796 days ago

Major award for local Clean-Up leader, Karen Lee

The Team from Whangarei District Council

Congratulations to local legend Karen Lee who has been nationally recognised as a "Tidy Kiwi of the Year" by Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) this year.

Karen is the backbone of F.O.R.C.E (For Our Real Clean Environment) which organises the popular Love Whangarei Monthly Clean Up and the new Repair Cafe Whangārei. She also somehow juggles a full-time job and raising a toddler with her partner, Councillor Nicholas Connop.

Karen says the secret is to make it fun: "People motivate and encourage others and get encouraged and motivated in return. Anyone can take part - just start small and encourage others and you'll be amazed at the results."

KNZB says "The vision of F.O.R.C.E is to treat waste as a resource, and Karen lives and breathes that vision! Karen has a passion for reducing waste in the environment, and that passion inspires others to do better too." Anyone who has been to one of their clean-ups or the Repair Cafe will agree!

Thank you Karen and everyone who volunteers to keep Whangārei beautiful - we love the difference you make.

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More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

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

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?

(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)

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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1 day ago

Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”

We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?

Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.

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Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 41.8% Yes
    41.8% Complete
  • 32.1% Maybe?
    32.1% Complete
  • 26.1% No
    26.1% Complete
368 votes
8 days ago

Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.

Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔

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Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
  • 73.1% We work hard, we deserve a break!
    73.1% Complete
  • 15.8% Hmm, maybe?
    15.8% Complete
  • 11.1% Yes!
    11.1% Complete
1320 votes