Saint Andrews, Hamilton

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124 days ago

Poll: What are the living costs that are having the biggest (and perhaps surprising) impact on your wallet?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Butter, power bills, and those sneaky surcharges on your card ... it feels like everything’s creeping up in price lately. We’ve seen the headlines, but we want to hear it from you.

Overall, Most Kiwis say they’re ‘not prospering’. But, according to Retirement Commission data, some … View more
Butter, power bills, and those sneaky surcharges on your card ... it feels like everything’s creeping up in price lately. We’ve seen the headlines, but we want to hear it from you.

Overall, Most Kiwis say they’re ‘not prospering’. But, according to Retirement Commission data, some members of our community (women, Māori, and Pacific people) are experiencing worsening financial positions at elevated rates.

Stats NZ tells us that food prices have jumped 4.6% since this time last year, with meat and dairy doing most of the damage. This jump is hitting us all, but groceries are just one part of the picture.

When basic costs keep climbing, the old cost-saving tricks — like bulk-buying or stockpiling on sale — don’t always work. Who can afford to spend more upfront when every dollar already has a job?

We want to know: What costs have caught you off guard the most? What are the expenses that feel impossible to juggle right now?
Share your thoughts below!

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What are the living costs that are having the biggest (and perhaps surprising) impact on your wallet?
  • 43.5% Grocery bills
    43.5% Complete
  • 33% Utilities
    33% Complete
  • 1% Your treats (the ones that keep you human day to day, and are ESSENTIAL!)
    1% Complete
  • 0.1% Education
    0.1% Complete
  • 7.6% Healthcare
    7.6% Complete
  • 1.3% Travel (public transport/petrol)
    1.3% Complete
  • 7.9% Rent or mortgage
    7.9% Complete
  • 1.5% Social costs: birthday gifts and occasions
    1.5% Complete
  • 4.1% Other - share below!
    4.1% Complete
2582 votes
115 days ago

Poll: Have you ever tried making your own pizzas?

Libby Reporter from Waikato Local

For two years, while Hood Street’s Craft sat dormant, owner Carl Bloxam was quietly perfecting pizza recipes with his kids.

After countless trials and a few failures, Bloxam has emerged with something new: Octavo.

Have you ever tried making your own pizzas? Tell us more in the comments … View more
For two years, while Hood Street’s Craft sat dormant, owner Carl Bloxam was quietly perfecting pizza recipes with his kids.

After countless trials and a few failures, Bloxam has emerged with something new: Octavo.

Have you ever tried making your own pizzas? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Have you ever tried making your own pizzas?
  • 70.6% Yes
    70.6% Complete
  • 29.4% No
    29.4% Complete
17 votes
115 days ago

Last chance to enter!

Resene

Don't forget to enter a Bright Spot in your home, workplace or community for a chance to win one of ten amazing prizes! Whether it's a colourful fence, a mural in your office or a place in the community that makes you smile - we'd love to see it.

Share a Bright Spot today for a … View more
Don't forget to enter a Bright Spot in your home, workplace or community for a chance to win one of ten amazing prizes! Whether it's a colourful fence, a mural in your office or a place in the community that makes you smile - we'd love to see it.

Share a Bright Spot today for a chance to win one of ten prize packs worth $500.

And make sure you check out the entries so far too.
Enter now

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116 days ago

Historical Fiction Panel

Catherine from Pukete

Monty Soutar and Deborah Challinor talk with Tina Shaw about the power of historical fiction and how they make their stories come alive in our Hamilton Book Month Bringing the Past to Life panel this Friday night at Waikato Museum. The panel starts at 6.30pm with refreshments in the foyer from 6pm.… View moreMonty Soutar and Deborah Challinor talk with Tina Shaw about the power of historical fiction and how they make their stories come alive in our Hamilton Book Month Bringing the Past to Life panel this Friday night at Waikato Museum. The panel starts at 6.30pm with refreshments in the foyer from 6pm. Free event, all welcome with no need to register. Poppies Hamilton will have the authors' books for sale.

