1286 days ago

Poll: Prospa Local Business Hero - who gets your vote?

Prospa

Small businesses need our support. We are proud to be celebrating our 10 regional 2021 Prospa Local Business Heroes for their commitment to their communities. 

They now need your help! We are now looking for the New Zealand Prospa Local Business Hero - our overall winner, as voted by Neighbourly members around the country!

This lucky business will walk away with $10,000 worth of prizes!

Please take a couple of minutes to read the nominations below - then vote for the business you'd like to see named 2021 Prospa Local Business Hero.
______________________________________________________

NORTHLAND: Wayne and Kate - Engraving Systems
"Wayne and Kate have been trying to support all the local sports clubs and businesses with great service and going that extra mile to help. They really have brought some life back into the community and should be acknowledged and rewarded for all the hard work."

AUCKLAND: Lynnae Palu - F45 Training Takapuna
"With no ability to trade in Level 3 or above, they still keep their members engaged and motivated with online workouts and daily challenges even though memberships are on hold and the gym is closed. They really are more like a family than a gym ❤️."

WAIKATO: Team at Incredible India - Incredible India Restaurant
"Not only do they make the most authentic, delicious Indian food. Their service is thoughtful and kind. We always feel appreciated for using their establishment, either by the warm greeting we get, the offer of a drink if we are waiting for take-out and their cute handwritten messages on the carry bag of dinner. They put the effort into the whole package not just making money."

BAY OF PLENTY: Team at Benny and Brew - Benny and Brew
"Our neighbourhood was missing a great cafe and meeting place. Since Benny and Brew have opened they have given our neighbourhood a massive lift. It's a place where you go for the people and the food and drink are delicious which is icing on the cake. For a bit, they were operating as a French bistro and the food was to die for! These guys have worked so hard and brought such joy to our neighbourhood"

HAWKE’S BAY - GISBORNE: Jazz and his family - Bossman Dairy - Creagh St Store
"Every member of this family who serves in the shop are very friendly, helpful and always smiling. They get to know all their customers and I have never walked into a shop that makes you feel so welcome. During our first lockdown for Covid, they put food such as milk, bread, out for people who may need it free of charge."

TARANAKI: Reece and family - Valentine's Valet
"Reece the owner of Valentine’s Valet, often helped by his Dad, mainly deals with lawns and gardens but he runs both a Carpet Cleaning and a Car Buffing business also. He is extremely hard-working, helpful and friendly and is happy to do the odd job that doesn’t fall into one of his usual categories. He comes to us fortnightly and we could not do without him. If anyone deserves an award it is — Reece Valentine!"

MANAWATU-WANGANUI: Jamie - JD Hair Design
"Jamie is amazing - not only does he offer incredible haircuts at an affordable price he is a genuinely caring man. With a heart of gold, everyone is whānau to him and he treats you like it. I always leave his salon looking fabulous but also feeling fabulous. He is the type of man that fills your inner well of good feelings while he makes you feel and look special."

WELLINGTON: Meredith and Craig - Avalon Service Centre
"Meredith and Craig Butland and their team do a wonderful job and go the extra mile to make sure every job is to the customer's satisfaction. They drop people at their workplaces and pick them up when work on the car is finished. They take the time to talk to customers about anything and are great neighbours to the local residents. Avalon Service Centre are definitely our local heroes in Avalon."

NELSON - MARLBOROUGH: Mary Jane and Colin - Lemon Tree Lane
"Lemon Tree Lane is a great big little gift shop. I am so grateful for Mary Jane and Colin's 'You are very welcome' and 'it's no trouble at all' attitude. Their prices are very reasonable, they always happily gift wrap with beautiful papers and ribbons as a part of their service. I truly can't speak highly enough of this community-minded couple and their classy, extensive range of items that never leave us disappointed."

