527 days ago

Community Meeting: A visit with British High Commissioner Iona Thomas OBE

The Team from Brooke van Velden - MP for Tāmaki, Electorate Office

Friday 16 August 1pm-2pm
In this session, the High Commissioner will highlight the importance of further strengthening the longstanding links and friendships between our two countries. What would you like to ask about trade, business, education, tourism, travel, or our future on the world stage? No Bridgerton questions, please! fb.me...


Iona Thomas OBE
Her Excellency Ms Iona Thomas OBE was appointed the
British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor
of the Pitcairn Islands in August 2022. Before commencing
her role in Wellington, Iona was Political Counsellor at
the British High Commission in Islamabad where she was
responsible for domestic and regional politics, counter
terrorism and justice and home affairs. Prior to this she
held the post of Additional Deputy Director for the
Middle East and North Africa at the then Foreign and
Commonwealth Office in London. She served as Deputy Head
of Mission in Tripoli from 2015 to 2017 and was responsible
for re-establishing the UK’s permanent presence in Libya,
for which she was awarded an OBE. From 2012-2015
she was Spokesperson at the UK Mission to the United
Nations in New York. Iona has also served in Afghanastan,
New York, and Pakistan.


Venue: St Heliers Church and Community Centre, 100 St Heliers Bay Road, St Heliers
maps.app.goo.gl... (link for venue)

Questions and rsvp to mptamaki@parliament 09 574 1345

Image
More messages from your neighbours
2 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.

Image
3 days ago

Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”

We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?

Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.

Image
Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 41.5% Yes
    41.5% Complete
  • 33.6% Maybe?
    33.6% Complete
  • 24.9% No
    24.9% Complete
586 votes
24 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.

Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.

Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?

Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!

Image