
Firefighters rescue kitten from drain in Fairview Heights
Hi neighbours, a wee kitten stuck down a drain was rescued thanks to efforts by the SPCA and firefighters last week. It took more than three hours to retrieve the 7-week-old kitten from the drain, which proved tricky to access due to it sloping beneath the curb. Firefighters couldn't get into the drain, so had to create a platform for the kitten, which was eventually coaxed out with some food. The male kitten is now being cared for by the SPCA where he will be desexed and put up for adoption.
Have you heard of any dramatic animal rescues near you recently? Email me at caroline.williams@stuff.co.nz

Million-dollar dumps: Publicly owned properties fall to rack and ruin
To the side of East Auckland’s Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai cycleway, nestled in overgrown greenery, is a building that wouldn’t get a second glance if it weren’t for hot pink graffiti.
The house, owned by Auckland Council subsidiary Auckland Transport, was used as a site office by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency staff working on the $46 million cycleway between Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive, Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said.
But locals say the property has been all but destroyed by vandals since the cycleway was completed in 2016.
The property is one of several that have become run down and derelict under the ownership of local government.
Click 'read more' for my full report on publicly owned properties that have fallen out of use.


North Harbour Stadium kitchen to help feed 9000 school kids per day
More than 9000 kids will have full tummies to help them focus at school each day, thanks to an agreement putting the underused North Harbour Stadium kitchen to work.
Spotless and Auckland Unlimited, which owns the stadium in Albany, have come together to provide the free healthy lunches daily to 26 schools in Henderson, Massey, Ōrākei and Maungakiekie-Tāmaki.
The stadium’s full production-sized kitchen was a big investment but was “hardly” used during the week, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said.
However, the arrangement would see the kitchen used every weekday, producing a stream of revenue for Auckland Council, eliminate some of the burden from ratepayers all while creating employment for 90 people in what Goff described as a win-win arrangement.
Click 'read more' for the full story.


Wee Jobs Useful Information
Did you know how much you can save by replacing just one 75 watt incandescent lightbulb with a 11 watt LED lightbulb? Check out our post below!
