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? Win a Yates Gardening Hamper! ?
We’re celebrating National Gardening Week with a blooming great giveaway! Two lucky winners will each receive a Yates hamper valued at $225, packed with everything you need to help your garden flourish.
To enter, simply tell us what you’re planting this spring and share your best gardening … View moreWe’re celebrating National Gardening Week with a blooming great giveaway! Two lucky winners will each receive a Yates hamper valued at $225, packed with everything you need to help your garden flourish.
To enter, simply tell us what you’re planting this spring and share your best gardening tip.
Winners announced Wednesday, October 29 - good luck and happy gardening! ?
T&Cs apply.
TOMORROW-----Strike action – expect delays
Police are aware of strike action planned in central Auckland tomorrow, which is expected to cause significant disruption on the roads.
The rally is due to start about midday at Aotea Square, and will include a march down Queen Street to Te Komititanga Square, where the event will conclude.
… View morePolice are aware of strike action planned in central Auckland tomorrow, which is expected to cause significant disruption on the roads.
The rally is due to start about midday at Aotea Square, and will include a march down Queen Street to Te Komititanga Square, where the event will conclude.
Motorists are advised to expect delays and avoid Queen Street and the surrounding areas if possible.
Plan ahead and allow extra time.
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Public transport users should check Auckland Transport’s website for information on changes to services.
Police are working closely with event organisers to ensure the safety of all participants and the wider public.
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Table Round Mosaic Top, Solid steel legs
This piece of art was bought in Mt Eden from an Art collective.
Snow Board or Ski Jacket
Unisex snow wear. In very good condition, bought in Canada so warm. Fit 10 or 12 year old or small adult. Red colour.
Rocking chair
Very comfortable, vintage, bought in Canada in 1968 and been in family ever since. Downsizing now so need to sell precious items. In good shape.
Whittaker’s chocolate price: Blocks as high as $8.49 in supermarkets after hike
It now costs up to $8.49 to buy a block of Whittaker’s chocolate after the company upped its prices.
New World stores across Auckland were selling regular 250g blocks for $8.49 on Monday. Just last Friday, they were $7.69, 80c cheaper.
The cheapest Auckland price the Herald could find was $6.39… View moreIt now costs up to $8.49 to buy a block of Whittaker’s chocolate after the company upped its prices.
New World stores across Auckland were selling regular 250g blocks for $8.49 on Monday. Just last Friday, they were $7.69, 80c cheaper.
The cheapest Auckland price the Herald could find was $6.39 at Pak’nSave in Botany.
Blocks at Sylvia Park and Ormiston were $6.49, while other Pakn’Save supermarkets were selling them for $7.09.
Woolworths stores were selling the blocks for $7.69 on Monday.
Prices of other Whittaker’s products have also increased.
Last week, New World was selling 100g blocks for $5.99. Today, they cost $6.99.
The 45g bars, including “Peanut Slabs”, last week cost $2.09. Now they are $2.69.
Hike driven by a jump in ingredient and operating costs
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The company announced prices would be increased across its range of products last Friday.
“At Whittaker’s, we’re proud to craft all of our chocolate right here in New Zealand, using the finest ingredients,” the company said on its social media.
“For us, increasing our prices is always a last resort, however, over the past year, the cost of ingredients and operating costs have continued to rise.
“We’ll never compromise on the size or quality of our products so this price increase will enable us to continue bringing you our delicious chocolate made with the very best, ethically sourced ingredients.”
The announcement comes after Statistics NZ yesterday revealed food prices had increased 4.1% in the 12 months to September.
The average price of milk was 15.1% higher than a year ago. Stats NZ said the 3.9% increase in prices in the grocery food category had driven the overall food price.
Butter prices were 28.9% higher than a year ago and cheese prices rose 31.4%.
The social media response to Whittaker’s announcement appeared to be understanding of the cost pressures and appreciative of the company’s commitment to quality and block size.
“I’ll give credit where credit’s due. You are always up front when increasing prices and very clear in not compromising on quality, unlike competitors who slowly reduce their sizing and quality and hope the customer won’t notice. Will always buy Whittaker’s,” one social media user said.
