807 days ago

Residents Help Kids Welcome More Wētā

Bert Sutcliffe Retirement Village

Ryman’s Bert Sutcliffe Village residents Norris and Dick have put their woodworking skills to great use by whipping up 30 wētā hotels for local conservation use.

The pair constructed the hotels using untreated wood and tools in the village workshop over several months, with the design specially crafted to welcome wētā and obstruct predators.
The mission follows on from a similar conservation effort on the Devonport peninsula assisted by residents from Ryman’s William Sanders village.

In Birkenhead, Norris and Dick connected with environmental group Pest Free Kapātiki (PFK) to find out where the best locations for the wētā hotels would be.

PFK Kauri Dieback Campaign Coordinator Maisie Hamilton Murray said the hotels would be perfect to use during the Birkdale Beach Haven Community Project’s school holiday programme at Shepherds Park and these holidays Norris and Dick got the chance to present four wētā hotels in person.

Click to read the full story.

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More messages from your neighbours
10 hours ago

The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand

Summer Kiwi Quiz - 2026

Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!

Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here

The Team at Stuff
Enter Here

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3 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.1% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.1% Complete
  • 19.5% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    19.5% Complete
  • 70.4% Nah - not for me
    70.4% Complete
867 votes
16 days ago

Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’

If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.

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