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Don't forget to enter a Bright Spot in your home, workplace or community for a chance to win one of ten amazing prizes! Whether it's a colourful fence, a mural in your office or a place in the community that makes you smile - we'd love to see it.
Share a Bright Spot today for a … View moreDon't forget to enter a Bright Spot in your home, workplace or community for a chance to win one of ten amazing prizes! Whether it's a colourful fence, a mural in your office or a place in the community that makes you smile - we'd love to see it.
Share a Bright Spot today for a chance to win one of ten prize packs worth $500.
And make sure you check out the entries so far too.
The Government says it's scrapping those annoying card surcharges – and it’s happening next year.
Consumer NZ is stoked, saying these sneaky surcharges cost Kiwis around $65 million a year and should’ve been gone ages ago.
But not everyone’s convinced it’s a win. Labour and … View moreThe Government says it's scrapping those annoying card surcharges – and it’s happening next year.
Consumer NZ is stoked, saying these sneaky surcharges cost Kiwis around $65 million a year and should’ve been gone ages ago.
But not everyone’s convinced it’s a win. Labour and Hospitality NZ are worried the costs won’t just disappear. Labour MP Arena Williams put it simply: there should not be surcharges for customers at all. But she points out that the Government’s plan does not deal with banks and merchants “who still scoop a big fee”.
Many of our community are rocked by the recent announcement. Retailers warn card surcharge ban could lead to higher prices - the unfortunatel reality is that small businesses are feeling the squeeze along with their customers. In comparison, large retailers pay significantly lower banking fees and ultimately have more leverage at the negotiation table.
💸 So someone still pays – but who?
We want to know: Who should be covering this cost?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Whether it's pre-schoolers or seniors, Scottish dancing or salsa, kapa haka or Kathak, breakdance or ballet - if you're encouraging people of all ages and abilities to keep moving through dance, we have three $5000 Love to Dance grants up for grabs.
Click read more to nominate your … View moreWhether it's pre-schoolers or seniors, Scottish dancing or salsa, kapa haka or Kathak, breakdance or ballet - if you're encouraging people of all ages and abilities to keep moving through dance, we have three $5000 Love to Dance grants up for grabs.
Click read more to nominate your community dance group.
Applications close 31 August 2025.
Transform regular casement windows into elegant grid-style options that double as pretty shelving – perfect for those small, sun-loving plants. Find out how to transform your windows with these easy step by step instructions.
Kia ora neighbours. We're on the lookout for broccoli recipes! We will give away free copies of the October 2025 issue to readers whose broccoli recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite broccoli recipe to us, at: … View moreKia ora neighbours. We're on the lookout for broccoli recipes! We will give away free copies of the October 2025 issue to readers whose broccoli recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite broccoli recipe to us, at: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by August 15, 2025.
Does your home have a bright pink front door? Know a secret rainbow-coloured park bench? Is there art in your office that makes you smile every time you walk past it? If it's bright - we need to see it!
Bright Spots is back for a third year - a celebration of the crazy colourful places in … View moreDoes your home have a bright pink front door? Know a secret rainbow-coloured park bench? Is there art in your office that makes you smile every time you walk past it? If it's bright - we need to see it!
Bright Spots is back for a third year - a celebration of the crazy colourful places in our communities and homes. Share a pic today and you could win one of ten prize packages worth $500!
Need inspo? Check out the entries so far.
Friday 15 & Saturday 16 August, 10am - 2pm.
Experience the award-winning lifestyle at a Ryman village.
Join us at our open days and explore our lifestyle and care options, tour our show homes and see the premium amenities on offer.
We look forward to seeing you.
Life gets busy—really busy. Between work, family, appointments, and a never-ending to-do list, it’s easy for things to pile up. Add fast fashion, online sales, and homewares aisles that whisper “just one more basket won’t hurt”, and suddenly we’re swimming in stuff and tat.
… View moreLife gets busy—really busy. Between work, family, appointments, and a never-ending to-do list, it’s easy for things to pile up. Add fast fashion, online sales, and homewares aisles that whisper “just one more basket won’t hurt”, and suddenly we’re swimming in stuff and tat.
Sometimes, that stuff is cozy and familiar. But other times, after a long day, you walk through the door, look around, and think: “Okay. Something’s got to go.”
And when that urge to declutter hits, the question is—where does it all go? We're not talking about broken bits and pieces, but those perfectly good things that simply no longer fit your life or your space.
In her piece When decluttering can’t be avoided much longer, Joanna Davis shares the everyday items she's finally ready to part with—and it might just inspire your own clear-out mission.