CANTERBURY - WEST: Troy Cameron - ATC Accounting Services
"Troy Cameron is a local accountant. He is an awesome family man and it is not unusual to see Matilda, his Kune Kune pig, snuggled up with his dog and daughter in his lounge. It was the flying pig on his flyer that made me call him 2 years ago and as we had just gone into business which was scary in itself, let alone dealing with an accountant, we have never looked back. Troy goes the extra mile and his fees are more than reasonable"

OTAGO - SOUTHLAND: Richard Smith - CJ Sinclair
"The owner is Richard Smith whose family have been in the motor trade in the Ranfurly Naseby area for over 100 years. During the last years lock down our car broke down leaving us feeling quite uncomfortable as we live some distance from medical & other services. Richard came to our rescue. We need such companies and people in our rural areas. Richard demonstrates such excellent attributes required in our area."

Prospa Local Business Hero - who gets your vote?
  • 5.7% NORTHLAND: Wayne and Kate - Engraving Systems
    5.7% Complete
  • 13.8% AUCKLAND: Lynnae Palu - F45 Training Takapuna
    13.8% Complete
  • 7.7% WAIKATO: Team at Incredible India - Incredible India Restaurant
    7.7% Complete
  • 5.9% BAY OF PLENTY: Team at Benny and Brew - Benny and Brew
    5.9% Complete
  • 15.2% HAWKE’S BAY - GISBORNE: Jazz and his family - Bossman Dairy - Creagh St Store
    15.2% Complete
  • 5.2% TARANAKI: Reece and family - Valentine's Valet
    5.2% Complete
  • 9.7% MANAWATU-WANGANUI: Jamie - JD Hair Design
    9.7% Complete
  • 13.9% WELLINGTON: Meredith and Craig - Avalon Service Centre
    13.9% Complete
  • 11.8% NELSON - MARLBOROUGH: Mary Jane and Colin - Lemon Tree Lane
    11.8% Complete
  • 7.3% CANTERBURY - WEST: Troy Cameron - ATC Accounting Services
    7.3% Complete
  • 3.8% OTAGO - SOUTHLAND: Richard Smith - CJ Sinclair
    3.8% Complete
1034 votes
More messages from your neighbours
5 days ago

Poll: Should employees be able to work from home?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

At the post-Cabinet press conference, the National Party asserted they want public sector staff to return to the office. This has opened a conversation about other sectors in New Zealand who have adopted working from home (WFH).

Where possible, do you think employees should be able to work from home? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.

Image
Should employees be able to work from home?
  • 71.6% Yes
    71.6% Complete
  • 25.4% No
    25.4% Complete
  • 3% Other - I'll share below
    3% Complete
2386 votes
K
10 hours ago

Brooklyn Junior Cricket Club - Registrations close very soon!

Kevin from Mornington

At Brooklyn Junior Cricket Club we offer cricket from 4 years old through to Year 8.

We can guarantee your young person will make awesome memories with new mates!

Visit www.bjcc.co.nz... today - registrations close VERY soon!!

Image
10 hours ago

Māori/Pacific (and general applicant) - FULL and part scholarships to finish high school overseas

Lucy Telfar Barnard from UWC Aotearoa New Zealand

Do you know a Māori/Pacific* student in Year 11/12 eager to expand their horizons?

Would they like to study the International Baccalaureate with change-making youth from around the world, at an international boarding school in one of 18 locations across the world?

Applications are now open for UWC Aotearoa New Zealand 2025 scholarships and places.

Full and part scholarships are available (needs-assessed), as well as unfunded places.

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens ordinarily resident in New Zealand, who will be aged 16 or 17 on 1 August 2025 (and not yet 18 on 1 September 2025), completing NCEA Level 1 or higher (or equivalent) by the end of 2024.

Applicants should be academically strong, emotionally resilient, physically active, and involved in their school or local community.

Application forms and more information are available at www.nz.uwc.org.... Applications close on Sunday 13 October 2025.

*Aotearoa will have a 'Dare to Dream' scholarship for 2025 entry to UWC Red Cross Nordic in Flekke, Norway (near Bergen), and the school has expressed a _strong_ preference for an Indigenous Māori or Pacific student. Dare to Dream scholarships are intended for students from low-income households - i.e. "backgrounds in which they would usually not even dare to dream of a world class education like that offered by UWC".
(We tend to think a fair amount of education in Aotearoa is "world class", so no shade on anyone's current school - it's just a different thing from UWC).

Other scholarships and places will also available open to any candidate - we'll know which UWCs to in November.

---UWC makes education a force to unite peoples, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future---

Image