1082 days ago

Woman breaches Auckland border, gets car stuck in endangered bird nesting site

Caroline Williams Reporter from Whangārei Leader

Kia ora neighbours. A woman who breached Auckland's Covid border ended up having to be rescued, after her vehicle got stuck in a sand dune at the nesting site of the country’s rarest endemic bird.

According to the Department of Conservation (DOC), the woman and her dog stayed overnight in the vehicle after it got stuck in sand at the Mangawhai wildlife refuge last weekend.

DOC manager Craig Deal said the police were called and DOC compliance officers will be following up with the woman, over her entering a wildlife refuge with a vehicle and a dog, both of which are prohibited and carry an $800 infringement notice.

The site is one of four tara iti (fairy tern) nesting sites located just north of Auckland, and protected by Northland Reserves Bylaws.

With a population of fewer than 40 birds, the birds have been near extinction since the 1980s and require a lot of human help to ensure their survival.

The attached video from the 2020 breeding season shows the steps taken to protect fairy tern eggs during a storm. (Video credit: Ricky Wilson/Stuff)

More messages from your neighbours
7 days ago

What workplace change would you like to see most?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

This coming Monday is Labour Day in New Zealand. This public holiday marks when the eight-hour workday and 48-hour workweek became law in 1899. The idea started with Samuel Parnell, a carpenter in Wellington, who in 1840 refused to work more than eight hours a day. Since skilled workers were in short supply, his employer had to agree.

As more skilled workers arrived, employers tried to change working conditions, but Parnell and others kept pushing for better rights. In 1890, Parnell led a Labour Day parade of 1,500 people to promote the eight-hour day. He passed away shortly after, and nine years later, Labour Day became an official public holiday.

Do you feel that we have reached the ideal in working environments yet? What rights are you passionate about relating to employment? Share your thoughts!

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7 hours ago

$100 Petrol vouchers go to...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Congratulations to this week's winners:

Sam Fuller from Red Beach

Johanna Mortis from Saint Clair

Matthew Hardy from Kelburn

Anne Fahey from Woolston

They've each won a $100 petrol voucher.

If you're a winner, get in touch here.

Not a winner this week? There's always next week!

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7 hours ago

Riddle Me This: Can You Outsmart Today’s Puzzle?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I belong in December, but not in any other month. I am not a holiday. What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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