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Spring’s here, and with it comes warmer weather and lots of activity from our birds. It’s a great time to get outside—many birds are easier to spot as they build nests, raise their chicks, or return from their Arctic adventures 👀
Keen to do some backyard birdwatching? The Department of … View moreSpring’s here, and with it comes warmer weather and lots of activity from our birds. It’s a great time to get outside—many birds are easier to spot as they build nests, raise their chicks, or return from their Arctic adventures 👀
Keen to do some backyard birdwatching? The Department of Conservation have put together a nifty guide on how to plan and plant a garden that attracts native birds.
We hope this brings a smile!
Police are excited to invite media to the launch of the Henderson Beat Team, which began patrolling this week.
A launch event will be held in Henderson on Friday morning.
Waitematā West Area Commander Inspector Simon Walker and Minister of Police Mark Mitchell will launch the team.
Please … View morePolice are excited to invite media to the launch of the Henderson Beat Team, which began patrolling this week.
A launch event will be held in Henderson on Friday morning.
Waitematā West Area Commander Inspector Simon Walker and Minister of Police Mark Mitchell will launch the team.
Please arrive before the start time to allow time to set up.
WHERE:
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Meet at Waitākere Chambers
6 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson.
Entrance is accessed via Te Ara Pūheke or via Railside Avenue, using the rail overbridge.
WHEN
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Friday 12 September from 11am-12.30pm
WHAT
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The Henderson Beat Team will be launched to community guests and media.
After the launch there will be further opportunities for media with a walkalong through part of Henderson CBD, followed by a media stand up.
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1x black Workshop jacket leather collar denim type.
1x Columbia jacket, outdoor sportswear, heavy duty fully waterproof.
1x ben Sherman jacket red smart casual wear, LIGHTWEIGHT COMFORT.
Homework in primary school has an effect of around zero”.
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We’ve all been there – sitting at the kitchen table, feverishly finishing our spelling while an anxious parent coaxes us along. For generations, homework at an early age has been part … View moreHomework in primary school has an effect of around zero”.
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We’ve all been there – sitting at the kitchen table, feverishly finishing our spelling while an anxious parent coaxes us along. For generations, homework at an early age has been part of everyday life. But now many experts are questioning its value for primary-aged children, with some calling for it to end altogether.
Currently, in New Zealand, there are no specific Ministry of Education laws mandating or regulating homework. Some schools choose to adopt guidelines like “the 10-minute rule” (10 minutes of homework per school level), others choose to have none.
For Kiwi parents, this can mean drastically different workloads for kids. One Auckland-based parent tells the Herald that her two children, 5 and 8, are often too tired to focus on homework, and it takes away from quality time.
“My 5-year-old is so exhausted when he comes home, and I dread sitting him down and forcing him to do homework - it just feels too much for him after a long day and always ends in a tantrum.”
The mother said her 5-year-old gets spelling words to revise, as well as a book to read with parents, while her 8-year-old comes home with “basic revision, chapter books, maths and some projects”.
“After I empty school bags, get through all that homework and make dinner, do the bath, there’s barely any time for anything else before bed,” she shares.
In recent years, the role of homework has come under critical review globally, with public attitudes to the practice changing.
Countries like Poland and Denmark have gone as far as introducing legislation to ban or limit homework in the first 2-3 years of primary school, and opt for reading revision only up until year 6.
With our own government looking to overhaul the education system, citing poor literacy data and putting a “writing action plan in place”, many have been left wondering exactly what that plan entails, and what role homework plays in it.
Does homework help create more intelligent children? Or does it simply overwhelm their exhausted brains, desperate for rest and play?
Psychologist Nigel Latta has publicly criticised homework in primary schools, suggesting it has no use.
He says most teachers agreed and assigned homework only to appease parents, which made children resent learning.
Child neuroscientist and early childhood expert Nathan Wallis agrees, stating that a child’s behaviour is a reflection of the amount of anxiety they have, and this can directly relate to their feelings about learning.
