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Future proof yourself. Learn to always be thinking one step ahead so that you can thrive with change. Enrol in a Bachelor of Arts at Massey today and build the skills that employers are demanding.
It's National Volunteer Week!
Volunteers create positive change on many fronts – human rights, faith communities, health, education, sports and recreation, social services, arts and culture, emergency services, the environment and conservation, animal welfare, and community support … View moreIt's National Volunteer Week!
Volunteers create positive change on many fronts – human rights, faith communities, health, education, sports and recreation, social services, arts and culture, emergency services, the environment and conservation, animal welfare, and community support development – the list is endless.
If you're interested in volunteering please check out the link below to find out about the different ways you can volunteer:
nationalvolunteerweek.nz...
National Volunteer Week (17 - 23 June). The NVW 2018 theme: Volunteers, The Heart of our Community – By many, the work will be completed, Mā tini, mā mano, ka rapa te whai.
#NVW2018
Patumahoe scored well after 80 minutes had ticked over to bag a vital 18-15 win over Karaka in the C…
We are excited to announce that the construction of five new apartments at Acacia Cove Village is well underway. This is going to be an interesting journey and we're sure the residents and staff will keep a close eye on the development.
There will be three apartments on the ground floor, … View moreWe are excited to announce that the construction of five new apartments at Acacia Cove Village is well underway. This is going to be an interesting journey and we're sure the residents and staff will keep a close eye on the development.
There will be three apartments on the ground floor, consisting of two bedrooms each. Upstairs will feature two apartments with three bedrooms each. They will be north-facing which will make them nice and sunny. If all goes well construction should be completed in early 2019.
Find out more about living at Acacia Cove Village.
Not everyone chooses to sell their current home when they decide to move on. Sometimes, it’s not even an option. If you’re looking to hang on to your personal home and turn it into a rental, there are a few things to consider first.
1. Wear and tear
This is perhaps the biggest thing … View moreNot everyone chooses to sell their current home when they decide to move on. Sometimes, it’s not even an option. If you’re looking to hang on to your personal home and turn it into a rental, there are a few things to consider first.
1. Wear and tear
This is perhaps the biggest thing homeowners need to know. As a rental, your personal home will experience more wear and tear than it otherwise would if you lived in it. Your garden will probably not look as immaculate as it once did, and your walls and floors may acquire new scuff marks. So, if you can’t shake off your emotional attachment to the property, you may be better off selling it rather than renting it.
2. Location
The location of your home can have a major impact on its rentability and how easy it is to find quality tenants. If you’re close to local amenities like schools, Waikato University, Waikato Hospital or public transport routes, you have a better chance of keeping your property tenanted.
3. Maintenance
If your home is high maintenance - perhaps it has a pool, a large garden, or old appliances - know that you’ll need to keep it maintained to a reasonable condition to meet your obligations as a landlord/owner. This may involve extra ongoing costs, or costs to remedy the amount of maintenance required.
4. Family homes do best
In Hamilton, family-sized homes do particularly well on the rental market. Four-bedroom houses in Hamilton fetch, on average, between $450 and $520 per week. As for the strongest performing suburbs, Hamilton East/University, Te Kowhai/St Andrews/Queenwood, Dinsdale South/Frankton, Dinsdale North/Nawton and Flagstaff/Rototuna have recently experienced the strongest rental growth for family-sized properties with three to five (or more) bedrooms.
5. Landlord responsibilities
When you turn your personal home into a rental, you will take on the mantle of landlord, which comes with its own set of responsibilities. This includes finding and screening tenants, conducting or arranging inspections, repairs and maintenance. It’s a lot to manage—especially if you’re no longer living in the region. It’s why so many investors hire professional property managers to take care of the day-to-day running of their properties. Moreover, their fees are tax deductible.
Important note: If you’re leaving the country for more than 21 days, you’ll need to either appoint someone as your landlord in your stead or hire a property manager.
6. Tax implications
If you turn your home into a residential investment, be aware that you may not be able to make tax claims against it. It always pays to talk to a professional accountant to make sure you set up your home-turned-rental properly to avoid issues with tax, ownership and debt allocation.
New Zealand needs more foster carers, from all cultures and walks of life, to ensure every child in need is given their chance in life. Your decision to foster could be the most rewarding choice of your life, for everyone involved.
Key Assets know that providing support is really important in … View moreNew Zealand needs more foster carers, from all cultures and walks of life, to ensure every child in need is given their chance in life. Your decision to foster could be the most rewarding choice of your life, for everyone involved.
Key Assets know that providing support is really important in helping our fostering families feel confident and well-equipped in their role. If foster families are supported this can really make a difference to the experience of children and young people in care.
For carers looking after children and young people with complex needs Key Assets provide:
· A generous foster carer allowance when there is a child in your care
· 24/7 support from a Key Assets social worker
· Allocated Key Assets social worker who will visit you at your home at least once a month
· Support groups where you can meet other foster carers facilitated by a Key Assets Social Worker
· On-going training and development
· Access to therapeutic intervention if required
Think you could become a foster carer? Contact Key Assets on 09 263 5151 or visit iwanttofoster.co.nz for more information.
