895 days ago

WBS Big Switch to kick start Greytown Festival of Christmas this Saturday 1 July

The annual Greytown Festival of Christmas returns with a flurry of excitement this July.
Snow is in the forecast for this years’ mid-winter festival, and Greytown is set to be transformed into a winter wonderland for the entire month. Locals, businesses, community groups and friends are gearing up for jam-packed programme of events, workshops, food, live music and fun, as well as a special Matariki programme.

The first major act of the 2023 festival is the “WBS Big Switch”, which kicks off from 3pm on Saturday 1 July. Head along to catch a first glimpse of the festive atmosphere, see the lighting get turned on for the first time, grab a bite to eat from the food trucks, browse the night markets, get a selfie in the “snow”, and enjoy a spectacular fireworks display at 7pm (remember to put your four-legged friends indoors from 6.58pm – 7.15pm).

In line with this year’s festival theme “Let it Snow” 3000 snowflakes have been distributed to schools and preschools throughout the region for children to decorate and bring along to hang on the Community Christmas Tree on opening night. There will also be a collection box for the Community Food Banks there, where people can donate non-perishable food items throughout the month for collection.


Other Festival highlights include workshops and crafternoons for kids and adults, a family-friendly Winter Fete at Cobblestones, Matariki Stargazing and weaving, a Cocktails and Comedy Season at The White Swan, a Fashion Through the Ages show, a Snowman Hunt, and a Woolshed Movie Night hosted by Greytown School.

Retailers will be offering special deals and prizes, and restaurants, bars and cafes will have festive food and beverages on the menu.

If you have friends visiting who would like to decorate a snowflake to hang on the tree on 1 July, they can be collected from The Offering Café here in Greytown, WBS at 125 Queen Street Masterton, or any library in Wairarapa. See the full programme here static1.squarespace.com...

More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.

We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?

Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.

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Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
  • 53.3% Yes
    53.3% Complete
  • 46.7% No
    46.7% Complete
2044 votes
5 days ago

A riddle to start the festive season 🌲🎁🌟

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I'm a fruit. If you take away my first letter, I'm a crime. If you take away my first two letters, I'm an animal. If you take away my first and last letter, I'm a form of music. What am I?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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2 days ago

‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...

The Team from New Zealand Police

As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.

Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.

There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”

A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105

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