“Te Whariki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, doesn’t talk so much about literacy and numeracy; it talks about wellbeing, belonging and connection. If the 5-year-old does not feel these things, their behaviour will go out the window. The evidence shows that whether you teach a child to read at age 5 or age 7, by the time the child is 8, there is no difference in their abilities.”
According to Professor of Education John Hattie, ONZM, homework at primary school makes a negligible difference to student learning and achievement and a very small positive difference in high school.
“Homework in primary school has an effect of around zero”, he told the BBC.
Hattie suggests it’s better to focus on revising things that have already been taught, rather than new material, which is best handled by a teacher.
“Five to 10 minutes has the same effect as one hour to two hours. The worst thing you can do with homework is give kids projects. The best thing you can do is to reinforce something you’ve already learnt.”
Wallis agrees, stating that at ages 5 and 6 in particular, play is much more critical to a child’s development, and at those ages, children shouldn’t be receiving any homework at all.
“There is no evidence that homework is beneficial - teachers do it because parents expect it, and kids do it because teachers expect it. I would argue that it’s not important.”
With primary school children already spending six hours in structured education, five days a week, and having limited time to experience a parent’s influence, Wallis says the focus needs to shift to creativity, imagination, and play.
“It would be more beneficial to talk to a family member about their day at school for five minutes a day, so there is a connection happening between home and school. You don’t get a better 5-year-old by getting them ready to be a 15-year-old. You get a better 5-year-old by meeting the needs of a 5-year-old.”
So why shouldn’t they be getting homework? Isn’t it important for parents to get involved in their kids’ learning? Wallis says that the answer comes back to what is happening within a child’s brain developmentally at that time.
“Creativity and imagination are the things that underpin human intelligence, not literacy and numeracy. AI is capable of literacy, numeracy and computation, but can’t do creativity and imagination. Children need time to develop that; 5-year-olds should be playing.
“They are developing dispositions that will underpin their learning for the rest of their lives and will basically determine in many ways how intelligent they are. Dispositions are things like persevering through failure, do you give up after one go or persevere, knowing when to ask for help and when to persevere.”
And it seems parents agree with that sentiment, with the Auckland-based mum of two noting, “I genuinely feel my kids get more out of sitting at the kitchen bench, maybe helping me with dinner and chatting about their day, what went right and wrong with it, disagreements with their friends and how I can help them figure that out.”
So why are our tamariki doing homework? And is it time for a total reform on how we view homework, and its place in our education system?
Hattie says it still has its place, but the key is getting it right, not getting rid of it entirely.
“It’s one of those lower-hanging fruit that we should be looking in our primary schools to say, ‘Is it really making a difference?’ If you try and get rid of homework in primary schools, many parents judge the quality of the school by the presence of homework. So, don’t get rid of it. Treat the zero as saying, ‘It’s probably not making much of a difference, but let’s improve it’.”
Wallis agrees, adding that in later years of primary school, it can help prepare children for what’s ahead. But he notes that building a sense of connection is the most important thing in fostering a well-rounded, critically thinking child.
“In the last year of primary school, formal homework could be introduced to prepare the children for high school. Prior to this, homework should just be tasks such as reading with parents or asking your grandparents what their earliest memory is, things that are building connection.”
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Hi does anyone have tyre socks (for driving on ice roads similar to chains)they are no longer needing or wanting to sell at reasonable cost let me know please
Contact 021-249-3475
Solid wood coffee table features 53inches length, 29inches width and 17.5inches height.
Solid rustic pine wood entertainment unit. Nearly new with features, length is 61inches, the width is 20inches, and the height is 28 inches.
Friday 12 & Saturday 13 September, 10am - 2pm.
Experience the award-winning lifestyle at a Ryman village.
Join us at our open days and explore our lifestyle and care options, tour our show homes and see the premium amenities on offer.
We look forward to seeing you.