“Consistent quality and transparency means I will always buy your chocolate,” another said.
“Love your chocolate, love that it never shrinks, and the recipe never changes. Happy to support local. We’re loyal to Whittaker’s,” another social media user said.
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Happy DIWALI
Here's wishing all neighbours celebrating this festival a very happy Deepavalli. May millions of lamps illuminate your life with joy, prosperity, good health and more wealth.
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BUYER BEWARE---The supermarket deals that are too good to be true – and how to spot them
We’ve all felt it – that small thrill when you spot a yellow “special” tag on the shelf or see a loyalty discount appear on your receipt. But in New Zealand, not every bargain is what it seems. Watchdogs say pricing errors and misleading promotions may be costing shoppers millions each … View moreWe’ve all felt it – that small thrill when you spot a yellow “special” tag on the shelf or see a loyalty discount appear on your receipt. But in New Zealand, not every bargain is what it seems. Watchdogs say pricing errors and misleading promotions may be costing shoppers millions each year, and some supermarkets are now facing criminal charges for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
What the law says
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Under the Fair Trading Act 1986, retailers must not mislead or deceive consumers about prices or promotions. Advertising a discount that is not genuine, or charging more at the checkout than the shelf price, can breach the act.
The Commerce Commission has warned that supermarket pricing inaccuracies “can lead to consumers paying more than they should”. Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden said in May 2024 that if even a small percentage of transactions are wrong, “New Zealanders could be losing tens of millions of dollars a year from supermarket pricing errors”.
In December 2024, the Commission announced it had filed criminal charges under the Fair Trading Act against Woolworths New Zealand Ltd and the operators of Pak’nSave Silverdale and Pak’nSave Mill Street for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading “specials”. The companies have said they are cooperating fully and the proceedings are ongoing.
The consumer push-back
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Public frustration over scanning errors and endless specials led Consumer NZ to launch its Price It Right campaign in 2024. The organisation is calling for a mandatory pricing-accuracy code and automatic refunds where scanned prices exceed shelf prices. It reports receiving hundreds of examples from shoppers through its website.
Chief executive Jon Duffy said at the launch: “Shoppers deserve confidence that the price they see is the price they pay.”
Loyalty maths – small print, small returns
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Supermarket loyalty schemes are legal but often over-promised. Programmes such as Onecard, Clubcard and Flybuys offer member pricing or points that typically return around 0.5–1% of spending, depending on redemption. In other words, a $100 shop may yield roughly $1 in value.
Consumer NZ’s 2024 supermarket survey found more than half of respondents don’t trust specials or loyalty discounts, and many dislike how their data is shared with partner companies. These arrangements are permitted, but the perception gap suggests loyalty perks should be viewed as modest bonuses, not game-changing savings.
Four red flags to watch for
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The phantom “was” price: When a product says “was $10, now $8”, the higher price must have been charged for a reasonable period. Otherwise, it may be misleading under the Fair Trading Act.
The multibuy trap: “Two for $5” isn’t always cheaper. Compare the unit price – the cost per 100g or per item printed on the shelf label.
Shelf-to-till mismatch: If an item scans higher than the displayed price, you are legally entitled to pay the lower one. Consumer NZ argues supermarkets should automatically refund the difference.
Perpetual specials: When an item is almost always “on special”, that may suggest the “regular” price is theoretical. The act requires discounts to represent genuine, time-limited reductions.
Five quick ways to check a deal
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Compare unit prices. It’s the fairest way to judge value across sizes and brands.
Keep photos of regular buys. A quick snapshot shows whether a current special is truly cheaper.
Do the maths. If the saving is marginal, it may just be marketing.
Mind expiry dates. Deep discounts on near-dated stock aren’t bargains if half goes to waste.
Check your receipt before leaving. Pricing mistakes are easiest to fix on the spot.
