DAY SEMINAR ON PUBLISHING YOUR OWN BOOKS

Sherryl from Kamo

FOR ALL WRITERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SELF-PUBLISHING!
NorthWrite Indie Publishing Day
Saturday 9th May 2026

Our day of talks and panel sessions is focused on self-publishing successfully, from formatting and design through to marketing and publicity. Our special guests are top indie-published authors in their fields, tackling print and ebooks, great cover and page design, and the (often) dreaded marketing mountain.

We’ve received Creative Communities funding to ensure the day is an affordable price, plus found the most experienced speakers to answer all of your questions. Whether you have already published or are thinking about it, this is your chance to increase your skills and knowledge and learn how to publish more effectively and with less stress!

Join us now – registration is via a Trybooking link on our webpage where you can find the programme as well. northlandauthors.co.nz...
Cost: $60.00 which includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea. We are limited to 60 places.
Venue: Apprentice Restaurant, NorthTec, 51 Raumanga Rd, Whangarei.

Poll: Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Help settle the great kiwi debate ... cheese on top, or folded inside?

Does a savoury scone require cheese on top, or folded inside?

• Inside!
• On top!

Vote View Results

• 76.5% Inside!
  76.5% Complete
• 23.5% On top!
  23.5% Complete

1216 votes

A reminder this hunting season

The Team from New Zealand Police

As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.

Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.

Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”

Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.

The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”

Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?

“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.