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We’ve hit a tipping point, where choosing clean energy is the smart choice, and not just because we want to reduce our carbon emissions 🌍⚡💸
Thanks to major tech improvements and mass production over the past decade, the cost of wind, solar, and other renewables has dropped fast. As a … View moreWe’ve hit a tipping point, where choosing clean energy is the smart choice, and not just because we want to reduce our carbon emissions 🌍⚡💸
Thanks to major tech improvements and mass production over the past decade, the cost of wind, solar, and other renewables has dropped fast. As a result, most new power capacity built around the world came from renewables, and every continent added more clean energy than fossil fuels.
Money — the ultimate decision-maker in politics and business — is finally lining up with climate action. A big win for the planet (and maybe our wallets?)
We hope this news brings a smile!
Hi Neighbours!
Looking for any dirt, cuttings, greens to fill a raised garden bed. Have trailer, can pick up. Thanks!!!
It’s been a little full-on at the office lately, and the Neighbourly team found ourselves chatting about something we all experience: stress.
We got talking about the power of nature — green spaces like parks, bush walks, or even just sitting under a tree, and blue spaces like the ocean, … View moreIt’s been a little full-on at the office lately, and the Neighbourly team found ourselves chatting about something we all experience: stress.
We got talking about the power of nature — green spaces like parks, bush walks, or even just sitting under a tree, and blue spaces like the ocean, lakes, or rivers. Research agrees: being in nature really does help calm the mind. We’re lucky here in Aotearoa to have such beautiful spots right on our doorstep!
But sometimes, getting out for a walk or escaping to the beach isn’t an option. So we’re curious...
We want to know: What do you do to find a moment of calm when life gets a bit too much?
A hot cuppa? A good playlist? Staring out the window?
Let us know ... your go-to might help someone else breathe a little easier, too.
Weather permitting spot spraying will be carried out in the following areas during August 2025.
Albert-Eden, Puketāpapa & Whau Local Board
Auckland Domain
Manukau Memorial Gardens
North Shore Memorial Park
Waikumete Cemetery
Herbicide applications will be carried out in reserves, … View moreWeather permitting spot spraying will be carried out in the following areas during August 2025.
Albert-Eden, Puketāpapa & Whau Local Board
Auckland Domain
Manukau Memorial Gardens
North Shore Memorial Park
Waikumete Cemetery
Herbicide applications will be carried out in reserves, cycleways, street gardens, street kerb and channels and berms/boundary edges. No spraying will be undertaken in agreed no-spray zones, during this period.
Auckland Council operates from a Code of Practice that governs all spray operations. Spraying will be undertaken by Programmed Facility Management.
For more information, please contact Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.
Maintenance tips
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Although tedious, a bit of TLC will keep your dryer in tip-top condition. Here are some simple maintenance tips:
The heat exchangers in condenser dryers get clogged with fluff circulating in the air. Clean the heat exchanger at least 4 or 5 times a year.
The … View moreMaintenance tips
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Although tedious, a bit of TLC will keep your dryer in tip-top condition. Here are some simple maintenance tips:
The heat exchangers in condenser dryers get clogged with fluff circulating in the air. Clean the heat exchanger at least 4 or 5 times a year.
The water reservoirs in condenser and heat-pump dryers need to be emptied after nearly every load. This is easier if the reservoir is at the top of your dryer rather than the bottom – and you can avoid the hassle completely by plumbing your machine to a drain.
Lint filters should be cleaned after every load. This improves drying efficiency and reduces the risk of fire. Cleaning will be easier if the lint filter’s near the front of your machine or on the door. Some dryers have more filters than others.
Sensors won't work effectively unless you wipe the drum with white vinegar or stainless-steel cleaner every few months.
Troubleshooting your sensor dryer
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Is your sensor clothes dryer stopping short of drying your clothes? A sensor clothes dryer should detect when a load is dry and stop running. This prevents over-drying, which can damage your clothes. Because it’s not running any longer than it needs to, you’ll save money on your power bill too. But what if your clothes dryer stops and you open the door to a still-damp load?
