1497 days ago

Poll: Prospa Local Business Hero - who gets your vote?

Prospa

Small businesses need our support more than ever right now. While it's uncertain times for all, we are still proud to be celebrating our 11 regional Local Business Heroes for their commitment to their communities. 

They now need your help! We are now looking for the New Zealand Prospa Local Business Hero - our overall winner, as voted by Neighbourly members around the country!

This lucky business will walk away with $10,000 worth of prizes!

Please take a couple of minutes to read the nominations below - then vote for the business you'd like to see named 2020 Prospa Local Business Hero.
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NORTHLAND: Lew Ringrose - Ringrose Stockfoods
“A very humble man who has been sponsoring any and every cause that has been requested for well over 40 years. He sponsors so many causes in and outside of the neighborhood, goes out of his way to get the meal to the hungry animals, works through the night to fill orders, even on public holidays he steps in and runs the factory single handed to allow his staff time off. He is well past retirement but dedicated to keeping hungry animals supplied with food. No order is too big or too small for his fantastic team.”

AUCKLAND: Jay & Kusum - Orakei Superette
“Part of our lives for so many years. They offer a great business, post centre, the BEST fresh flowers and fruit & veg. I have NEVER known them to take a holiday. Kind and genuinely caring people who add so much to our community. You could not find a better Local Business Hero!”

WAIKATO: Te Aroha Vet Clinic
Te Aroha Veterinary Clinic provide a fantastic service from a team that are dedicated to I was devastated losing Blue (horse) I bred her 14 yrs ago and loved her dearly and now I had her orphan foal to care for. Without her dedication staying for hours trying to save Blue I honestly don't know how I would have coped. They are a true asset to our community they go above and beyond the call of duty helping to care for our all animals providing around the clock care and service.”

BAY OF PLENTY: Tony & Julie - Pyes Pa SuperValue
“The owners, Tony & Julie, are great at communicating and continually ask their customers if they stock the products they want, and if they don’t, they then get it in. They have a very friendly manner and their Managers and Staff are all attentive. Thanks to Tony & Julie for choosing Pyes Pa, you have fitted in well.”

HAWKE’S BAY - GISBORNE: Kaye & Alan - Cornucopia Organics
“The staff are friendly and helpful.Also the owners will order in whatever is required,if it is not currently on their shelves.”

TARANAKI: Down to Earth
“As well as a range of healthy tasty foodstuffs and quality herbal supplements, they also provide a range of products to help with sustainable living. They have recently introduced a "bring-you-own-container" refill facility for dishwasher, shampoo and other cleaners. However the best thing about this store is the excellent service. I'm always greeted with a smile and friendly word, offers of help, etc. It is always a pleasure to shop here.”

MANAWATU-WANGANUI: Margaret and Vijay - Maxwells Line Four Square
“Margaret and Veejay go out of their way to make sure customers get the freshest fruit and veggies in town and if they don't have what you want will ring around to source it for you. Despite being robbed and stabbed in daylight, they were open for business as usual the next day. They are held in high esteem locally.”

WELLINGTON: Quoc Tran - Tutere Street Four Square
“This man got out of Viet Nam by himself when he was13, sailed on a boat and spent time in camps before coming to NZ. He could not speak english. He purchased a local dairy and over the years has totally transformed and enlarged it providing employment to a number of locals. He is the ultimate friendly shopkeeper.”

NELSON - MARLBOROUGH: Cath - Blenheim Life Pharmacy
“They deliver my prescriptions to me as I’m often unable to get them. They always make sure nothing I'm prescribed interacts with anything and they always explain how to take my meds thoroughly to me, which is important as I've had a brain stem stroke and somedays my brain is scrambled. Cath is wonderful at dropping them off for me. They do a really important and medically serious job with kindness"

CANTERBURY - WEST: Mark & Des - The Vege Shop.
“The Vege Shop on Stourbridge is just the best little local biz in town. Mark and his wife Des always have a smile and time for a yarn. We feel so fortunate to have them just around the corner. They are awesome!”

