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In central Palmerston North, landlords are being offered incentives to give their properties a tidy-up. Key to this: dedicated funding.
We want to know: Should city-wide refresh projects be rolled out across all Kiwi urban areas? Or would this be a waste of funds that could be allocated … View moreIn central Palmerston North, landlords are being offered incentives to give their properties a tidy-up. Key to this: dedicated funding.
We want to know: Should city-wide refresh projects be rolled out across all Kiwi urban areas? Or would this be a waste of funds that could be allocated elsewhere?
A local landlord in Riccarton booked what was meant to be a simple, routine CCTV drain check, just a bit of peace of mind for a tidy, well-kept rental. But under that neat garden and solid paths, our camera told a different story…
We found several cracks and offsets in the old ceramic drain … View moreA local landlord in Riccarton booked what was meant to be a simple, routine CCTV drain check, just a bit of peace of mind for a tidy, well-kept rental. But under that neat garden and solid paths, our camera told a different story…
We found several cracks and offsets in the old ceramic drain lines, likely hidden damage from the 2010–2011 quakes. Nothing too dramatic yet, but it was only a matter of time before things got messy.
Luckily, the property still had an EQC (now Natural Hazards Commission) claim on record. Our team stepped in to help the owner with the process, and before long, the repairs were fully approved and sorted at no extra cost to them.
We replaced the damaged sections, tidied everything up, and left both the tenant and landlord relieved they’d caught the problem early.
Moral of the story: sometimes a “routine check” can save you a lot of stress (and cash) down the line!
Have you claimed your free drain check with Enviroflo yet?
At Ryman, we are making your move even more rewarding.
Sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating village by 30 November 2025, and you’ll get $20,000 back*.
Use it to make your new home your own, take a dream trip, or simply enjoy life’s little luxuries – the … View moreAt Ryman, we are making your move even more rewarding.
Sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating village by 30 November 2025, and you’ll get $20,000 back*.
Use it to make your new home your own, take a dream trip, or simply enjoy life’s little luxuries – the choice is yours!
*Terms and conditions apply.
A landlord in Riccarton booked a routine CCTV drain inspection for a well-maintained rental property, expecting nothing more than peace of mind. But beneath the neat garden and solid pathways, our inspection revealed a different story — multiple cracks and offsets in the ceramic drain lines, … View moreA landlord in Riccarton booked a routine CCTV drain inspection for a well-maintained rental property, expecting nothing more than peace of mind. But beneath the neat garden and solid pathways, our inspection revealed a different story — multiple cracks and offsets in the ceramic drain lines, likely caused by the 2010–2011 earthquakes.
The damage wasn’t causing major symptoms yet, but it was only a matter of time. Thankfully, the property had an EQC (now Natural Hazards Commission) claim on record, and our team was able to guide the owner through the process of submitting a repair claim.
Once approved, we replaced the damaged sections, reinstated the site to its original condition, and left both tenant and owner relieved to have caught the problem early — and grateful it didn’t come out of their pocket.
Have you claimed your free drain check with Enviroflo yet?"
We’re delighted to have been awarded silver in the 2026 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards.
This is the eighth time we’ve been honoured in these awards since they began in 2015.
Each year, Reader’s Digest conducts the Quality Service Awards survey to discover New Zealanders’ … View moreWe’re delighted to have been awarded silver in the 2026 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards.
This is the eighth time we’ve been honoured in these awards since they began in 2015.
Each year, Reader’s Digest conducts the Quality Service Awards survey to discover New Zealanders’ attitudes towards services from business across various industries.
Companies are assessed based on five pillars: personalisation, understanding, simplicity, satisfaction and consistency.
This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication and excellence that our teams strive for every day in our villages to deliver exceptional service standards.
Thank you to our amazing teams and to all those who took the time to complete the surveys!
A big congratulations to the 2025 Resene Bright Spots winners! We are proud to announce our ten winners who have all won a $250 Prezzy card and a $250 Resene Gift card!
Deepa Keenawinna - Lower Hutt (home crafts)
Slava Voronin - Kerikeri (blossoming tree)
Sam Holliday - Paraparaumu (hot pink … View moreA big congratulations to the 2025 Resene Bright Spots winners! We are proud to announce our ten winners who have all won a $250 Prezzy card and a $250 Resene Gift card!
Deepa Keenawinna - Lower Hutt (home crafts)
Slava Voronin - Kerikeri (blossoming tree)
Sam Holliday - Paraparaumu (hot pink outdoor chair)
Chris Carlyon - Waikanae (French Bulldog painting)
Joel Bradley - Auckland (Kea painting)
Jayne Walton - Rangiora (rainbow gate
Charmaine Macpherson - Cheviot (colourful bathtab)
Adele Whittaker - Auckland (school mural)
Karan Robson - Foxton Beach (blue backdoor)
Dave Bang - Levin (native bird mural)
Take a look at their wonderful colourful entries below. A huge thank you to everyone who shared a Bright Spot in their community this year; we have loved seeing the places in your neighbourhood that bring you joy.
Join us any Wednesday in November and explore our lifestyle, show homes and amenities.
More than just a place to live, Ryman villages are places where friendships grow, hobbies flourish and a genuine sense of community thrives.
The best way is to experience it for yourself. No appointment … View moreJoin us any Wednesday in November and explore our lifestyle, show homes and amenities.
More than just a place to live, Ryman villages are places where friendships grow, hobbies flourish and a genuine sense of community thrives.
The best way is to experience it for yourself. No appointment necessary!
“A lot of adults don't play."
"I was in the city for whatever, I think I was with a colleague. We had just been to the convention centre and we walked back to where we parked. There were some puddles, and instead of walking around, I jumped onto one of the blocks, and ‘boink, … View more“A lot of adults don't play."
