1925 days ago

How one couple transformed a bare block into a fernery in all its finery

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

When Kathy Lanagan and Neil Scarlett bought a bare block of land in North Canterbury back in 1993, they weren’t sure what they would do about a home.

But Lanagan, an enthusiastic gardener from an early age, started planting a garden anyway.

So when they bought the old stationmaster’s house in nearby Kaiapoi several years later and relocated it to the block – the garden had already begun.

“It’s definitely a house in a garden,” says Lanagan. “We’re not really indoor people so you mostly find us outside.”

It’s easy to see why. A 3-metre wide wooden verandah spans the length of the house, its wooden ceiling made from the repurposed sarking from the original roof. It’s punctuated with skylights to allow natural daylight and there are lights for the nighttime. There’s a serving hatch and wooden bar by the kitchen window and a green couch and chairs surround a coffee table against the backdrop of pale green weatherboards.

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More messages from your neighbours
21 hours ago

Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑

Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.

We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?

Want to read more? The Press has you covered!

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🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
  • 58% Human-centred experience and communication
    58% Complete
  • 13.6% Critical thinking
    13.6% Complete
  • 25.4% Resilience and adaptability
    25.4% Complete
  • 3% Other - I will share below!
    3% Complete
169 votes
1 day ago

Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?

(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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8 days ago

Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙

One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.

So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?

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Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
  • 59.8% Yes, supporting people is important!
    59.8% Complete
  • 26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
    26.2% Complete
  • 14% ... It is complicated
    14% Complete
1222 votes