OTAGO - SOUTHLAND: John Swindlehurst - A&J Services
“John is fantastic!!! He does everything from carpet repairs to chimney sweeping and pest control. I have him listed in my phone as John Everything! He has a brilliant attitude and has even come on public holidays at short notice.”

Prospa Local Business Hero - who gets your vote?
  • 11.3% NORTHLAND: Lew Ringrose - Ringrose Stockfoods
    11.3% Complete
  • 14.8% AUCKLAND: Jay & Kusum - Orakei Superette
    14.8% Complete
  • 7.5% WAIKATO: Te Aroha Vet Clinic
    7.5% Complete
  • 4.3% BAY OF PLENTY: Tony & Julie - Pyes Pa SuperValue
    4.3% Complete
  • 6.2% HAWKE’S BAY - GISBORNE: Kaye & Alan - Cornucopia Organics
    6.2% Complete
  • 5% TARANAKI: Down to Earth
    5% Complete
  • 14% MANAWATU-WANGANUI: Margaret and Vijay - Maxwells Line Four Square
    14% Complete
  • 18.4% WELLINGTON: Quoc Tran - Tutere Street Four Square
    18.4% Complete
  • 4.1% NELSON - MARLBOROUGH: Cath - Blenheim Life Pharmacy
    4.1% Complete
  • 11.9% CANTERBURY - WEST: Mark & Des - The Vege Shop.
    11.9% Complete
  • 2.5% OTAGO - SOUTHLAND: John Swindlehurst - A&J Services
    2.5% Complete
3110 votes
More messages from your neighbours
9 days ago

HOUSING AND COUNCILS 10 YEAR PLAN

Stephanie from Spotswood

Housing and the Council’s Ten Year Plan…
Actually, housing gets barely a mention in the Council’s Ten Year Plan.
And that is a significant problem because we all, except it seems the Council, are aware of the effects of the ‘baby boomer’ generation is happening now!
We have a rapid increase in the number of older adults over the age of 65 and a dramatic increase in adults over the age of 85 years.
 
Age Sector NZ has stated that 61,121 retirement units will be needed within the next ten years.
Statistics NZ estimates by 2040 approximately 600,000 65+ will be renting, so many of them will be living alone.
More older adults will experience housing insecurity in the coming years unless the country dramatically increases its supply of affordable homes for people ages 65 and up, who make up roughly one-fifth of the nation.
 
The Council currently operate 145 housing units for the elderly in a self-funded model. This approach is not keeping up with the need to upgrade and expand the housing stock. We are proposing to create a working capital fund of approximately $4m at a cost of $200,000 per
annum to provide for:
• Improvement and expansion of the housing for elderly service noting that this is contrary to
the current self-funding position of the Housing for the Elderly Policy.
• Expanding Council’s role in the provision of housing beyond housing for the elderly.
Given the crisis facing housing for older people this demonstrates a clear lack of interest, let alone commitment to the growing plight of so many of our older citizens.
An increasing share of people with low and fixed incomes will struggle to afford appropriate housing in the coming decade and we just don't have the housing and supports that we need for this growing population.
Our Council seems to continually dodge this issue - but it is growing larger day by day.
What can you do?
Contact your Council and tell them your concerns re housing for older adults.
 
 If you can – urgently contact the Council by emailing a submission detailing your concerns to submissions@npdc.govt.nz or going online to: npdc.govt.nz/10-year-plan
Affordable housing for vulnerable older adults in our community is a ‘must’ not a ‘nice to have’
Gordon Hudson, Communications… 021 133 7244, gordonandjanr@xtra.co.nz
Positive Ageing NP

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3 days ago

Rehomeing My Cat

Sandra from Highlands Park

I need to rehome my old cat as I am moving overseas, and just can’t put her down. Can anybody help me out please

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5 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.4% Yes
    91.4% Complete
  • 8.1% No
    8.1% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below!
    0.5% Complete
1302 votes