Share your Christmas tips, tricks and recipes!
It can be a stressful time preparing meals and braving the shops at Christmastime. If you're fairly 'seasoned' at Christmas, perhaps you've got some tips or tricks that make the silly season easier...
Share your festive ideas with the Neighbourly community! Anything from how to best re-heat potatoes, inexpensive gift ideas, your household's traditions or any crafty ideas for tree decorations. We'd love to hear them all - they may make a neighbour's Christmas a littler brighter.🎄
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
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43% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
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56.4% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
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0.6% Other - I'll share below
Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
Community Water Meeting
Be tapped in and come along to discuss local water issues with Auckland Council Healthy Waters and Watercare representatives.
Send your questions in advance of the meeting to mptamaki@parliament.govt.nz.