The Leader is making a lot of noise about "Shop Local"
Although the grammar nazi in me shouts "that should read 'locally".
Right ... To start with, I should say that I agree with this in principle. I have shopped locally for decades; in Kaikohe when I lived in the Hokianga, or in Kerikeri, or in Whangarei now that I live down here.
BUT! There is a big, stinking problem here, and that is that in so many instances we are being - there is no other way of putting it - ripped off.
I'll give you an example: years ago I was on a dietary supplement. At my local health food store: $47 a bottle. Purchased on the internet, and airmailed from the USA: $17 per bottle, *including postage*. Nearly 3 times as much. So when I hear retailers jubilation that we customers now have to pay more GST on the goods we get overseas, and how that will help local business, I can only laugh: 15% on that 17 dollar bottle is not going to change my mind. Get real.
I can buy books in England and have them shipped that cost me 12-15 dollars landed in my letter box, and they would cost $30 if I bought them locally.
And no, not for a moment am I accepting the favourite argument that it's transport cost. The transport cost for a trade paperback book in a container would be mere cents. Somebody, be it the importers, or be it the distributors, are making a killing.
That is nothing to say about the attitude I encounter in many shops.
Used to go into the Kerikeri New World, ask at the deli counter about some exotic sausage meat - "we don't have any in, but I can have it for you by Tuesday, what is your phone number please". My experience at the Regent when asking for a product in their weekly catalogue? "We don't do that (blue cheese) here". Not apologetic, just snooty. Guess what - I am feeling inclined to take a good deal of my custom elsewhere, even if it means I have to pay for shipping.
We have a couple of hardware stores who declare they will drop their price if someone else has the product cheaper. I went to the first one, B, but they didn't have that drill press I wanted on the shelf. I went to the second one, M, they had one, but more expensive - some piffling amount like 20 or 30 dollars. I asked if they would drop the price to that of the competition. They had to ring up, found out the competition didn't have one on the shelf and refused to drop the price. So I went online at home, and got one sent up freepost from Auckland at a lower price the next day. They missed out on a $425 sale because they would not drop the price by $20. Does that make sense, business wise? I think not. Does that make sense in terms of 'happy customer'? Not At All. They blew my good-will.
Buy locally? Yes, with all my heart - I want to support local business. But you need to make an effort at service for starters, and it would help if you would not grossly overcharge us on some product lines as well. I'm actually prepared to pay 10-20% extra locally, but not 200-300%. Maybe someone should explain that to some of the local retailers.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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31.7% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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68.3% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Something we all seem to have forgotten
An Obituary to Common Sense printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated valuable lessons like:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge)
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death;
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason
He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights,
- I Want It Now,
- Someone Else Is To Blame,
- I'm A Victim,
- Pay me for Doing Nothing
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing…
This is a modified version of a text that is originally attributed to Lori Borgman. However, it is more true today than it was when first written. It is not the version I remember, but it still gets the point across. Enjoy and remember.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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