GET OUT OF PETONE
A bad sign is when it seems obvious that insurance companies are going to raise their premiums for property insurance beyond the affordability of the average homeowner or retailer - and even suspend insurance cover.
So this is what is forecasted for a large majority of the Lower Hutt sea side, low-lying suburb of Petone as well as areas heading towards Eastborne.
The issue is climate change which is now well embedded and will see a rising sea and excessive rainfall during year upon year.
As well there is the sinking of the land to contend with.
And there is little that the local authority or the residents of the affected areas can do to barricade against the real prospect of submerging properties within the next 15 years rain-wise and 30 years sea-wise.
Jackson Street with its huge retail presence including around 80 eateries and housing beyond Jackson Street in both directions will be swept away or uninhabitable and all either uninsurable or unaffordability of being insured.
I have friends who help design the only new residential home in Jackson Street in maybe 60 years. And their flash two storey modern home of some 3 years will be mainly useless against the torrent of flooding.
I spent all my teenage years living in Petone, played rugby for Petone and later was for a time connected with the Petone Athletic Club and worked in Petone for two different companies. But my advice is for those living there right now is to get out and live somewhere less likely to be severely waterlogged. You can sell at the market price right now to many silly or naive people unaware or unperturbed by what the future has in store.
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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42.9% I avoid spending money on coffee
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47.1% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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