Ongoing water payment issues
8 days ago I posted about problems we were having with water meter bills and things got more complicated! We'd always paid our quarterly bill by direct debit rather than paying through a fixed fee and charge based on our property valuation. After Council water section provided us with a detailed breakdown of our usage, right back to 2015, we realised that for the October quarter and all of this year for some reason our usage via the meter had shot up to about 4 times what we would have expected. Turning of every tap till showed the meter running reasonably fast which would indicate some sort of leak. We took to readings on Saturday morning, 1 1/4 hours apart - and the meter continued to run. So we've resorted to turning the toby off at the road - we have a rainwater tank which we can use water from for flushing the toilets, and a couple of taps are not mains pressure and toilets have header tanks on the roof for careful drinking/cooking water. A plumber is booked for tomorrow. We've also approached Council to ask if given that we had no idea there was a problem because they hadn't billed us for so long if some of the very large bill could be exempted. Watch this space. What I would say - how many Wellington households who pay their bills as part of the general rate have serious leaks that go completely undetected because people are not aware?
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
🧩😏 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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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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43.4% I avoid spending money on coffee
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46.3% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.3% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
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