2618 days ago

What's better than finding a needle in a haystack? Finding your missing wedding ring in the middle of a river.

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

When Rangiora sweethearts Toby and Fran Gilsenan got married live on TV earlier this year, they planned to keep both their vows and their rings for the long haul.

So when the pair went for a Labour Day swim at the Ashley Gorge, they were gutted when Toby resurfaced minus his ring.

He had no expectation he would find it – after all he was searching for a small circle of tungsten in a river – but he spotted a sparkle after just five minutes in the knee-deep water.

"I saw a glimmer, what looked like the light reflecting on the water, but it stayed in the same spot. I thought it would probably be a piece of glass but when I scooped it up I realised it was my ring."

"[It's] not leaving my finger now, unless I'm swimming in a river," he says.

More messages from your neighbours
7 hours ago

The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand

Summer Kiwi Quiz - 2026

Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!

Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here

The Team at Stuff
Enter Here

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3 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.4% Complete
  • 19.8% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    19.8% Complete
  • 69.8% Nah - not for me
    69.8% Complete
817 votes
16 days ago

Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’

If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.

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