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An estimated 100,000 workers from the public sector - also including dentists, social workers, physiotherapists and mental health staffers - are set to be involved, as they take a stand for better pay and conditions, as well as raising concerns around safe staffing levels.
Public Service Minister … View moreAn estimated 100,000 workers from the public sector - also including dentists, social workers, physiotherapists and mental health staffers - are set to be involved, as they take a stand for better pay and conditions, as well as raising concerns around safe staffing levels.
Public Service Minister Judith Collins, meanwhile, has released an open letter to anyone who will be impacted by the strikes and said they appeared to be “politically motivated by the unions”.
Who is striking?
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About 17,000 health members with the Public Service Association are taking part in the strike on October 23.
They are made up of allied health staff, mental and public health nurses, home support workers and policy, knowledge, advisory and specialist workers who want fair pay, safe staffing and improved conditions to give what they say is quality care patients deserve.
Why are they striking?
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PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said its members were standing up for safe staffing and for the public health service.
“We have been heartened by the overwhelming support from the public for the strikes, and we know that the protests on the day will be an expression of solidarity between workers in health, education ... and the public they serve.
“These workers have not taken strike action lightly, but consider they have a responsibility to stand up for the health service they know New Zealanders need.”
Health NZ’s pay offers have been criticised by senior doctors, with the PSA describing a 2 per cent rise, followed by a 1.5 per cent increase over a 30-month period as being well below inflation.
“The pay offers are effectively pay cuts during a cost-of-living crisis. We risk losing more health workers to Australia,” the PSA said.
There are not enough health workers to provide the level of care Kiwis need and, to make up numbers, staff were often having to pull double shifts.
“They can’t give their best to patients when they’re so thinly stretched and burnt out.”
The NZ Educational Institute has confirmed more than 40,000 of its members will strike for extra classroom support for children with diverse learning needs.
More than 20,000 unionised secondary and area school teachers are also involved in the mega strike due to a lack of progress with collective agreement negotiations, the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association confirmed earlier this month.
A 1% pay rise offer from the Government, in August, had also served as a trigger; dubbed by the PPTA as “appalling” and the lowest increase in a generation.
Underpaid and understaffed, workers ‘infuriated’
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NZ Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff said the strike action was in response to a centralised government strategy to hold down wages below inflation and to cut resources to the public service.
He said the wide range of professional workers had been negotiating for more than a year, in some cases. The only response they had received, he said, was from employers wanting them to be locked into a long-term agreement with pay adjustments under inflation.
“And they’ve given them no proper response to the resource issues - the short staffing, the breaking down of equipment and so on.
“They know that by cutting wages and by basically having people overworked and underpaid, it really risks the workforce dissipating and leaving for better places, particularly Australia.”
Wagstaff said it was unfair and “quite infuriating” for workers, given that the Government has said it would address the cost-of-living crisis.
“And here they are telling their own workers - their essential workers who keep everything running - that they should expect a pay cut.”
Wagstaff called on ordinary members of the public to get out on Thursday and strike with workers to show their support.
He said they were fighting not just for themselves, but for all Kiwis.
“It’s these public services that enable all of us to live decent lives - health services we can rely on, education services so we can reach our potential, public services to keep us protected and support our interests as a community.
“They are standing up for quality public services.
“They are really exasperated by employers who seem intent on reducing the public sector, reducing the wages of the public sector, reducing the services of the public sector and reducing the resources.”
Public Service Minister’s open letter to affected Kiwis
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Collins has written an open letter to patients, students and families affected by this week’s planned strike.
“The Government regrets the impact on you, your children and your families that is expected on Thursday because of a strike planned by a number of unions.
“We regret even more that the strike appears to be politically motivated by the unions. What else could possibly explain that in early October, when we were trying to negotiate with the secondary teachers’ union, the number one item on their agenda for a meeting with Education Minister Erica Stanford was Palestine,” Collins wrote.
“Palestine. Not terms and conditions. Not student achievement. Not the new curriculum. Palestine. That’s now what students or parents should expect.”
Collins urged parents of senior students to ask their children’s teachers to question their union’s priorities.
“And to all the parents of younger children, who have had to rearrange their usual commitments, I urge you to ask your children’s teachers why their union arranged a strike in a week when many schools already have teacher-only days, followed by Labour Day on Monday.”
Collins went on to say that the Government has acted in good faith and met with unions’ demands for pay increases in line with inflation.
She also spoke directly to those Kiwis who have had medical appointments and procedures postponed due to the strike.
“I know some of you are living in pain and in fear of a possible diagnosis that will now be delayed. This industrial action is unfair and unwarranted.”
Collins said they value nurses, doctors and other health workers whose everyday care supports patients. They also valued teachers, principals and teacher aides, she said.
“We value all public sector employees.”