Why it matters
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Supermarkets process thousands of price changes every day, so occasional mistakes are inevitable. But repeated errors or perpetual specials undermine trust, especially when grocery costs are rising faster than inflation.
Stats NZ data shows food prices increased 4.6% in the year to June 2025, driven largely by higher dairy, meat and produce costs. That makes accurate pricing and transparent discounting more important than ever.
The Commerce Commission’s ongoing grocery market study aims to improve competition and clarity. Until stronger safeguards arrive, individual vigilance remains the best defence.
A genuine bargain is one you can verify, not just one wrapped in yellow signage. If the maths works, enjoy the saving. If it doesn’t, walk away.
True deals still exist – they just take sharper eyes and a little arithmetic to find them.
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Resene October Sale on now!
Save up to 30% on Resene quality paints, wood stains, primers, and sealers at Resene ColorShops!
Choose from our huge range of paints and colours designed and made in New Zealand. Bring out the best in your home with Resene, NZ’s Most Trusted Paint
Kids Size 10 Ski Jacket
Selling this kids ski jacket as no longer required.
As per photos it’s in excellent condition with plenty of life left in it. Great reputable American brand (Sunice).
Size 10. Unisex. Waterproof and insulated.
From smoke and pet free home.
Pick up is from Sandringham (near St Luke’s … View moreSelling this kids ski jacket as no longer required.
As per photos it’s in excellent condition with plenty of life left in it. Great reputable American brand (Sunice).
Size 10. Unisex. Waterproof and insulated.
From smoke and pet free home.
Pick up is from Sandringham (near St Luke’s mall).
Through your lense: Share your favourite corner of your indoor sanctuary
Your cozy reading nook, a sunlit verandah, or a steaming mug of coffee with your curled up cat ...
We’d love to see a corner of your indoor happy place. Share a photo below...
free bathroomware
Heated towel rail and slide shower - in working condition. Pick up asap from Hillsborough.
Contact Energy gas price hike: Tens of thousands of customers will see average 17% jump
Tens of thousands of households will see their gas prices hiked by an average of 17% as Contact Energy says the decline in production has hit faster and harder than expected.
“We work hard to ensure our customers are on a competitive gas rate,” Contact’s chief retail officer Carolyn Luey … View moreTens of thousands of households will see their gas prices hiked by an average of 17% as Contact Energy says the decline in production has hit faster and harder than expected.
“We work hard to ensure our customers are on a competitive gas rate,” Contact’s chief retail officer Carolyn Luey said.
“We are balancing the need for energy security with a constrained gas supply as the country transitions to a renewable energy future.”
Contact has “committed more than $2 billion on building the critical energy infrastructure New Zealand needs”, Luey said.
“In the past financial year, our entire net profit – and some – was invested in developing renewable energy projects.
“The more power stations we build, the faster prices will come down over time. And this will help ensure New Zealand has a secure, sustainable renewable energy supply for households and businesses.”
A letter to one affected customer in Wellington said their prices would rise more than 20% on December 1, the Post reported.
One of Contact’s energy plans will see prices increased to 14.9 cents per kilowatt hour, excluding GST or prompt-payment discounts, the Post said.
It would see each gigajoule (GJ) of gas priced around $41.40, excluding GST, the Post said.
The latest spot price for gas today was $13.12, Transpower-owned EMS Tradepoint showed. The average price for the quarter was listed today as $15.98.
Statistics NZ last week revealed September price figures.
Gas was 17% more expensive than a year ago and 1.4% more expensive than the month before, the data showed.
The Post reported the country’s largest gas user, methanol producer Methanex, was believed to pay $6/GJ. Other businesses are paying $25 or more per GJ, a BusinessNZ survey from August found.
Contact Energy chief executive Mike Fuge told the Herald in August: “No one foresaw the collapse on the upstream gas market, and how rapid it was going to be.
“The answer is to get off base load gas [for continuous power generation], as we’ve done, and to build more renewables as we’re doing.
“And the answer is to actually keep going.”
Contact earlier reported a net profit of $331 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and financial instruments (ebitdaf) of $872m for the 2025 financial year.
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