Friday 12 & Saturday 13 September, 10am - 2pm.
Experience the award-winning lifestyle at a Ryman village.
Join us at our open days and explore our lifestyle and care options, tour our show homes and see the premium amenities on offer.
We look forward to seeing you.
Have dinner at one of our 16 fabulous eating places in Mt Eden Village and take advantage of FREE Babysitting and Supervised Childrens Activities for Kids aged 5-13 provided by Bricks4Kidz Mount Eden at the Mt Eden Village Centre.
So BOOK a Date Night with your partner, friend or group of … View moreHave dinner at one of our 16 fabulous eating places in Mt Eden Village and take advantage of FREE Babysitting and Supervised Childrens Activities for Kids aged 5-13 provided by Bricks4Kidz Mount Eden at the Mt Eden Village Centre.
So BOOK a Date Night with your partner, friend or group of friends, BOOK your favourite eating place in Mt Eden Village and BOOK your Free "Babysitting" Service (link below)! We look forward to seeing you in Mt Eden Village on Saturday 13 September!
www.mounteden.co.nz...
Restaurants: Circus Circus Cafe, De Nada, De Post Belgian Beer Cafe, Frasers, The Garden Shed, Gina's Italian Kitchen, Impression Restaurant Auckland, Indian Lounge, Katsu-Bay, Pasta & Cuore, Slimms Bar & Eatery, Sora Japanese Restaurant, Taste of India Mount Eden, Vani's Kitchen, Wu & You, and Xoong.
#MtEdenVillage #MountEdenVillage #Maungawhau
#DineLocal #ShopLocal
#DateNightInMtEdenVillage #KidFreeDateNight
#Bricks4Kidz #Bricks4KidzMountEden
Congratulations to our 10 prize winners for the Mt Eden Village Shopping and Dining Competition for Father’s Day 2025!
Our first prize winner Allison (pictured below) shopped at Archivista and won a yummy cake from Noughts & Crosses Cakery, fabulous champagne from Glengarry Wines Mt Eden … View moreCongratulations to our 10 prize winners for the Mt Eden Village Shopping and Dining Competition for Father’s Day 2025!
Our first prize winner Allison (pictured below) shopped at Archivista and won a yummy cake from Noughts & Crosses Cakery, fabulous champagne from Glengarry Wines Mt Eden and vouchers from Circus Circus Cafe, City Barbers, Cotton Candy Eatery, Good News Parlour, I Press NZ, Katsu-Bay, Midas Mt Eden, Mobil Mt Eden, Mount Eden Pharmacy, RAD Mt. Eden, The Seafood Collective - Mt Eden and Time Out Bookstore, ie, first prize pack worth > $1,000.
Our other nine winners shopped or dined at Chapter Book & Tea Shop (Sara), I Press NZ (Kelera), K.C. Loo Fruit Centre (Eva, Guy, Jennifer and Nick), Liperla Nails and Beauty Mt Eden (Reanna), Mercy Hospice Mt Eden (Richard) and The Urban Studio (Pauline). These nine winners won $200 vouchers each.
Congratulations once again to our winners and thank you to everyone who entered the competition (there were 2,068 entries). Thank you for shopping and dining in Mt Eden Village!
Pick your home and fashion needs from the Red Cross Shop Onehunga this Secondhand September! 🛍️ ♻️
📍 200 Onehunga Mall
📞 096221565
Mon-Sat: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Sun: 10.00am to 5.00pm
Many of our clients come in with tight shoulders, neck pain, or headaches – often triggered by stress, long hours, or poor posture.
In this case, the pain even extended to the forehead, and movement was restricted.
We used a combination of acupuncture and gentle electro-therapy to help release … View moreMany of our clients come in with tight shoulders, neck pain, or headaches – often triggered by stress, long hours, or poor posture.
In this case, the pain even extended to the forehead, and movement was restricted.
We used a combination of acupuncture and gentle electro-therapy to help release the tension.
