Today is Winnie the Pooh Day...
Today is Winnie the Pooh Day! DID YOU KNOW....
Everyone's favorite honey-loving bear in a red crop top has been around since 1926, when A. A. Milne released his first collection of short stories.
Back in 1914, a Canadian veterinarian named Lt. Harry Colebourn bought a real bear for $20 while serving in WWI. He named his new pet Winnie, after his native Winnipeg, and the cub ended up serving as a mascot for the regiment while he was stationed in England.
However, when the soldier left for France, he left Winnie behind where it was safer at the London Zoo.
A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin, saw the Canadian bear saw at the London Zoo and named a stuffed bear toy he owned, 'Winnie'.
The "Pooh" part of Winnie's name actually came from a swan. But the exact origin is hard to pinpoint: Some sources say that the Milne family met a swan named Pooh on vacation, and Milne also refers to a swan named "Pooh" in his poem called "The Mirror." "Christopher Robin, who feeds this swan in the mornings, has given him the name of 'Pooh,'" Milne wrote. "This is a very fine name for a swan, because, if you call him and he doesn't come (which is a thing swans are good at), then you can pretend that you were just saying 'Pooh!' to show him how little you wanted him."
So that was how Winnie the Pooh's name came about! The storybook character, Winnie the Pooh, was inspired by a stuffed bear A. A. Milne's son owned.
And for all those neiighbours out there - Have a wonderful Monday.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
Do you think you know the answer?
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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