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116 days ago

GriefShare Course. Hope and Healing after the death of a loved one

Robyn from Nawton

Starts Tues Aug 19th ends 28th Oct. 10.30am to 12noon. At the group there will be a video, group discussion and personal work book. This is an 11 week Biblically based course. Enquiries welcome. Contact Chris 0210462701 or email office@whcc.org.nz West Hamilton Community Church 27a Rifle Range … View moreStarts Tues Aug 19th ends 28th Oct. 10.30am to 12noon. At the group there will be a video, group discussion and personal work book. This is an 11 week Biblically based course. Enquiries welcome. Contact Chris 0210462701 or email office@whcc.org.nz West Hamilton Community Church 27a Rifle Range Rd Hamilton. No charge. Sorry no child care available.

116 days ago

Ryman Village Open Days

The Team from Ryman Healthcare

Friday 15 August, and Saturday, 16 August, 10 am - 2 pm.

Come and experience the warmth of our Ryman village communities. We'd love to show you around.

Discover our lifestyle and care options, tour our show homes and explore our premium amenities.
Find out more

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116 days ago

Learning to swim at 29

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Reporter Avina Vidyadharan is learning to swim - follow along to see how it goes.

Heels, hips, hands, and head—above water, and I am swimming. Sounds easy, right?
Well, try telling that to my 29-year-old limbs, which apparently missed the memo on how to do a very basic (Kiwi) thing.

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117 days ago

Women reshaping philanthropy

The Team from Momentum Waikato

Eleanor Cater of our peak body Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ penned this engaging column below for The Post in Wellington, and then republished it on the CFANZ site.

"It’s a demographic shift where women will eventually become the main drivers and decision makers around family … View more
Eleanor Cater of our peak body Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ penned this engaging column below for The Post in Wellington, and then republished it on the CFANZ site.

"It’s a demographic shift where women will eventually become the main drivers and decision makers around family wealth, transforming wealth management, including estate planning and philanthropy.

This has been coined the ‘horizontal wealth transfer’, a term somewhat patriarchal and simplistic in its nature as it doesn’t take into account women as co-owners of family wealth, non-nuclear families, or individual economic independence. Nevertheless, it’s a term that is sticking - and it’s easy to see why."

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117 days ago

Did you know about this Groundhog Day election situation?

Libby Reporter from Waikato Local

It’s deja-vu all over again for the people of the Waikato District as the same two candidates for mayor in 2022’s election go head to head once again.

However, the district’s citizens need to up their game in terms of voter numbers after one of the worst turnouts in the country for the … View more
It’s deja-vu all over again for the people of the Waikato District as the same two candidates for mayor in 2022’s election go head to head once again.

However, the district’s citizens need to up their game in terms of voter numbers after one of the worst turnouts in the country for the last election in 2022.

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117 days ago

New principal promises new direction for troubled Hamilton high school

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

The new principal of a beleaguered Hamilton high school is already making his mark, just a few weeks into the job.

Mangakōtukutuku College principal Jim Hay-Mackenzie, started on July 14 and is confident the school is heading in the right direction to become a “community school” - one where… View more
The new principal of a beleaguered Hamilton high school is already making his mark, just a few weeks into the job.

Mangakōtukutuku College principal Jim Hay-Mackenzie, started on July 14 and is confident the school is heading in the right direction to become a “community school” - one where students achieve at the same level as others in town.

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117 days ago

Poll: Do you think you should be able to pay extra to speed up the building consent process?

Libby Reporter from Waikato Local

Builders and developers in Hamilton could have the option of fast-tracked building consents after the local body elections - if they are willing to pay more, that is.

However, not all developers canvassed by the Waikato Times support the idea being floated by Hamilton city councillor and mayoral… View more
Builders and developers in Hamilton could have the option of fast-tracked building consents after the local body elections - if they are willing to pay more, that is.

