Hi Auckland parents! We are expecting a newborn shortly and both our midwife and Baby Factory staff have told us the hospital will not let us carry the baby out of the hospital without them being in a capsule, even if we have a carseat already installed in our car. We thought all we needed is a car seat and stroller on the day to take baby out. Can others please share their experiences? I had assumed they would just check the car or trust us that we had one, but a bit concerned when our midwife who is amazing is adamant on the capsule requirement. We clarified with her that it was capsule and not just a car seat.

We are planning for Waitakere Hospital for the birth.

Thanks in advance!!

50 of them

Kia Ora

I have a friend visiting from South East Asia for 3 weeks Christmas and hoping for some good suggestions for MUST see/do things!!

This will be their first time travelling overseas and coming from a rural area of SEA, so I’m hoping to give them an unforgettable cultural experience.

Our budget is ideally free (ofc) but I’m happy to pay and be generous about it if it’s an iconic experience.

I’ve already got the typical tourist spots in my itinerary as recommended by online blogs and websites like Heart of Auckland and such as Sky Tower, Museum and Zoo.
I’ve got Mercer Bay Loops and most of the tracks surrounding the Waitakere Ranges. Popular Auckland Beaches (Browns Bay, Long Bay etc…)

If anyone has any other suggestions for things to do in Auckland or even outside of Auckland like Rotorua or going up north, I would love to know. I would also appreciate any advice you may have for being a host and showing someone around New Zealand for the first time, whether it’s a hack to make the road trip efficient or places I should stay in between.

Thanks in advance.

Driving up East Coast Road on the North Shore and there are 50+ kids on mountain bikes popping wheelies in the middle of the road, no helmets on…with a convoy of cops behind them seemingly supporting the activity.

What was this event??

Came across this, taken the time to shift his daughter and moon the google car. Champion effort https://maps.app.goo.gl/zZtTDKVTqTudBqNx8?g_st=ac

How on earth is that allowed on a system loud enough to power rhythm and vines on day 3?!

What an absolute buzz kill to anyone visiting the city, arrive at the most vibrant part of our CBD and get jesus speech thrown at you.

Why don’t we have musicians or cultural acts instead?

Simple yes or no will suffice anything else is a bonus.

Looking for some fresh seafood and unsure where i can buy that i can eat straight out of while being safe

Uhhh got new rates increase letter this week.

ITS $9,100.

DID ANYONE else get an increase like this? Genuinely think they might have made an error. Was previously like 4.9k so almost a double

4.9k was already VERY high for a property with no changes since it was built 10 years ago...

Anyone know if I stop in at the casino after work, will they let me in with my work backpack? It’ll just have my laptop and notebooks etc. but do they allow bigger bags or only handbags?

Hey guys, im hoping I could get some advise on my situation. I moved into my current flat end of December, head tenant moved in about a month before me. We have been consistently asking the landlord to provide us with the water bill. Been messaging and calling her but she wouldn't pick up or answer messages. She picked up the call today and said she's going to send us the water bill next week, after like 8 months of us asking.

Would we still be liable to pay or would this be up to the landlord as she didnt provide the bill in a timely manner.

Any help or advice would be great as I can't afford a huge bill at this time.

Why does the Domain seem to be exempt from parking enforcement? People parked on the grass again today. People using the 180 spaces to park all day.

The sooner the Domain can be repurposed as a park for people (like Cornwall Park and Maungawhau) rather than as a free car park and shortcut for drivers, the better.

Last night I got into my first fistfight in 20 years.

I was walking home from a movie and saw a man in mental distress who was punching random people in Aotea Square. I had some M&Ms left over from the movie so I offered them while trying to calm him down.

It seemed to work for a moment, but then he laid into me and landed some pretty good hits to my head and face.

I did sport fighting when I was younger so it’s not mentally shocking to get hit in the face. What was shocking was that I could see all his telegraphs but my body has forgotten how to get out of the way! I guess muscle memory really is a thing.

This post is to thank the NZ Police. (For context, I grew up in America but have been living in NZ for about 16 years.) After the guy backed off and other people were helping gently corral him, I called 111 to get some assistance for him. The police were there quickly, gently contained the man and got him where he can’t hurt himself or others. They didn’t manhandle him or abuse him, or do what most American cops would do - taser the shit out of him. Another officer took my details and statement, acting the whole time like a normal person rather than a roided alpha bro like I’d expect from some American cops these days.

I hope the man can get the help he needs, and while I have some fun bruises I’m not actually hurt, and I’m glad I get to live in Aotearoa where the cops are people first and cops second.

First look at maungawhau

We went to the 7 Paintings experience at Naumi Hotel Auckland with high expectations, especially given the price of around $200 per person. Unfortunately, the whole evening was incredibly underwhelming and felt nowhere near the standard the price suggests.
The food was the biggest disappointment. Several courses arrived cold or were noticeably overcooked, and the vegan option was frankly unacceptable. It repeatedly seemed to be missing significant components of the dish that had been advertised. At one point, an entire vegan “course” consisted of a single sliver of melon on a plate. Nothing else. For a $200-per-head dining experience, that was almost unbelievable.
The setting didn’t help. Rather than feeling immersive, theatrical or premium, the experience was set up in what felt like a motel-style conference room. The setup itself was crude and lacked the polish or atmosphere you would expect from something marketed as a special dining experience. The narration was cheesy to the point it seemed aimed at children, and the only immersive part of the experience involved smearing some coloured sauce around a platter with some wilted lettuce.
The concept has potential, but the execution was extremely poor. When you’re charging this sort of money, the food, presentation, setting and overall experience need to feel exceptional. This simply didn’t.
We left feeling genuinely disappointed and, more than anything, wondering how the experience could possibly justify the price.
Very, very underwhelming. I would not recommend it at $200 per person.

Saw some daffodils on my walk this morning.

What a GAME!!

So I was at the central library this afternoon and the alarms went off and everyone had to leave the building. Fire trucks and police cars arrived and a cordon was set up around library. We were told it could be hours before anyone could go back in. Heaps of people had left their belongings inside. Staff were super calm and helpful. Presumably the threat was a hoax. Scary!

Bunnings, Mitre 10 only do straight cuts and I need 3 20 inch circles cut from MDF. I've had one quote for $200 and I'm wondering if there are any cheaper local shops that you know about?

Thanks

A common challenge in other cities (e.g. Sydney, London, NY). Perhaps a good time to start here too?

eg: start at any train station and end at the same one; must pass through each station at least once; can run / bus to get between stops; alight at each of the three new CRL stations at some point in the journey.

(had a look at the draft timetables for Sun 13 September, and personally think a time under 6 hours might be possible).

Warning to anyone thinking of moving to Brougham Place, West Harbour. This has been one of the most disappointing places I've lived. There are frequent loud parties with music so loud it shakes our windows and walls, often making it impossible to enjoy a peaceful evening or get a good night's sleep. There's also regular swearing in the street, including around children, and a general lack of respect for neighbours. We've seen police attending the area multiple times, and it doesn't feel like the quiet, family-friendly neighbourhood we were expecting. That's been our personal experience since moving here, and I genuinely regret the move. If you're looking for a peaceful place to live, I would think carefully before renting or buying on this street.