Angel Tree
While recently attending our local church with my family, I noticed a table at the back of the auditorium. It had trees set up with a name card on each of the branches. Upon inquiry, I was told it was an Angel Tree, coordinated by Prison Fellowship New Zealand.
Through this programme, every prisoner in the country is given the opportunity to choose to give a Christmas gift to their child or children.
I asked my seven-year-old son to choose a child for our family to buy a present for. He chose a seven-year-old boy who stated on his card that he hoped for spiderman apparel. Our children all contributed money from their pocket money jars, and we purchased an appropriate $25 gift. We then brought it to church the following Sunday.
I would like to thank Prison Fellowship NZ for coordinating this programme, and all those who generously gave a gift. It means that an extra 4,000 Kiwi children will receive a Christmas present and card with a personal message from their parent this Christmas.
Research indicates that children who maintain a relationship between themselves and their parent have an improved emotional response to their incarceration.
Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
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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41.4% Yes
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32.3% Maybe?
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26.3% No
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
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!
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Have you been to Hamilton Gardens lately?
Hamilton will soon offer a portal to a medieval ‘hospital’, without the stress of the bubonic plague.
The Medieval Gardens will open next year at Hamilton Gardens, with much of the work already done.
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