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Over the last three decades councils have hiked rates at more than three times the level of inflation. We say that, just this once, councils should find efficiencies within their operations rather than just reach even deeper into our pockets.
Mr Goff’s attempts to fool you
While Mr Goff talks … View moreOver the last three decades councils have hiked rates at more than three times the level of inflation. We say that, just this once, councils should find efficiencies within their operations rather than just reach even deeper into our pockets.
Mr Goff’s attempts to fool you
While Mr Goff talks about “limiting” rates hikes to 2.5% or (more recently) 3.5% — if you listen very carefully, that’s only “general rates”. It doesn’t included all the extra “targeted” rates he has put onto your rates bill!
The fact is that since the formation of the Super City, rates have gone up more than five percent per year. One year, under Len Brown, they went up 9.9% for the average householder.
And while the politicians claim that money was needed to fund essential infrastructure projects – analysis by the Ratepayers’ Alliance shows that the vast majority of the extra revenue actually went onto growing the Council’s payroll. Of the Council’s twelve and a half thousand staff, three thousand staff are paid more than $100,000 pa. 218 are paid more than $200,000. And unlike everyone else sitting at home, not one of those jobs are on the line.
Now is the time for the Mayor and Councillors to find savings.
Your support adds another voice to force Auckland Council to look inwards and find efficiencies. We say that a genuine effort to cut wasteful spending and reallocate money to core services is needed, before they turn to ratepayers at a time of financial crisis.
www.taxpayers.org.nz...
Unlike central government taxes, rates are totally unconnected to your ability to pay. With so many Aucklanders losing their jobs and livelihoods right now, it is cruel to pile even more burden onto ratepayers. But without your support, Auckland Council will continue to dig deeper into your pocket.
On behalf of the whole team here at the Ratepayers’ Alliance (working remotely!), thank you for your support.
Jo Holmes
Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance
www.taxpayers.org.nz...
We think you’ll love this New Zealand Hot Cross and Cold Cross Bun recipe from Aunt Daisy's Cookery Book of Approved Recipes, from our collection.
Maud Ruby Basham (30 August 1879 – 14 July 1963), professionally known as Aunt Daisy, was a well-loved New Zealand radio broadcaster. Her … View moreWe think you’ll love this New Zealand Hot Cross and Cold Cross Bun recipe from Aunt Daisy's Cookery Book of Approved Recipes, from our collection.
Maud Ruby Basham (30 August 1879 – 14 July 1963), professionally known as Aunt Daisy, was a well-loved New Zealand radio broadcaster. Her 30-minute daily morning show ran from 1933 to 1963. Her role was primarily to promote household products and to boost morale during World War II. Try out this recipe and it might just boost your morale! Best served hot with lashings of butter…
Aunt Daisy’s full recipe and other activities for the Easter Weekend are over at our Auckland Museum at Home Hub!
Hi neighbours! SOS Business was set up to help local businesses in your community. It means you can buy gift cards from your favourite cafés, restaurants and service providers and then redeem them when they re-open after lockdown.
You can play a special part helping small businesses stay … View moreHi neighbours! SOS Business was set up to help local businesses in your community. It means you can buy gift cards from your favourite cafés, restaurants and service providers and then redeem them when they re-open after lockdown.
You can play a special part helping small businesses stay afloat during this time. Spread the word to your friends and family so that we can help as many local businesses as we can.
Thanks for being a great neighbour by being a lifeline for businesses in your community.
PS - in case you were wondering, due to the success of SOS Café, and the number of other service businesses now on the Platform, the team have rebranded to SOS Business – Save Our Small Business!
We know some of you are facing threatening and potentially harmful times at home right now. Police will be there for you if you call us.
If you are in immediate danger and can’t call 111, leave your house and get out of harm’s way. Get to a safe distance and then ask a neighbour over a fence, … View moreWe know some of you are facing threatening and potentially harmful times at home right now. Police will be there for you if you call us.
If you are in immediate danger and can’t call 111, leave your house and get out of harm’s way. Get to a safe distance and then ask a neighbour over a fence, or a passer-by, to call 111 for you. Your safety comes first.
It’s everybody’s responsibility to speak out and keep each other safe right now. If you think something is not ok with a friend, neighbour, or colleague, it’s okay to call Police on their behalf. The person you’re worried about may not be able to speak up for themselves. You could be saving a life.
For more information or support: www.police.govt.nz...
There are plenty of things you and your family can do this Easter weekend, with the majority done from the comfort of your home.
Here are our 2nd week of challenges. Might help fill in a bit of time and a great thing to do as a family.
Thank you to all our essential service workers working tirelessly to ensure our communities are kept safe.
Issac is 81years old and was observed by a member of the public struggling to walk to the supermarket. A quick interaction with Isaac revealed he was in need of some intervention.
Community … View moreThank you to all our essential service workers working tirelessly to ensure our communities are kept safe.
Issac is 81years old and was observed by a member of the public struggling to walk to the supermarket. A quick interaction with Isaac revealed he was in need of some intervention.
Community Constable Reuben Boniface ?♂️ was able to connect Issac with Age Concern Southland and with their assistance provide a care package of cooked meals and loaves of bread to help him through this time ? #kindnessgoesalongway
Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self-isolating, but there are some things you can do to feel better.
