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Everyone has at least one world event they’ll never forget. Whether it’s something recent like the pandemic or the passing of the Pope, or something from the past like 9/11 or a World War.
If you're comfortable sharing, let us know where you were when the news broke, and what do you … View moreEveryone has at least one world event they’ll never forget. Whether it’s something recent like the pandemic or the passing of the Pope, or something from the past like 9/11 or a World War.
If you're comfortable sharing, let us know where you were when the news broke, and what do you remember most about that moment?
Kia ora team
Thinking about retirement? Maybe you’re already retired, you’re close to it, or you’re just dreaming of it in the distant future… Check out Stuff’s continuing partnership with Metlifecare, The Good Life.
This time, we’ve looked at the … View moreKia ora team
Thinking about retirement? Maybe you’re already retired, you’re close to it, or you’re just dreaming of it in the distant future… Check out Stuff’s continuing partnership with Metlifecare, The Good Life.
This time, we’ve looked at the nutrient we should be focusing on as we age (and no, it’s not the carbs v fat debate!) plus some luxury rail travel - with gourmet food.
We also feature a fabulous 80s band, by which we mean the youngest member is 80!
Joanna Davis
Homed Editor
Looking for a thoughtful gift for Mum? Give her something she'll enjoy all year round with a magazine subscription!
This Mother's Day, save up to 35% on subscriptions – perfect for Mum, Grandma, a special mother figure, or even as a treat for yourself!
Enjoy these 1-year … View moreLooking for a thoughtful gift for Mum? Give her something she'll enjoy all year round with a magazine subscription!
This Mother's Day, save up to 35% on subscriptions – perfect for Mum, Grandma, a special mother figure, or even as a treat for yourself!
Enjoy these 1-year subscriptions at unbeatable prices: NZ Gardener for $79 (was $106.80), NZ House & Garden for $99 (was $132), and TV Guide for $119 (was $166.40).
Whether she’s passionate about gardening, inspired by beautiful homes, or loves to keep up with the latest entertainment, you’ll find the perfect match at Mags4Gifts.co.nz.
Don't miss out – shop now and make her day unforgettable!
From the team at Mags4Gifts
A new survey shows 55% of New Zealanders worry about money either daily or weekly.
Those “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the overall economy rose to 51%.
Only 44% of New Zealanders said they feel financially prepared for retirement.
… View moreA new survey shows 55% of New Zealanders worry about money either daily or weekly.
Those “very” or “somewhat” concerned about the overall economy rose to 51%.
Only 44% of New Zealanders said they feel financially prepared for retirement.
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More than half of New Zealanders worry about money weekly amid persistent financial pressures, according to a new survey.
The Financial Services Council’s (FSC) latest Financial Resilience Index found 55% of New Zealanders – equivalent to just over two million people – worry about money either daily or weekly.
Despite concerns around inflation, house prices and interest rates easing slightly compared with last year, 83% remain “very” or “somewhat” concerned about inflation.
Meanwhile, the number of people feeling “very” or “somewhat” unconfident with the overall economy rose to 51%, up from 49% in 2024.
“These results show that while there’s potential for optimism, many households are still feeling the pinch,” said FSC chief executive Kirk Hope.
“The data reflects that financial pressure hasn’t disappeared.”
Financial issues also had an impact on the wellbeing of those surveyed, with 59% reporting their mental health had been affected.
Younger generations remain the groups that worry about money more regularly, with 35% of Gen Z worrying about it daily compared with Gen Y (30%), Gen X (31%), and Baby Boomers (16%).
Job security dropped, with 80% reportedly feeling either completely, very or reasonably secure in their current employment, down from 85% in 2024.
“Job security remains high but there is a small downward trend,” the report said.
Only 44% of New Zealanders said they feel financially prepared for retirement, down 6% from last year.
“At present, fewer than half of Kiwis feel financially prepared for retirement – a phase of life that should be defined by security and peace of mind,” Hope said.
KiwiSaver remains the top investment New Zealanders have, with 81% of Kiwis enrolled – more than double the 40% who hold cash investments like term deposits.
“With KiwiSaver being the primary investment vehicle for most New Zealanders, it’s essential that we re-examine settings around contributions and enrolment,” Hope said.
“Ensuring people can maximise the benefits of KiwiSaver is critical not just for their retirement, but for the long-term financial wellbeing of the country.”
A recent BNZ Voice survey found squeezed households were resorting to high-interest credit fixes to juggle back-to-school and work costs.
More than a third (37%) said they were turning to high-interest lending such as buy now, pay later services and credit cards to cover costs.
The biggest start-of-year expenses were stationery (53%), transport (42%), school and work uniforms (42%) and technology-related costs (40%).
Meanwhile, financial hardships in February were 16% higher year on year compared with a year ago, according to Centrix data.