Here's a question from a reader of NZ Gardener, Ash in Whangamomona, who wants to know what to do with 100kg of chokos! He's looking for ideas to manage a bumper choko crop. And feel free to share more ideas in the Reply space.
Our 700 litre Simpson Freezer is empty. No idea of the age but they seem to go forever. Will hold two cattle beasts. 1.7m long
Suit farmer or life style block owner.
Can be seen running in Tuakau.
Let’s hear it for the amazing Fire and Emergency volunteers who help keep our communities safe.
This National Volunteer Week, head to the LetsHearIt landing page on Neighbourly and share a few words about why you’re thankful for what our volunteers do to keep our communities safe. We’ll … View moreLet’s hear it for the amazing Fire and Emergency volunteers who help keep our communities safe.
This National Volunteer Week, head to the LetsHearIt landing page on Neighbourly and share a few words about why you’re thankful for what our volunteers do to keep our communities safe. We’ll make sure they hear your message loud and clear.
Knowing how much we value their sacrifices is part of what keeps Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers going. Thank you for letting them know how grateful you are for everything they do.
In the next two decades, our Franklin district will experience the biggest population growth of anywhere in New Zealand.
To prepare for this dramatic increase in demand, we at Franklin Hospice need to do all we can to listen to feedback, not only from people who have used our services in the … View moreIn the next two decades, our Franklin district will experience the biggest population growth of anywhere in New Zealand.
To prepare for this dramatic increase in demand, we at Franklin Hospice need to do all we can to listen to feedback, not only from people who have used our services in the past, but also from those who are likely to need our services in the future.
Will you please help us? Your opinion matters!
I am asking you to please help us by taking a few minutes of your time to share your views and take our survey before we begin making vital future decisions, so we can continue to provide our services free of charge to those with life-limiting illnesses so they can focus on what’s important – to "Live Every Moment".
Here is the link again: Franklin Hospice CareWell 2018 survey
Thank you so much for your support.
Ric Odom
Chief Executive Officer | Franklin Hospice
As more and more of us try to do our bit for the environment, we'd love to hear what habits you've changed.
Have you gone off-grid? Found a way to create an environmentally home? Maybe you've given something up or swapped it for a greener alternative...? … View moreAs more and more of us try to do our bit for the environment, we'd love to hear what habits you've changed.
Have you gone off-grid? Found a way to create an environmentally home? Maybe you've given something up or swapped it for a greener alternative...? Click here to share your eco tips, tricks and experiences and we'll publish a selection of the best.
Tourists arriving in New Zealand may soon have to pay to enter the country under a Government proposed international visitor levy.
The proposal would impact international visitors entering New Zealand for 12 months or less and would be at a rate between $25 to $35.
Do you think international… View moreTourists arriving in New Zealand may soon have to pay to enter the country under a Government proposed international visitor levy.
The proposal would impact international visitors entering New Zealand for 12 months or less and would be at a rate between $25 to $35.
Do you think international visitors should be charged a levy to enter New Zealand?
Does your community group help families and young people in your local area and need of more funds to support the great work you do? Your local The Warehouse store is now calling for applications to become a partner for our Customer Choice ‘Bags for good’ Programme. In the last financial year … View moreDoes your community group help families and young people in your local area and need of more funds to support the great work you do? Your local The Warehouse store is now calling for applications to become a partner for our Customer Choice ‘Bags for good’ Programme. In the last financial year over $529,000 was raised for 279 community partners across NZ. Curious? For more information or begin the application click here.
Applications close on the 23rd of June.
A former ACG Strathallan student, Year 4 teacher Cherie Boucher-Cunningham played soccer in the boys’ first XI before ‘accidentally’ becoming a goalie for NZ. Now a teacher, her job, she says, is to make every student feel they belong. We interviewed her to find out all about her experience … View moreA former ACG Strathallan student, Year 4 teacher Cherie Boucher-Cunningham played soccer in the boys’ first XI before ‘accidentally’ becoming a goalie for NZ. Now a teacher, her job, she says, is to make every student feel they belong. We interviewed her to find out all about her experience being a teacher.
What was the highlight of your time as a student at ACG Strathallan?
"I loved the teachers – they were so kind and made you feel like you could be anything. I remember bringing my Mum and Dad in for interviews one year and just being so proud and excited to show them everything. I played in the boys’ first XI soccer team, because we didn’t have a girls’ team back then. Something I will always remember is playing the teachers at football on Fridays after school. It was competitive and there were some brilliant tackles from both sides! It was something I would often tell people when they asked about my time at Strathallan."
What made you return to the school as a teacher?
"I had such good memories and I wanted to be a part of creating those memories for more students. I also love the campus. It is such an amazing feeling to be able to work with so much space around you. I often take my classes out just to watch the water if they are feeling stressed or over-excited."
Read the rest of the interview here!
Meet teachers, staff members and students at ACG Strathallan’s Open Day on Saturday 23 June. Find out more about the Open Day here.
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