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997 days ago

New Zealand Sommelier of the year - 2021

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Congratulations to Andrea Martinisi as he is awarded New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021.

Andrea Martinisi is presented with the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021 trophy by Marek Przyborek (NZ Sommelier of the Year 2018) and chair of the Examination Committee with Celia Hay, chair of New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association. Andrea is General Manager and Head Sommelier of The Grove Restaurant, Auckland. Marek is head sommelier at Amisfield, Central Otago.

The day started with the Theory Assessment (60 minutest) and Blind Tasting of 2 wines. The white wine was Saint Clair Pioneer Block Gewurztraminer 2020 from Marlborough and from Spain, Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2016. The Practical included a restaurant scenario to decant a bottle of Te Mata Awatea 2018 and provide a food pairing. This was made a little tricky as we also had a bottle Te Mata Awatea 2019 on the sideboard... to check if the candidates were reading the label!

The Practical also featured a spirit tasting where candidates were asked to identify 4 spirits. This year the spirits were Bacardi, Tequila Blanco, Jack Daniels, Calvados.

More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

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T
24 minutes ago

affordable daycare

Tatiana from Birkdale

Dear Neighbours,

In light of the increasing expenses that we all face, we understand the challenges of managing our finances. That is why we would like to offer a solution for families in our community.

At our childcare center located at 428 Albany Highway, we are pleased to provide 30 hours of free care for all children until they are ready to start school. We believe that every child deserves access to quality early education, which is why we want to make it affordable for all families.

Any additional hours beyond the 30 free hours will be charged at a flexible rate to ensure that it is comfortable for you to pay. You can choose booking hours between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm, giving you the flexibility to fit childcare into your schedule.

Our center boasts a large outdoor area with fruit trees, perfect for physical activities and exploration. We have two cozy rooms for different age groups and a friendly teaching team, with 80 percent of our staff being qualified professionals.

We understand the importance of providing a safe and nurturing environment for young children, and we strive to create a place where they can learn and grow happily.

If you are interested in learning more about our childcare services or would like to schedule a visit, please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to support you and your family in any way we can. Our contact phone is 09 4150535, email info@secretgarden4kids.co.nz

Thank you for your attention.

5 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.4% Yes
    91.4% Complete
  • 8.1% No
    8.1% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below!
    0.5% Complete
1438 votes