The Government had a responsibility to manage the country’s finances carefully - and especially when “money is tight”, she said.
“From cancer drugs to social housing, from support for vulnerable people to conversation initiatives, there are thousands of appeals for increased spending as well as for wage increases.
“The country is simply not earning enough to meet all these calls.”
She pointed to a “huge increase” in public spending over Covid and in the following years, which resulted to public debt exploding.
“It is only unions who want strikes. We ask, once again, for them to come to the table. That is the place to talk and to bargain.”
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Eyore snow globe.
When you shake it, glitter moves around.
5 cm x 7 cm height
Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough
A trailblazing Māori scholar has finally received the recognition she deserves — nearly 100 years after her passing.
Mākereti Papakura, believed to be the first Indigenous woman to study at the University of Oxford, has been awarded a posthumous degree certificate.
Papakura sadly passed … View moreA trailblazing Māori scholar has finally received the recognition she deserves — nearly 100 years after her passing.
Mākereti Papakura, believed to be the first Indigenous woman to study at the University of Oxford, has been awarded a posthumous degree certificate.
Papakura sadly passed away in 1930, just weeks before she was due to present her thesis. Her research was later published as The Old-Time Māori — the first ethnographic study written by a Māori author.
We hope this brings a smile!
Hey neighbours!
Moving into a new place or giving your bedroom a little refresh? We know how exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) it can be to set up your space just right.
Your bed isn’t just another piece of furniture — it’s where your day begins, ends, and where real rest happens.
… View moreHey neighbours!
Moving into a new place or giving your bedroom a little refresh? We know how exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) it can be to set up your space just right.
Your bed isn’t just another piece of furniture — it’s where your day begins, ends, and where real rest happens.
Before you choose, think about comfort, space, and lifestyle. The right bed should fit your room and give you that “ahh” feeling every night.
At Beds4U, we’ve got a range of stylish, durable, and super comfy beds — plus friendly advice to help you find your perfect match.
Pop by and see us, neighbours! Let’s turn your new house into a dream home (starting with the best sleep ever).
Check out our quick guide to choosing the perfect bed for your new home here: beds4u.co.nz...
Special votes have now been validated and counted, confirming Wayne Brown as mayor elect of Tāmaki Makaurau.
👏 Congratulations to our elected members and welcome to the 2025-2028 electoral term.
ℹ️ Find out what’s changed since preliminary results by clicking on 'Read … View moreSpecial votes have now been validated and counted, confirming Wayne Brown as mayor elect of Tāmaki Makaurau.
👏 Congratulations to our elected members and welcome to the 2025-2028 electoral term.
ℹ️ Find out what’s changed since preliminary results by clicking on 'Read More'.
We are almost half-way through October and Halloween is creeping up on us! (It’s easy to miss — Christmas decorations seem to be popping up earlier every year!)
The Neighbourly team was having a bit of fun and got to wondering about New Zealand-inspired outfits! 🦇
💬 Bonus … View moreWe are almost half-way through October and Halloween is creeping up on us! (It’s easy to miss — Christmas decorations seem to be popping up earlier every year!)
The Neighbourly team was having a bit of fun and got to wondering about New Zealand-inspired outfits! 🦇
💬 Bonus question: What is the best kind of costume? Funny, scary, DIY, or pop culture themed?
E-commerce deal website GrabOne has ceased trading after its owner went into liquidation today.
Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed liquidators of Global Marketplace New Zealand Limited, which operates the GrabOne business in New Zealand.
GrabOne’s website has … View moreE-commerce deal website GrabOne has ceased trading after its owner went into liquidation today.
Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed liquidators of Global Marketplace New Zealand Limited, which operates the GrabOne business in New Zealand.
GrabOne’s website has disappeared, replaced by a message from the liquidators.
“Due to funding constraints, the business has ceased trading and the liquidators are immediately commencing a sales process for the company’s business and assets,” the liquidators said.
“As a result, the company will not be promoting any existing or future deals whilst in liquidation.”
The liquidators said the company was unable to provide refunds to customers who hold onto unredeemed vouchers.
“Consumers will need to take steps themselves - including contacting individual merchants - to assess how unredeemed vouchers will be treated.”
Retail expert and managing director of First Retail Group Chris Wilkinson said the GrabOne model became “quite a dated concept”.
“There was a lot of euphoria around that type of model around a decade ago.
“It’s almost like the catalogue model of digital marketing, where catalogues were superseded by e-commerce. It’s a legacy digital marketing model.”
Wilkinson said a decade ago deal websites tended to be nationwide models but over time became more localised.
“The deals were always typically good, often to help businesses get some cashflow and to reach new markets.
“Particularly as time went on, they became a very localised response, and it really was down to smaller businesses who needed a boost and were prepared to cut the prices.”