We want to know:
🧹 How often do you get the urge to declutter?
🎯 Are there certain things you’ve got your eye on to donate or rehome?
💛 Do you have any favourite charities, op-shops, or community organisations you support with your preloved items?
Let’s swap stories, share ideas, and help great stuff find a second life—outside our closets and shelves.
Some of the best moments are shared over food. That’s why we’re giving you 10,000 New World Dollars when you sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse by 30 September 2025.*
We’ll cover the grocery bills, so you can spend less time worrying about what’s in the trolley and more … View moreSome of the best moments are shared over food. That’s why we’re giving you 10,000 New World Dollars when you sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse by 30 September 2025.*
We’ll cover the grocery bills, so you can spend less time worrying about what’s in the trolley and more time enjoying who’s around the table.
And because life at Ryman means less home maintenance, you’ll have even more time for the things you love.
*Participating villages only, promotion terms and Clubcard terms and conditions apply.
Create your own oasis by colouring up an outdoor area with a punchy mural using Resene Lustacryl or Resene testpots. Find out how to add a bright spot to your backyard with these easy step by step instructions.
Imagine checking your ticket and realising that you have won big ...
Tell us your dreams - what is the very first thing you would do with the winnings?
Would you make that silly purchase you have always wanted, but could never justify?
Call the bank and immediately pay off your mortgage? … View moreImagine checking your ticket and realising that you have won big ...
Tell us your dreams - what is the very first thing you would do with the winnings?
Would you make that silly purchase you have always wanted, but could never justify?
Call the bank and immediately pay off your mortgage?
Stop by the SPCA on the way home and make a donation?
Buy a captain's hat, open up Trade Me and browse "boats for sale"?
A few weeks ago, the Neighbourly team shared a round of complaints over our morning cuppa about the challenges of juggling runny noses and work commitments.
After reading Flip Grater's opinion piece, Playing germ roulette with our kids’ health, we felt a collective sense of relief - … View moreA few weeks ago, the Neighbourly team shared a round of complaints over our morning cuppa about the challenges of juggling runny noses and work commitments.
After reading Flip Grater's opinion piece, Playing germ roulette with our kids’ health, we felt a collective sense of relief - another parent shares our niggling worries.
We wanted to check in with our online neighbours: do you feel the same way? We are all busy, and keeping children home from school is sometimes impossible given other responsibilities. Busy lives and the apparent loss of collective energy around monitoring cold symptoms have led to more students and staff in shared spaces with sniffles and coughs.
But what do you think? Is this a concern?
We want to know: Are there clear Guidelines on when to keep kids off of school?
Should we be having a nuanced conversation about risk management, and how to better support working families?
Share your opinion with us below!
Transform an old window into a handy cold frame decorated in Resene Kwila Timber Stain and Resene Lustacryl that you can move around the garden to extend your growing season. Find out how to make and finish your own with these easy step by step instructions.
The Neighbourly Team came across the third installment of 'Work, Interrupted', an article series looking at the job struggles different generations face, and we thought it would resonate with our Neighbourly community.
In this article, Amelia Wade reports on what it’s like to seek … View moreThe Neighbourly Team came across the third installment of 'Work, Interrupted', an article series looking at the job struggles different generations face, and we thought it would resonate with our Neighbourly community.
In this article, Amelia Wade reports on what it’s like to seek employment when you’re 50+. Many factors - from financial to social pressures - are keeping people in the workforce longer. The reality is that times are tough, even for our most experienced workers: of those receiving Jobseeker benefit, a third are 50-64 years old.
We want to know: Have you felt overlooked in the job market?
Do you have advice for your community on how to stand out in an increasingly crowded job seeker market?
Share your experience below!
📖 Want to read more from the 'Work, Interrupted' series?
Work, Interrupted: The kids, the mortgage, but no job. What next?
Young and shut out: Gen Z face the harshest job market in years
Work, Interrupted: Is 50 the new 60? Older workers battling algorithms to get CVs seen
This is a great way to celebrate our seniors who are leaving an amazing legacy for future generations. Let’s give a shoutout to those who have made a positive contribution to Aotearoa later in life, and who are still actively making the world around them a better place, following their careers in… View moreThis is a great way to celebrate our seniors who are leaving an amazing legacy for future generations. Let’s give a shoutout to those who have made a positive contribution to Aotearoa later in life, and who are still actively making the world around them a better place, following their careers in any service, sector or field.
Take a moment to nominate the deserving individuals in your life who are making a difference every day, either in our villages or in the wider community.
Follow the link below, and let’s make their stories known!
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