After just a few sessions, the client experienced noticeable relief.
🌿 If you're dealing with the same kind of tension or discomfort, feel free to message us.
📍Evergreen Clinic – Epsom, Auckland
💬 Bilingual support (English & 中文)
Let’s help your body feel better — naturally.
A repair culture
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Our landfills are overflowing with items that could be repaired and reused. Through showcasing a variety of projects, initiatives, and solutions, we cultivate repair skills and knowledge sharing, fostering a culture of responsible consumption. The Repair Festival is … View moreA repair culture
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Our landfills are overflowing with items that could be repaired and reused. Through showcasing a variety of projects, initiatives, and solutions, we cultivate repair skills and knowledge sharing, fostering a culture of responsible consumption. The Repair Festival is for Everyone!
Join us, learn to fix, and celebrate reducing waste and building community! This week-long celebration, taking place from 6 to 14 of September 2025, will be held across the country, bringing communities together to celebrate fixing, mending, and extending the life of our belongings.
Please visit: www.repairnetworkaotearoa... for more details.
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A new survey has ranked Macpac and Stihl Shop as the best places for Kiwis to shop, while dishing out low marks to some of New Zealand’s most well-known retailers.
Consumer NZ spoke to more than 3,200 people over June and July for its latest retailer survey to better understand how satisfied … View moreA new survey has ranked Macpac and Stihl Shop as the best places for Kiwis to shop, while dishing out low marks to some of New Zealand’s most well-known retailers.
Consumer NZ spoke to more than 3,200 people over June and July for its latest retailer survey to better understand how satisfied Kiwis are with their shopping experiences.
It found five stores going above and beyond for their customers, along with five others that performed poorly after failing to satisfy buyers.
Consumer NZ’s Kate Harvey said two stores across the entire survey had tied with the highest satisfaction rating of 94% - Stihl Shop and Macpac.
Stihl Shop - a specialist hardware and power equipment store - won praise “for its customer service and staff members’ product knowledge”, Harvey said, while outdoor clothing and equipment company Macpac topped its competitors “in all the categories we ask about, including perceived value and range of products available”.
Mitre 10 also performed strongly in the survey, but was edged out of first place in the hardware category by Stihl Shop.
In the appliances sector, 100% Home Appliances continued to excel, winning both the large and small appliances categories for the 11th year in a row.
Harvey said the company’s satisfaction score “was well above the next highest scoring store” in both cases.
Smiths City, which recently entered voluntary administration, came second in the large appliance category, while Briscoes was rated second place for small appliances.
Leading technology retailer PB Tech also outperformed competitors in two categories, home tech and mobile tech, with customers valuing its prices and product range especially highly.
All five retailers have been named winners of Consumer NZ’s People’s Choice award.
But among those surveyed were also several household-name stores that flunked the test.
Rebel Sport received the lowest satisfaction rating in the sports and outdoor category, with customers alleging poor service and a lack of staff product knowledge.
New Zealand’s two largest telecommunications companies - Spark and One NZ - also failed to win over consumers, both receiving low marks for value for money and their product ranges.
The Warehouse underwhelmed in the home tech category, with Harvey noting only 63% of shoppers felt “very satisfied” with their purchases of items such as TVs and gaming consoles.
OPSM also received a humbling review, lagging behind all other eyewear providers.
While Consumer NZ found people had a better shopping experience at Specsavers, Harvey said “those who shopped at an independent optometrist” were the most content with their experience.
Shopping experiences are ultimately subjective and difficult to quantify, but Consumer NZ’s findings suggest that across the board, there are four key drivers of customer satisfaction in New Zealand stores.
These are strong service, perceived value for money, a wide product range, and knowledgeable staff.
“The survey also showed shoppers are highly price-sensitive at the moment and have become increasingly motivated by discounts,” Harvey said.
“A store having a promotion is now the main reason for shoppers to choose to make their purchase there.
“It has surpassed loyalty and the convenience of the location.”
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