2240 days ago

Turning the tide on biodiversity loss—will we make it?

David Bell from Trinity-at-Waiake Methodist Church

Conservation Lecture
with Professor Jacqueline Beggs, Professor in Ecology, University of Auckland.
Trinity Methodist Church, 864 Beach Rd, Waiake
7.00pm Sunday 17 November
New Zealand was one of the last large land masses to be colonised by humans, so the consequences of human arrival are still playing out and a good deal of our native biota and ecosystems are threatened. In New Zealand, one of the main threats are invasive species, but there are many other pressures such as agricultural expansion and climate change. Although we have made progress in managing some pest species, there remain many challenges and it is clear that we will need new strategies if we want to ensure our biodiversity and ecosystems are here for future generations to enjoy. Using examples from her involvement with conservation research, from the iconic kākāpō (nocturnal, ground parrot), to the ecology and control of introduced social wasps Professor Beggs will discuss the key challenges for conservation in New Zealand. She will also draw on some international initiatives that seek to engage a greater diversity of people in conservation.

Jacqueline Beggs is a Professor in Ecology at the University of Auckland. Her research has focussed on the ecology and control of invasive wasps, but she has also worked on kākā, kererū, kākāpō, and a range of invertebrates. This has resulted in more than 90 refereed scientific papers. Jacqueline is the Director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity at the University of Auckland and leads the Sustainable Future research theme for the Faculty of Science. Jacqueline is a member of the Department of Conservation’s kākāpō recovery group and was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on biosecurity.

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More messages from your neighbours
10 minutes ago

🎄 Christmas 2025 Holiday Pay - What You Need to Know 🎄

Stephanie from Sunnynook

🎄 Christmas 2025 Holiday Pay - What NZ Employers Need to Know 🎄
With Christmas fast approaching, it’s important to make sure your team is paid correctly over the holiday period - especially with holiday legislation changes on the horizon.
👉 Good news: For Christmas 2025, the current Holidays Act rules still apply.

Here’s a simple breakdown 👇
✅ Employees with 12+ months service
• Entitled to 4 weeks paid annual leave
• Pay the higher of:
👉 Ordinary Weekly Pay or Average Weekly Earnings
📌 Full-time example
• 8 hrs/day × 5 days = 40 hrs/week
• $1,200 per week = $240 per leave day
📌 Part-time example
• 3 hrs/day × 4 days = 12 hrs/week
• $300 per week = $75 per leave day
✅ Employees with less than 12 months service
• Not yet entitled to annual leave
• If your business closes down over Christmas, they must still be paid holiday pay for the closedown period (usually paid via payroll accruals or 8% of gross earnings under current law)
🎁 Christmas & New Year Public Holidays
• Christmas Day (25 Dec)
• Boxing Day (26 Dec)
• New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
✔️ If the day is a normal working day, employees are paid for it
✔️ If they work on a public holiday:
➡️ Time and a half + an alternative paid day off
🔔 Important – Changes Coming
The Holidays Act will eventually be replaced by a new Employment Leave Act, moving to hours-based leave accrual and simplified calculations.
⚠️ These changes are not in force yet, so Christmas 2025 still follows current rules.
💬 Need help checking your payroll or holiday calculations?
📧 Email: info@corefigures.co.nz
🌐 Website: corefigures.co.nz...
✨ Feel free to share this with other NZ business owners ✨

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6 days ago

Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️‍💥❔

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What has a head but no brain?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!

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13 hours ago

Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!

Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?

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Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
  • 78.2% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
    78.2% Complete
  • 21.8% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
    21.8% Complete
206 votes