Troubleshooting tips
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If you’re having trouble getting your sensor dryer to fully dry a load, try these tips:
Clean the moisture sensors: These are 2 metal strips that are usually inside the drum underneath the door. Over time, residue from washing powder and fabric softener can accumulate on the sensors, which reduces sensitivity. To clean them, switch the dryer off at the wall and wipe with a soft cloth and mild soap.
Sort your load: Mixed loads – for example, lightweight T-shirts and heavyweight jeans – can be challenging for a sensor dryer. For even results, dry similar-weight items together.
Use the right setting: Clothes dryers are becoming more sophisticated, with settings for different fabrics and items such as sheets and sportswear. It pays to read the user guide to check you’re using the most suitable setting for the type of items you throw in your dryer. For example, if your dryer has a “sheets” setting, use it as it will alternate the tumbling direction to prevent sheets tangling into a damp-centred ball.
Choosing the right clothes dryer pays off in the long run. We’ve tested heat-pump, condenser and vented clothes dryers to find the most efficient, easiest to use and fastest.
Dryer safety
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Before you throw laundry into the clothes dryer, make sure you've taken these basic safety steps.
*Lint build-up is a fire hazard. It can cause overheating and also reduces drying efficiency. Clean the lint filter after each use – and regularly move your dryer and vacuum up lint from the surrounding walls. If the dryer is ducted to the outside, clean any lint from the duct and the exhaust vent.
*Plastic items (such as shower caps and plastic-backed baby bibs) shouldn't go into the dryer: they'll melt.
*Items made of rubber can catch fire. Keep them out of the dryer, too.
*Watch out for clothes or towels that have been in contact with oils, waxes or products containing petroleum or alcohol (like hair-styling products) – they may be flammable. Make sure they've been washed in hot water before you put them in the clothes dryer.
*Always let the dryer complete its cool-down cycle then remove the load and spread it out.
*If you have to turn off the dryer before it’s finished, remove the load and spread it out to cool. Clothes left bundled up are more likely to catch fire by spontaneous combustion.
*Turn off the dryer whenever you're away from the house or are asleep.
*Kids are explorers, which means one could climb into a dryer. If you have small children, avoid models that start automatically when the door is closed.
*Allow plenty of ventilation around the dryer.
*If mounting or stacking your dryer, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consider getting it professionally installed.
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Children are especially vulnerable to the influence of advertising, which is now more sophisticated and personalised than ever.
Children in Aotearoa are now targeted by advertisers in a wide variety of contexts, both physical and digital, and in a more systematic, integrated and personalised way … View moreChildren are especially vulnerable to the influence of advertising, which is now more sophisticated and personalised than ever.
Children in Aotearoa are now targeted by advertisers in a wide variety of contexts, both physical and digital, and in a more systematic, integrated and personalised way than ever before.
These days, ads aren't just something children see between TV programmes. They are woven into their physical environment and the digital platforms they use to learn, play and socialise.
Our new research showed just how pervasive this exposure is.
We used data from the earlier Kids’Cam observational study, which tracked 90 New Zealand children’s real-world experiences using wearable cameras that captured what they were looking at from waking up to going to sleep.
On average, we found children encountered marketing for “unhealthy” products – junk food, alcohol and gambling, 76 times per day. That’s almost two-and-a-half times more than their daily exposure to “healthy” marketing.
Coca-Cola topped the list of most frequently encountered brands, appearing 6.3 times a day on average. The findings also show stark inequalities. Children from more socioeconomically deprived areas were exposed to significantly more unhealthy marketing for junk food.
Why exposure matters
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Advertising directed at children extends far beyond simply promoting products. It profoundly shapes their cognitive, social and behavioural development.
Research has shown it can spark an immediate desire for products and contribute to conflict between children and parents.
It can also influence the formation of broader consumption values and desires. Advertising exposure has been linked to increased materialism, by associating possessions with happiness and success.
However, materialism is consistently associated with lower self-esteem, reduced well-being, and weaker social relationships because it shifts focus away from intrinsic sources of fulfilment such as personal growth and connection.
Moreover, marketing plays a pivotal role in shaping children’s beliefs, attitudes and social norms.
