Rats and Mice
KCDC has advised that they will not be allowing people to use the transfer station during lockdown. I would have thought rubbish removal was an essential service. It certainly has a public health component. Apparently its only unsanitary if you are paying for it. Yet another inequitable service from council.
They have advised "Only commercial collectors may enter the transfer stations. People who don’t pay for kerbside collection should stockpile their rubbish bags and clean recycling".
The message is loud and clear. Unless you are paying for kerbside collection, you are on your own. So much for building community resilience in the face of pandemics and natural disasters. What a load of rubbish their long term plan is. They are incapable of operationalising any of it.
If you have to stockpile rubbish, be aware that it could attract rats and mice, particularly at this time of year when other sources of food are limited. These rodents carry a number of unpleasant diseases such as Salmonella and any droppings should be disposed of carefully, with disinfectant, rubber gloves and a face mask.
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!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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