SHOULD NZ BAN VAPING
Here is a poll we can all relate to, one way or another.
Should NZ Govt ban vaping on its shores?
YES
NO
MAYBE
Vaping was suppose to be a transitional tool to get converted cigarette smokers unconverted from smoking anything except what's on the barbecue.
But, just like we were warned, vaping is almost as bad a killing and health damaging addiction pleasure, as is the fag. And with young people taking it up, worse.
Here is what they are about to do in brotherly Australia: Ban the importation of non-prescription vaping products including those that do not contain nicotine. Min quality standards for vapes will be introduced including restricting flavours, colours and other ingredients. Vape products will require chemist-like packaging and the allowed nicotine concentrations and volumes will be reduced. All single-use disposable vapes will be banned and only pharmacies will be able to stock and sell the product.
Obviously we will follow. I would like though to see all vapes gone.
NZ has this thing kind of hanging around its neck: to be a smoke-free country by 2025. It won't happen especially under a National-ACT coalition Govt. But by allowing vaping in the air, it will be harder to contain and place further restrictions on cig smoking.
Second hand vaping can harm people and animals (and the environment) almost as much as second hand cigarette smoking. Upper Hutt has smoke-free regulations for all its parks. Will the council extend this to vaping if it hasn't already or just wait until vaping is outlawed going the way or even further than the Aussies?
Poll: How important is the ability to book a doctor’s appointment online?
Hi Neighbours
Here at The Doctors we would love to hear how you prefer to book your doctor’s appointments. With busy schedules, different people find different methods easier.
For some, online booking is very convenient, you can make an appointment anytime without needing to wait on the phone. Others still prefer calling the clinic and speaking to a real person, especially if they have specific questions about their visit.
Your feedback helps us understand what works best for our patients and how we can improve access to care.
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27.6% I prefer booking online whenever possible
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41.4% Online booking is helpful but not essential
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27.6% I prefer calling the clinic
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3.4% I didn’t know online booking was available
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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46% I avoid spending money on coffee
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39.6% I still indulge at my local cafe
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14.4% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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