As temperatures drop across New Zealand, white-tailed spiders often head indoors searching for warmth and prey. While stories about these uninvited winter guests tend to cause panic, much of what we think we know about them is based on myth rather than fact.

JAE’s latest guide breaks down the real science behind white-tail spiders and provides practical steps to keep your home pest-free this season.

• Bust the Myths: Discover what medical research actually says about white-tail bites and why fear of severe, flesh-eating reactions is largely unfounded.
• Identify with Ease: Learn how to spot a white-tail spider by its distinct shape, size, and markings, distinguishing it from other common NZ household species.
• Enlist Natural Allies: Find out why harmless house guests, like the Daddy-long-legs, are actually effective natural white-tail predators you might want to leave alone.
• Protect Your Home: Follow a straightforward 4-step winter defence checklist, from shaking out footwear to removing the spiders' primary food sources.
• Get Long-Term Protection: Explore how professional pest control creates an effective perimeter barrier to keep roaming hunters outside where they belong.

Ready to protect your whare and enjoy peace of mind this winter?

Read the full guide here: The Ultimate White-Tailed Spider Guide: Myths, Facts, and Winter Home Defence

When floodwaters hit your property, every minute counts, but restoring your home to a safe, dry state isn't an overnight job. Many homeowners wonder what truly impacts the timeline and whether materials like carpets and subfloors can actually be saved.

In our latest article, we break down the reality of flood damage restoration and what you can expect during the recovery process.

• Recognise the Factors: Discover how the scale of the flood, water contamination levels, and affected materials directly dictate the restoration timeframe.
• Understand the 5-Step Process: Learn how certified technicians move from initial moisture mapping and extraction to high-tech drying and final safety inspections.
• Save Materials, Don't Just Replace: Find out how advanced structural drying can restore carpets, rugs, timber, and furniture without needing costly full replacements.
• Navigate Insurance with Ease: See how working with an insurance-approved provider streamlines claims and ensures rapid 24/7 emergency response across New Zealand.

Facing unexpected water damage or curious about how modern restoration works?

Read the full article here: How Long Does Flood Restoration Actually Take?

Retail efficiency is often discussed in terms of staffing, technology and customer service, but the way stock moves through a business can have just as much impact on day-to-day performance.

From the moment goods arrive at a loading area to the point they reach a shelf or fulfil an online order, every movement takes time. Poorly planned handling processes can create delays, increase manual effort and make it harder for staff to keep shelves stocked.

Better stock handling equipment and clearer workflows can make these movements faster, safer and more consistent.

Stock Movement Starts Before the Shop Floor

For many retailers, the first challenge begins as soon as deliveries arrive.

Cartons, bulk goods and loose products need to be moved from receiving areas into storage or directly onto the retail floor. If staff are relying on equipment that is too small, difficult to manoeuvre or poorly suited to the load, the process can quickly become inefficient.

The right trolley or cage can reduce the number of trips required and make heavier loads easier to control.

This becomes increasingly important in larger stores, supermarkets and warehouse-style retail environments, where stock may need to travel significant distances between receiving, storage and display areas.

Stock Trolleys Can Reduce Unnecessary Handling

A good stock trolley should make it easier to move products without requiring staff to repeatedly lift, carry and reposition items.

Platform trolleys are particularly useful for bulky goods, cartons, beverages and other heavier products.

Retailers can also select different trolley sizes and configurations depending on aisle width, storage space and the types of products being moved.

When equipment matches the task, staff can complete replenishment work more quickly and with less physical strain.

The benefit is not only speed. More efficient movement can also help reduce product damage caused by repeated handling.

Roll Cages Help Keep Goods Contained

Roll cages are useful when stock needs to remain secure and organised during movement.

Unlike an open platform trolley, a cage helps contain cartons and packaged goods while they are transported between loading areas, storage spaces and retail floors.