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Hi Neighbours,
The Half Price Bed Sale just got even better, not only can you save up to 50%, but for a limited time, when you buy any Slumberzone NZ Made Mattress, you’ll get a matching bed base for just $1!
? Plus: 34 Months Interest-Free with Purple Visa
? Offer available in-store &… View moreHi Neighbours,
The Half Price Bed Sale just got even better, not only can you save up to 50%, but for a limited time, when you buy any Slumberzone NZ Made Mattress, you’ll get a matching bed base for just $1!
? Plus: 34 Months Interest-Free with Purple Visa
? Offer available in-store & online, while stocks last
✅ Available in all standard sizes
✅ Upgrade to premium fabrics or storage bases for a small additional cost
Hurry — this offer is valid only during the Half Price Bed Sale!
T&Cs Apply.
An impromptu visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Ryman’s Jane Winstone Village in Whanganui on Wednesday resulted in the largest turnout from residents that the village had seen in a very long time.
Residents who packed out the lounge and waited patiently for a chance to meet the PM … View moreAn impromptu visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Ryman’s Jane Winstone Village in Whanganui on Wednesday resulted in the largest turnout from residents that the village had seen in a very long time.
Residents who packed out the lounge and waited patiently for a chance to meet the PM said they were ‘very impressed’ at Luxon’s determination to get around everyone who had turned out to see him – even as his team started to worry he would be late for his next engagement!
Click read more for the full story.
Transform a plain deck or balcony into a bright, cheerful space with your favourite Resene colour to enjoy looking out onto during the gloomier months. Find out how you can refresh your deck with these easy step by step instructions.
Last-ditch mediation between Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora and the senior doctors’ union has failed to avert an unprecedented 24-hour strike.
Health NZ deputy chief executive Cath Cronin said the agency was “deeply disappointed” that the union had refused to present its latest offer to … View moreLast-ditch mediation between Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora and the senior doctors’ union has failed to avert an unprecedented 24-hour strike.
Health NZ deputy chief executive Cath Cronin said the agency was “deeply disappointed” that the union had refused to present its latest offer to its members following mediation on Thursday.
“We value our doctors and want to do the best we can for them, but the reality is that Health NZ has limited budget available for salary settlements within its tight financial constraints,” she said.
Health NZ was urgently applying for facilitation, which would “give an independent party the opportunity to hear from both sides and make a recommendation”.
“We believe we have been fair and realistic, including offering to remove the lowest pay steps for senior doctors.”
Cronin said Te Whatu Ora had “heard” the union’s concern regarding growing and retaining the senior doctor workforce.
Under Te Whatu Ora’s new offer, a first-year specialist would receive a $17,700 (9.5%) increase on base salary and a 9.5% increase on other remuneration, including KiwiSaver, and another 6% the following year.
A second-year specialist would receive a $11,800 (6.2%) pay increase on base salary plus 6.2% for KiwiSaver, and another 6% increase in the following year.
All other specialists would have their salaries increased by 3% over two years, with a lump sum payment of $8000 to doctors with three or more years’ experience.
“Additionally, we offered an incentive in ‘hard to recruit’ districts, which will assist in attracting and retaining senior doctors.”
Latest offer ‘worse’ - union
======================
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said however there was no point taking the offer to its members as for most of them it was “worse than what was originally on the table”.
Most specialists were already near or at the top of the specialist scale, and for them the offer (a 33-month term with no backdating) worked out at “less than 0.77% on average”, she said.
Dalton said the offer of less than 1% amounted to a pay cut in real terms, and would “drive existing doctors away rather than help retain them”.
It would not attract any new senior doctors to fill vacancies, which run at 12% on average, and up to 44% in some districts.
“New Zealand will be short more than 3450 senior doctors by 2032 and we are already seeing the impact of doctor shortages across the country with longer wait times in emergency departments and for first specialists’ appointments.
“At the same time, Health NZ continues to pay considerable amounts to locums [doctors covering specialist vacancies] some of whom are left in the posts for months rather than days or weeks, and who are paid significantly more than salaried staff.
“So we think their priorities are wrong, they’re not taking a long-term investment approach. They still can’t adequately account for where there are gaps and where there are not.”
While Health NZ was claiming to have made “recruitment and retention offers” in hard to staff areas, that was only happening in four districts, she said.
“They have coincidentally limited those to the four that have been in the media the most. Some of them do have the greatest need, like Tairāwhiti, but there are regions that have demonstrably higher vacancy levels that have not been included in this list.
“So they continue to ignore their own data in terms of what they say they are doing.”
Dalton acknowledged that Te Whatu Ora did move to address some problems in mediation, including offering to “restore relativities” with junior doctors.
That would benefit about 500 members.