"I was in the city for whatever, I think I was with a colleague. We had just been to the convention centre and we walked back to where we parked. There were some puddles, and instead of walking around, I jumped onto one of the blocks, and ‘boink, boink’ jumped over. She was like, ‘you jump on things and play on things, but most people don't do that’. I think it's why a lot of people get bored - forgetting how to play.
I started skating mid 2010-ish, right before the September quake. Because I'd been doing Aikido for so long, stopping Aikido and gravitating towards skating instead, that was quite a big thing for me. And then I started getting more into downhill.
My first skate trip was to Auckland. I linked up with some of the Auckland crew, and joined them on a trip to the Coromandel. There's also Longboard Girls Crew which has created a worldwide community of female skaters, so I linked up with one of the Aussie girls, Gemma, and joined her crew for my first overseas trip in 2014.
Since I started doing the Asia Pacific tour and all those races I would be away for roughly about a month every year, because I’d do a race in Australia for a week, and then maybe another event in a different place, the Philippines, occasionally China or Korea, or whatever. I've been to the Philippines heaps. It's cool because a lot of the guys there know me now, so I get treated as one of them, like part of the fam. I linked up more recently with the Malaysian skate crew, it's been really cool going back and experiencing Malaysia as an adult.
The female skate community is like that as well. If you do downhill skating or even longboard dancing, it's cool that when you find other people that do the same thing, you just instantly have this connection with them.
I decided to join the Euro Tour in 2019. God, I'm so glad I did that, who knew that COVID was gonna happen, right? The European Circuit is seen as the pinnacle, it has some of the most prestigious races worldwide and a well-established downhill skate scene. I remember when we camped off the side of the road in the Dolomites to skate. You skate at sunset, then you set up your camp as it gets dark. You wake up at dawn, skate, then when traffic starts to get too heavy, you pack up and you chill for the rest of the day.
As I've become a better skater I've become more confident, I feel it's helped me to really grow as a person. I think it's such a good thing for other people. I like teaching adults, because A) adults have a greater understanding and awareness of body movement, and B) It is that growth in confidence thing that I really love. When you unlock that and you see that spark, that's the most rewarding thing.
I feel like I'm in a really good place now. The older I get, the more I learn that I have to prioritize what I want to do, because there's so many things that interest me. It's boring to just be stationary.”
Elissa
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Love raspberries? We will give away free copies of the December 2025 issue to readers whose raspberry recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way enjoy raspberry (dessert, salad, jam main?!): mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by October 24, … View moreLove raspberries? We will give away free copies of the December 2025 issue to readers whose raspberry recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way enjoy raspberry (dessert, salad, jam main?!): mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by October 24, 2025.
Police are appealing for sightings of Rowena, 39, reported missing from Christchurch.
Rowena was reported missing to Police on 22 October, however was last heard from on 15 July 2025.
Police are now appealing for any sightings of Rowena or any information that may assist in locating her. If … View morePolice are appealing for sightings of Rowena, 39, reported missing from Christchurch.
Rowena was reported missing to Police on 22 October, however was last heard from on 15 July 2025.
Police are now appealing for any sightings of Rowena or any information that may assist in locating her. If you see Rowena, or have information that could assist in our enquiries, please contact us.
You can contact us at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking "Update Report" or by calling 105, referencing file 251022/9026.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Big news! Ryman has won Best Provider Nationwide at the 2025 Seniors New Zealand Awards - for the 6th time!
Leading the way in retirement living and aged care, again and again.
A trailblazing Māori scholar has finally received the recognition she deserves — nearly 100 years after her passing.
Mākereti Papakura, believed to be the first Indigenous woman to study at the University of Oxford, has been awarded a posthumous degree certificate.
Papakura sadly passed … View moreA trailblazing Māori scholar has finally received the recognition she deserves — nearly 100 years after her passing.
Mākereti Papakura, believed to be the first Indigenous woman to study at the University of Oxford, has been awarded a posthumous degree certificate.
Papakura sadly passed away in 1930, just weeks before she was due to present her thesis. Her research was later published as The Old-Time Māori — the first ethnographic study written by a Māori author.
We hope this brings a smile!
At Ryman you won't pay your base weekly fee for 12 months* when you sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman village before 31 October 2025.
That means that you won’t pay rates, water rates, home insurance, maintenance fees and more.
And because life … View moreAt Ryman you won't pay your base weekly fee for 12 months* when you sign up to an independent apartment or townhouse at a participating Ryman village before 31 October 2025.
That means that you won’t pay rates, water rates, home insurance, maintenance fees and more.
And because life at Ryman means less home upkeep, you’ll have more time for the things you love.
*Participating villages only, terms and conditions apply.
Friday 17 & Saturday 18 October, 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.
For two decades, Aotearoa’s favourite feathery showdown has crowned our top bird ... and the competition has never been fiercer.
Behind the fun is a serious mission. Many of New Zealand’s native species are in serious trouble. Bird of the Year raises awareness of their habitats, the threats … View moreFor two decades, Aotearoa’s favourite feathery showdown has crowned our top bird ... and the competition has never been fiercer.
Behind the fun is a serious mission. Many of New Zealand’s native species are in serious trouble. Bird of the Year raises awareness of their habitats, the threats they face, and how we can protect our feathered taonga. Important work that we love seeing!
Who was last year’s champ? 🏆 The Yellow-eyed penguin, one of the world’s rarest penguins. But this year, Neighbourly is keeping a close eye on another ocean wanderer: the Tītī (Cook’s petrel).
Who is getting your vote this year? 🐦💛
🗳 Voting closes: Sunday 28 September
🏅 Winner announced: Monday 29 September
We hope this brings a smile!
© Neighbourly 2025
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