Counties Power Christmas Lights this December!
Hi neighbours, The Glenbrook Vintage Railway will be lighting up Franklin with festive cheer this year with its award winning Christmas experience.
The Counties Power Christmas Lights – Trains @ Night event will see the charitable organisation's trains, station and buildings dressed in Christmas lights, a special Christmas Express train service, visits from Santa, a Christmas market and much more.
The Counties Power Christmas Lights - Trains @ Night will run from 12-15 and 19-23 December in the lead up to Christmas from 7pm till 11pm.
The first train is at 7pm, and will leave approximately every half hour to the workshops and return until 11pm.
There will be a Santa's grotto, night markets, train rides, entertainment and lots more.
Some Choice News!
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!
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
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.
Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
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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41.8% Yes
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32.1% Maybe?
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26.1% No
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