife starts at $16K plus delivery costs.
5. PREFAB HOMES
A prefabricated home is built to your specifications in a factory and delivered to your site in one or more pieces. These days, there are multiple companies offering beautiful designs using modern materials.
Pros
+ More affordable than a custom new-build
+ Fast turnaround
+ Design, consent and build process managed for you
+ Efficient use of materials
+ Minimal site disruption
Cons
+ Less design freedom
+ You may have limited material and finish choices
+ Options may be restricted by site access
Considerations
+ Make sure you get a complete price, or be aware of what costs are excluded
+ You may need two building consents as the house will be built in one location then installed in another
Budget
A two-bedroom home from Greenhaven starts at $200K plus delivery, consent and on-site costs.
Higher costs mean sustainable businesses aren't getting a look in despite generating positive social…
Auē e Koti! Kātahi ka oti te pakiwaitara kōwhiri ara e ako ai te tamariki ki te hua o te aroha. Tēnā whakamātautautia.
Pānuihia te kōrero paki ā-tihi mō Oti te Nanekoti ki te reo Pākehā, reo Māori anō hoki www.OatTheGoat.co.nz... | www.OtiTeNanekoti.co.nz...
He mea kinaki nā Te … View moreAuē e Koti! Kātahi ka oti te pakiwaitara kōwhiri ara e ako ai te tamariki ki te hua o te aroha. Tēnā whakamātautautia.
Pānuihia te kōrero paki ā-tihi mō Oti te Nanekoti ki te reo Pākehā, reo Māori anō hoki www.OatTheGoat.co.nz... | www.OtiTeNanekoti.co.nz...
He mea kinaki nā Te Tira Puoro o Aotearoa.
#OtiTeNanekoti #KeiTePaiKoe #ArohaMaiArohaAtu
Haven Falls offer quality care and professional service Wellington wide - 24hrs with Funeral packages from $3990 +gst.
No deposit - 30 day invoice.
42-50 Burden Ave, Wainuiomata.
Phone 04 564 3792 and 0800 428365 or visit our website www.havenfalls.co.nz for more information.
It’s all about ideas for sustainable living at the Wellington Better Home & Living Show on 25-27 May. Here’s your chance to check out the latest trends with over 200 exhibitors with our BUY 1 GET 1 FREE ADULT TICKET OFFER! Be in to win the ‘Newstalk ZB Show Prize’ valued at $15,000. … View moreIt’s all about ideas for sustainable living at the Wellington Better Home & Living Show on 25-27 May. Here’s your chance to check out the latest trends with over 200 exhibitors with our BUY 1 GET 1 FREE ADULT TICKET OFFER! Be in to win the ‘Newstalk ZB Show Prize’ valued at $15,000. Plus, visit the NEW Springfree Family Zone there’s even a Springfree Trampoline to be won.
Save the date in your diaries; 25 - 27 May 2018
Friday and Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Adults $8
Gold Card Friday $4
Under 16 Free
Hi there neighbours close and further away. I would like to encourage you all to come and support your local community choir with their presentation of a beautiful concert. Some weeks ago I already posted this concert on Neighbourly and I just want to remind everybody that it is happening this … View moreHi there neighbours close and further away. I would like to encourage you all to come and support your local community choir with their presentation of a beautiful concert. Some weeks ago I already posted this concert on Neighbourly and I just want to remind everybody that it is happening this Sunday 20 May, 2.30pm at St. Patrick's College chapel, Silverstream.
Schubert, Elgar, Brahms are only just a few names of the composers we sing works from in this concert.
Prices are $15 adults and $12 concession.
We would love to see the chapel filled with you all who love choral music!
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