However, some doctors were still waiting for aspects of the last collective settlement to be implemented. For instance, some districts were still not paying emergency department shift allowances.
“The strike will result in planned procedures being postponed, but the same number of procedures are lost every week due to ongoing staff shortages,” Dalton said.
Hospitals and emergency departments will remain open, and the union is working with Health NZ to ensure life-preserving services continue during the strike.
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Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime 18-night Panama Canal cruise and save up to $4,000 per couple! Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of this iconic waterway, paired with unforgettable hotel stays in the vibrant cities of New York and Los Angeles. Plus, enjoy a complimentary upgrade from an … View moreEmbark on a once-in-a-lifetime 18-night Panama Canal cruise and save up to $4,000 per couple! Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of this iconic waterway, paired with unforgettable hotel stays in the vibrant cities of New York and Los Angeles. Plus, enjoy a complimentary upgrade from an Interior to an Oceanview cabin.
Don't miss out - book your dream getaway today and experience the Panama Canal in unforgettable style.
*T&Cs apply, please see the Imagine Holidays website for full T&Cs.
This free course offers a structured 4 part program covering the ABC’s of learning meditation, and introduces many lifestyle positives supporting your practice.
The focus is on meditation exercises, helping you to cultivate a quiet mind, calm breath, still body. The evenings are welcoming and … View moreThis free course offers a structured 4 part program covering the ABC’s of learning meditation, and introduces many lifestyle positives supporting your practice.
The focus is on meditation exercises, helping you to cultivate a quiet mind, calm breath, still body. The evenings are welcoming and encouraging, inviting participation and questions and featuring several guided meditation techniques each evening.
These evenings also provide an overview of the many paths, introducing the main branches of yoga along with mantras and simple visualisations.
When: Consecutive Mondays, Thursdays, May 5, 8, 12, 15. 7:30-9pm nightly
Venue: Sri Chinmoy Centre, 89 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden. Entry is through the side door just around the corner in Tawari Street.
Registration: Registration is required to accommodate numbers attending. Please register by text your name, number attending to Ailsa 021 892 153.
NOTE: No new admissions after the second evening please, this is a structured, progressive course. Plenty of local street parking
There have been hundreds of brilliant entries from around New Zealand for local businesses; but have we received yours yet?
Make sure you share a few words about your favourite local to give them a chance to be this year's Prospa Local Business Hero because it's the LAST WEEK TO … View moreThere have been hundreds of brilliant entries from around New Zealand for local businesses; but have we received yours yet?
Make sure you share a few words about your favourite local to give them a chance to be this year's Prospa Local Business Hero because it's the LAST WEEK TO NOMINATE! It'll only take you a couple of minutes and they could win a prize package worth over $30,000! And you could win great prizes too.
Nominate a business making an impact in your community now.
A Tauranga man has filed a complaint with the Commerce Commission, claiming that due to dynamic pricing, it’s cheaper for him to fly to Los Angeles than to book a flight for his daughter from Tauranga to Wellington.
Do you think their pricing needs addressed to encourage more people to fly?
Whether it's craft, haberdashery, woodwork or upcycling, we'd love to see what you've been working on lately.
You may even spark someone else's creativity...
Tell us about your current project or show us a picture in the comments below...
ANZAC Day is a time to reflect, remember, and honour those who served.
It’s also a powerful reminder of the impact of war and the courage of those who stood for something greater than themselves.
We're interested to hear what ANZAC Day means to you and your whānau, and about any … View moreANZAC Day is a time to reflect, remember, and honour those who served.
It’s also a powerful reminder of the impact of war and the courage of those who stood for something greater than themselves.
We're interested to hear what ANZAC Day means to you and your whānau, and about any special traditions you follow each year.
Perhaps you have a loved one who served? If you feel comfortable, we’d love for you to share their story here with us.
Looking for a thoughtful gift for Mum? Give her something she'll enjoy all year round with a magazine subscription!
This Mother's Day, save up to 35% on subscriptions – perfect for Mum, Grandma, a special mother figure, or even as a treat for yourself!
Enjoy these 1-year … View moreLooking for a thoughtful gift for Mum? Give her something she'll enjoy all year round with a magazine subscription!
This Mother's Day, save up to 35% on subscriptions – perfect for Mum, Grandma, a special mother figure, or even as a treat for yourself!
Enjoy these 1-year subscriptions at unbeatable prices: NZ Gardener for $79 (was $106.80), NZ House & Garden for $99 (was $132), and TV Guide for $119 (was $166.40).
Whether she’s passionate about gardening, inspired by beautiful homes, or loves to keep up with the latest entertainment, you’ll find the perfect match at Mags4Gifts.co.nz.
Don't miss out – shop now and make her day unforgettable!
From the team at Mags4Gifts
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