New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), publishers of the New Zealand Herald, sold GrabOne in 2021 to Global Marketplace New Zealand for $17.5 million.
GrabOne was founded in 2010 as a 50/50 venture between IdeaHQ - controlled by entrepreneur Shane Bradley - and then Herald publisher APN. APN progressively bought out Bradley’s stake, taking full control in 2013 in a deal worth up to $12.2m.
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With a little imagination, one roll of Resene wallpaper can add touches of colour and design throughout your home, from artworks to table runners or to refresh furniture or the inside of your drawers. It’s an easy way to get started and grow in confidence using wallpaper, then expand to bigger … View moreWith a little imagination, one roll of Resene wallpaper can add touches of colour and design throughout your home, from artworks to table runners or to refresh furniture or the inside of your drawers. It’s an easy way to get started and grow in confidence using wallpaper, then expand to bigger features and rooms. Find out how to use wallpaper in your projects with these easy step by step instructions.
From 19 October to 30 November 2025, we will be installing new signalised pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Beach Road, Churchill Street, and Parnell Rise. Works will take place Sunday to Thursday nights, between 9 pm and 5 am
These new signals will improve safety for road users, … View moreFrom 19 October to 30 November 2025, we will be installing new signalised pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Beach Road, Churchill Street, and Parnell Rise. Works will take place Sunday to Thursday nights, between 9 pm and 5 am
These new signals will improve safety for road users, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Lynette Davies said the $1000 the department is trying to take each week from her is an unfeasible amount of money.
RNZ reported earlier this week that Inland Revenue is taking a tougher line on recovering debt that it is owed - with 16,500 notices sent about planned bank deductions since … View moreLynette Davies said the $1000 the department is trying to take each week from her is an unfeasible amount of money.
RNZ reported earlier this week that Inland Revenue is taking a tougher line on recovering debt that it is owed - with 16,500 notices sent about planned bank deductions since mid-June, 25 percent more than for the whole of last year.
Between mid-June and 30 September, there had been 8181 deductions completed, which had recovered $17 million. There were another 6026 deductions in progress, which had collected $5.5m.
There is an estimated $10 billion in tax debt owing, although that does not include child support, which sits at about $1 billion.
Davies said she could not afford the $1000 a week the department wanted from her account, which is to cover child support debt.
She shared concerns expressed to RNZ last week about the way that child support is calculated. There have been calls for an overhaul amid concerns about how custody arrangements are assessed and transparency around parents' income.
She said the debt arose about a decade ago, when her daughter was 15, when she moved between her care and that of her ex-husband.
Amid a dispute between the parents, Inland Revenue continued to tell her that she was liable for child support.
"I let the IRD know that I was no longer the liable parent but was the custodial one. They wouldn't believe me."
The debt grew with penalties to about $23,000. The penalties were wiped, which took it back to $16,000.
"Three weeks ago they took $1000 out of my bank account. I was pretty upset at that, I'd had no notifications. It's actually more than I have available a week to pay," she said.
She was told to submit a complaint to suspend the payments.
"At that time I thought they were talking about $1000 a month - until the next week my eftpos card was declined and I found out they're taken another $1000. They're fully intending on taking $1000 a week. The child in question is now 25."
She has started trying to block the payments and had been told too much time had passed to take the issue to court.
A spokesperson for Inland Revenue said it could not comment on the specifics of her case but it had received extra funding for compliance so there was an increase in activity.
'We look at every case's individual circumstance and consider these before we take any deductions from people's account. We also contact or try to contact customers before taking these actions."
Another man who contacted RNZ said he too had money taken without warning. "We were not notified in advance nor did we know any money was owed. This tax was for my wife who does not have an IRD login and does not need to fill in an IR3 form. Her only income is superannuation and bank interest.
"Taking the money caused our account to go into debit, costing us still more. We are outraged that they did this without first asking us to pay whatever they thought was due."
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Fish card game.
Cards only, no storage tray.
Instructions included.
Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough
Westpac has reported a new scam targeting businesses.
Scammers are reportedly messaging businesses with screenshots of bank statements that appear to show two identical payments to the business, and asking to be refunded for the falsified duplicate payment.
Businesses should double-check any… View moreWestpac has reported a new scam targeting businesses.
Scammers are reportedly messaging businesses with screenshots of bank statements that appear to show two identical payments to the business, and asking to be refunded for the falsified duplicate payment.
Businesses should double-check any payment details before responding to queries or processing refunds for customers.
If you receive suspicious communication regarding your accounts, contact your bank directly.
This is a little house, made from (I think), plaster of Paris
Height - 12 cm
Width - 6 cm
Depth - 4.5 cm
Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough
Wooden, simple puzzle - 5 pieces.
Made by Goki, Germany.
21 cm x 21 cm
Collection is from Herd Rd, Hillsborough
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