There is evidence connecting advertising to the internalisation of gender and racial stereotypes and distorted body image. It has also been linked to the early use of harmful products such as tobacco and alcohol.
Advertising has been found to affect dietary habits, with sustained exposure to food advertising significantly increasing the risk of childhood obesity.
Vulnerable to influence
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Children are uniquely vulnerable to the influence of advertising as they lack the critical reasoning skills to recognise and evaluate persuasive intent.
In the online environment where advertising is embedded in games, influencer content and social feeds, children are especially vulnerable.
Our study found a clear pattern. The less regulation there is, the higher the exposure.
Tobacco marketing, which is tightly regulated, was rarely encountered by the children in our study. Alcohol and gambling – regulated by a patchwork of laws and voluntary codes – appeared moderately often. But junk food marketing, almost entirely self-regulated by industry, dominated what they saw.
More than half of the unhealthy food and alcohol marketing children saw came from just 15 multinational companies. This highlights the systemic nature of the problem, as well as the resources behind it. These companies have the money to spend on marketing these harmful products to children.
Taking action
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International agencies such as the United Nations have warned that exploitative marketing is a major global threat to children’s health.
To respond to this growing harm, governments need to:
protect children through comprehensive regulation restricting junk food, alcohol and gambling marketing, similar to what already exists for tobacco
introduce restrictions on product packaging for unhealthy products, which the study found was a key medium for marketing
conduct further research to understand the digital marketing environment, in particular to identify disparities in targeting based on ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic status.
This is not just about protecting children’s innocence. It’s about protecting their health, autonomy and future opportunities. Left unchecked, the current commercial environment risks deepening health inequities and normalising harmful consumption patterns from an early age.
Aotearoa New Zealand has the chance to lead efforts to create a digital and physical environment where commercial interests do not undermine children’s rights and wellbeing.
That requires moving beyond voluntary codes towards enforceable protections – grounded in evidence, public health priorities and equity.
If we don’t act now, we risk commodifying childhood itself.
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… then you need something else than the usual: a 20 in (51 cm) Sea Buffalo Bush Knife / Machete with a wooden handle • Pickup in Green Bay (we live opposite Green Bay High School) • NOTE: Will ONLY sell to responsible adults! No Gang members • No Insignia • No tattoos.
Very clean inside • Pickup in Green Bay (we live opposite Green Bay High School)
Pickup in Green Bay (we live opposite Green Bay High School)
Yellow bag has single-use cutlery • Big plastic box not included • Pickup in Green Bay (we live opposite Green Bay High School)
Roll with White Packing Straps • Empty Roll could quite easily be turned into a garden hose reel • Pickup in Green Bay (we live opposite Green Bay High School)
Come along to a free one-hour presentation on Tuesday 26th August, at 2.00pm at St Lukes Community Church, 130 Remuera Rd.and learn about organising your photos on your iPad.
Email: mac.auckland@seniornet.nz or Phone Janet 0212148386.
Nurses report that waiting rooms are packed around the clock, with some patients facing hours-long delays before being seen. A combination of flu cases, COVID-19 infections, and winter-related illnesses such as respiratory conditions has put enormous pressure on already stretched services. Staff … View moreNurses report that waiting rooms are packed around the clock, with some patients facing hours-long delays before being seen. A combination of flu cases, COVID-19 infections, and winter-related illnesses such as respiratory conditions has put enormous pressure on already stretched services. Staff shortages have further compounded the situation, leaving frontline workers exhausted.
One senior nurse described the conditions as “relentless,” noting that the patient flow has shown no sign of slowing down since the start of winter. Many patients arriving at EDs are elderly or have underlying health issues, requiring longer and more complex care. This has created a bottleneck, with patients often waiting for ward beds to become available.
Health experts say the demand highlights the need for more investment in both emergency and primary care. They stress that many people end up in emergency departments because they cannot access timely GP appointments, further increasing ED workloads.
Despite the pressure, nurses continue to provide critical care, but they warn the system is close to breaking point. Calls have been made for urgent action to support frontline staff, including additional resources, recruitment drives, and stronger community care initiatives to ease hospital demand.
As winter continues, Auckland’s ED nurses say they are bracing for even tougher weeks ahead.
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