1157 days ago

Road safety

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

I’ve been driving around the village, especially around the Havelock hills, over the holidays, picking up and dropping off of kids, and noticed a bit of an issue on streets that have no footpaths. Overgrown foliage.
This might not, generally, be a problem, except there is a LOT overgrowth on the roads and footpaths.

As we come into the warmer seasons (hopefully soon), there will be a lot more kids making their own ways to school. Some on bikes, some on scooters, some even on rollerblades/skates or skateboards. And that means a lot more opportunities for kids to get hurt.

If your garden/hedge/foliage is overgrowing the footpaths, kids, and adults, will end up on the roads, which will put them in danger from bikes and cars.

If your garden/hedge/foliage is overgrowing the road that’s going to put them right in the way of traffic, and traffic right in the way of each other.

Please cut your overgrowth back from the footpaths so everyone has room to pass, safely. If your overgrowth is on the road, contact the council, or a professional landscaper, with appropriate permits, to arrange for it to be done. They need to block the lane off on the side it’s being cut back from, and that requires traffic management permits.

We have bigger and bigger vehicles, and the roads are getting narrower and narrower, with overgrowth. We need to take responsibility for our kids safety. All of us, for all of our kids, always.

Ideally, it should have been done during the holidays, but no one’s says anything, so it doesn’t get done when it’s quiet on the roads, and that means disruptions on busy days. But it needs to be done, before disaster strikes.

More messages from your neighbours
8 hours 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.

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Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 41.4% Yes
    41.4% Complete
  • 32.3% Maybe?
    32.3% Complete
  • 26.3% No
    26.3% Complete
297 votes
6 days ago

Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?

(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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7 hours ago

FREE Hard Stuff Workshop Series

Health Promotion from Age Concern Hawke's Bay

This FREE workshop series will provide you with information and advice on all the hard stuff from Rest homes to Funeral Planning!

Workshop Dates & Topics

11 February 2026
-Enduring Power of Attorney, PPPR & Wills
-Advanced Care Planning
-Funeral Planning

18 February 2026
-Ageing at Home & Community Support
-Housing options in Retirement

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm with Lunch provided
Venue: Havelock North Function Centre - 30 Te Mata Road, Havelock North

Booking essential as numbers are limited. Call 068709060 or email hastings@ageconcernhb.co.nz to register.

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