However, not all developers canvassed by the Waikato Times support the idea being floated by Hamilton city councillor and mayoral aspirant Sarah Thomson.

Do you think you should be able to pay extra to speed up the building consent process? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Do you think you should be able to pay extra to speed up the building consent process?
  • 6.7% Yes
    6.7% Complete
  • 93.3% No
    93.3% Complete
15 votes
117 days ago

No bungee, just birds: What do you reckon about this plan?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Hamilton is embracing its identity as a rest and relaxation destination, and the city’s first fully fenced wildlife sanctuary is poised to become another jewel in the crown of that brand.

Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park will soon be enclosed by a predator-proof fence, creating a safe haven … View more
Hamilton is embracing its identity as a rest and relaxation destination, and the city’s first fully fenced wildlife sanctuary is poised to become another jewel in the crown of that brand.

Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park will soon be enclosed by a predator-proof fence, creating a safe haven for native birds, reptiles and invertebrates in the heart of the Te Kaaroro Nature Precinct.

What do you reckon about this plan? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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128 days ago

Poll: No more card payment surcharges – but who should be covering the cost? 💸

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Government says it's scrapping those annoying card surcharges – and it’s happening next year.

Consumer NZ is stoked, saying these sneaky surcharges cost Kiwis around $65 million a year and should’ve been gone ages ago.

But not everyone’s convinced it’s a win. Labour and … View more
The Government says it's scrapping those annoying card surcharges – and it’s happening next year.

Consumer NZ is stoked, saying these sneaky surcharges cost Kiwis around $65 million a year and should’ve been gone ages ago.

But not everyone’s convinced it’s a win. Labour and Hospitality NZ are worried the costs won’t just disappear. Labour MP Arena Williams put it simply: there should not be surcharges for customers at all. But she points out that the Government’s plan does not deal with banks and merchants “who still scoop a big fee”.

Many of our community are rocked by the recent announcement. Retailers warn card surcharge ban could lead to higher prices - the unfortunatel reality is that small businesses are feeling the squeeze along with their customers. In comparison, large retailers pay significantly lower banking fees and ultimately have more leverage at the negotiation table.

💸 So someone still pays – but who?

We want to know: Who should be covering this cost?
Share your thoughts in the comments!

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No more card payment surcharges – but who should be covering the cost? 💸
  • 5.7% Retailers need to absorb the cost
    5.7% Complete
  • 88.7% The banks are the problem - the cost should not sit with consumers or retailers
    88.7% Complete
  • 4.2% I do not mind paying a surcharge - I just want everything to be transparent
    4.2% Complete
  • 1.4% It is more complicated - I will share below
    1.4% Complete
2839 votes
123 days ago

Poll: Do you like the idea of a fenced wildlife sanctuary on the edge of Hamilton?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Visitors to Hamilton Zoo will soon be able to pop across the road to Hamilton’s first fenced sanctuary.

Hamilton’s Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is edging closer to becoming a fully fenced wildlife sanctuary, with funding for the predator-proof fence now just shy of its $3.3 million … View more
Visitors to Hamilton Zoo will soon be able to pop across the road to Hamilton’s first fenced sanctuary.

Hamilton’s Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is edging closer to becoming a fully fenced wildlife sanctuary, with funding for the predator-proof fence now just shy of its $3.3 million target.

Do you like the idea of a fenced wildlife sanctuary on the edge of Hamilton? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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Do you like the idea of a fenced wildlife sanctuary on the edge of Hamilton?
  • 74.4% Yes
    74.4% Complete
  • 7.7% No
    7.7% Complete
  • 17.9% Doesn't make a lot of difference to me.
    17.9% Complete
39 votes
120 days ago

Cold call puts arborist on fast track to racing industry career win

Libby Reporter from Waikato Local

A couple of years ago, Kent Lean was at the New Plymouth racecourse, looking for a way into the industry.

Today, he's the inaugural winner of the PGG Wrightson Turf Emerging Racecourse Manager Award—a national honour recognising emerging talent in track management.

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