Even if you are not sick you may be feeling anxious about COVID-19. This is normal.
Reach out to your family and whānau, friends and… View moreYour emotional and mental wellbeing is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self-isolating, but there are some things you can do to feel better.
Even if you are not sick you may be feeling anxious about COVID-19. This is normal.
Reach out to your family and whānau, friends and workmates. Sharing how we feel and offering support to others is important.
We want to remind you that if you or someone you know is struggling right now, there is free help available.
See below a list of helplines throughout New Zealand ?
Kia Kaha Aotearoa.
Here are some highlights from the shortlist for the Auckland Architecture Awards 2020. We have a particular soft spot for the tiny Point Wells Cricket Club by Pac Studio! And this new build in Remuera, Auckland.
Hi Neighbours, He's famous on Instagram, but Fonzie the Cockatoo has a new claim to fame, after getting such a fright he landed on a powerline, giving his owner a 20-hour ordeal while he hung upside down. Read the happy ending :
Hi neighbors, I am Rodney from Easiroll Roofing Ltd. We are specialists in the supply of roofing materials for your outdoor areas like Pergolas etc.
We can offer advice and guidance on the right products for you to use for your projects.
Recently there is a growing demand for pergoals with … View moreHi neighbors, I am Rodney from Easiroll Roofing Ltd. We are specialists in the supply of roofing materials for your outdoor areas like Pergolas etc.
We can offer advice and guidance on the right products for you to use for your projects.
Recently there is a growing demand for pergoals with a Flat Look like Glass but without the associated high cost. We have several options that fit the bill and look great.
One option is CUSTOM GLAZE. This is very cost effective, easy to install, comes in a range of colours and sizes.
Give us a call now for prices and details:
(09) 415 3647 / 0800 694 895
www.easiroll.co.nz
Playing games online isn’t just for the grandkids, we have a whole list of free game websites to keep you entertained; crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and sudoku to name a few.
Hey neighbours, it was great to see so many of you at our live lunch with NZ Home and Garden and NZ Gardener editors Naomi Larkin and Jo McCarroll. Thanks for stopping by :)
If you missed it, you can still drop in for a recap and see if Jo and Naomi answered your questions, here.
We were lucky!
Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.
And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be… View moreWe were lucky!
Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.
And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be able to share in the achievements of our current students and graduates. The highlight has to be the magnificent dinner; an inspired menu created by our gifted chef, Finn Gybel and prepared under his watchful eye by the cookery students.
Fortuitously, the lamb arrived fresh from Pigeon Bay via Harris Meats in North Canterbury and after a number of dramas leaving us worried that it would in time. Finn's dish, where he wrapped the lamb in crepinette, to hold it together while cooking, was certainly a new technique that we had not used in the past.
It was a thrill to have veteran broadcaster, Carol Hirschfeld as MC for the dinner and lend her distinctive and thoughtful commentary to our story. Carol asked me who she could "interview" during the dinner. Victoria Biddick, our first enrolled student from 1995, Oliver Hay and Joelle Thomson all shared their unique perspective on their association with the school.
There is certainly some irony in the fact that as we were celebrating these 25 years, another significant challenge was about to explode. Drawing on my earthquake experience, where we relocated our students to my second business at the Duvauchelle Store and Café, I knew that we had to find a way to keep going.
As the Covid19 crisis escalated, I discussed with our tutors how we could teach the programmes online and with the cookery students cooking in their own kitchens at home. Again, I was fortunate that my son Oliver, computer systems engineer, and recently returned from his super yacht chef sojourn, decided that he wanted to work full-time at NZSFW. Oli then set about finding the best platform for the tutors to stream their classes live and to administer the programmes. We have used Google Classroom and the Hangouts conferencing software to do this and it's working well.
By Friday 20 March, we had amended our cookery timetables to focus on baking, pasta and dishes that were easier to prepare at home. The students then went home with a 5kg bag of flour, 2 kg sugar, 1kg butter, 12 eggs and other ingredients. We trialled the video streaming from NZSFW while we could and then following the lockdown, the tutors now continue from their homes. The logistics are much easier for Franck with his hospitality students!
For the cookery students, the model is they watch the demonstrations at home and later upload photographs of their cooking. It's not ideal, as the tutor cannot taste their food and sometimes the livestream is pixellated or cuts out but it's better that doing nothing. Plus, everyone gets to chat and socialise from the safety of their bubble. And with supermarkets open, we can continue to buy supplies. View Foundation cooking shots here. And Advanced Cooking here.
Stay safe and have fun,
Celia Hay
Hello neighbours, our editor Jo McCarroll is hosting another Live Lunch today (with colleague Naomi who edits NZ House & Garden), so jump online between 12.30 and 1pm to join them. You can ask questions in advance, so start firing through your gardening questions and pictures of your garden or … View moreHello neighbours, our editor Jo McCarroll is hosting another Live Lunch today (with colleague Naomi who edits NZ House & Garden), so jump online between 12.30 and 1pm to join them. You can ask questions in advance, so start firing through your gardening questions and pictures of your garden or the projects you've been tackling over lockdown anytime you like!
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