This can be particularly useful in supermarkets, distribution centres and larger retail operations where staff are moving multiple products at once.

Nesting roll cages can also reduce the amount of storage space required when the equipment is not in use.

For businesses with limited back-of-house space, this can make a noticeable difference.

Faster Replenishment Can Improve the Customer Experience

Stock handling may happen largely behind the scenes, but customers still experience the results.

Empty shelves, blocked aisles and slow replenishment can make a store feel poorly managed.

When staff can move products efficiently, shelves can be replenished more quickly and with less disruption to shoppers.

Smaller, more manoeuvrable stock trolleys can also help staff work around customers in busy aisles without creating unnecessary obstacles.

This becomes especially important during peak trading periods, when stores need to restock frequently while maintaining a comfortable shopping environment.

Order Picking Has Become More Important

Retail operations are increasingly serving both in-store and online customers.

That has made order picking a more important part of everyday retail logistics.

Staff may need to collect products for click-and-collect orders, local deliveries or ecommerce fulfilment while continuing to support traditional store operations.

Dedicated order picking trolleys can help organise multiple orders during a single picking run.

Some systems allow several orders to be separated on the same trolley, reducing the need for staff to repeatedly walk through the same warehouse or store.

For higher-volume operations, these small workflow improvements can add up quickly.

Equipment Should Match the Layout

There is no single trolley or handling system that suits every retail environment.

A large warehouse store may need high-capacity platform trolleys, while a smaller supermarket may require compact equipment that can move easily through narrow stock rooms and aisles.

Businesses should consider:

Available aisle width

Typical load size

Product weight

Storage capacity

Frequency of stock movement

Distance between receiving and display areas

Whether stock needs to remain contained

Whether equipment needs to nest when stored

Matching equipment to the physical layout can improve efficiency without requiring major changes to the building itself.

Better Handling Can Support Safer Work Practices

Manual handling remains an important consideration in retail and warehouse environments.

Repeated lifting, awkward loads and heavy products can increase strain on staff.

While trolleys and cages do not remove every manual handling risk, they can reduce the amount of carrying required and make heavier goods easier to move.

Well-maintained castors, stable frames and suitable handles also make equipment easier to control.

Businesses should still provide appropriate training and safe work procedures, but better equipment can support those systems.

Maintenance Matters

Stock handling equipment is often used heavily, so regular maintenance is important.

Worn castors can make trolleys harder to steer. Damaged frames can reduce stability. Loose fittings can make equipment noisier and less reliable.

Regular inspections can help identify these issues before they interfere with daily operations.

For retailers with larger fleets of trolleys and cages, planned maintenance can also reduce unexpected downtime.

Suppliers such as NZ Retail Equipment provide a range of stock handling and order picking equipment for retail and logistics environments across New Zealand.

The broader lesson is simple: equipment works best when it is selected for the task and kept in good condition.

Stock Handling Should Be Part of Store Planning

Retailers often focus heavily on customer-facing areas when planning a new store or refurbishment.

Shelving, lighting, signage and displays are important, but back-of-house movement should also be considered.

If receiving areas are difficult to access, storage spaces are cramped or stock equipment cannot move efficiently through the building, staff productivity can suffer.

Planning stock routes early can help avoid these issues.

This includes looking at where deliveries arrive, how products reach storage areas, how replenishment happens and where equipment will be stored when not in use.

Small Improvements Can Have a Large Impact

Improving stock handling does not always require major investment.

Sometimes the biggest gains come from replacing unsuitable equipment, reducing unnecessary movement or introducing a more practical trolley configuration.

The aim is to make stock movement as straightforward as possible.

When products can move efficiently from receiving to storage, from storage to shelves and from shelves to customer orders, staff can spend less time fighting the process and more time serving customers.

For retailers dealing with growing ranges, higher volumes and more fulfilment channels, that efficiency is becoming increasingly valuable.

What started with backyard experiments, bold ideas and a leap from the Eiffel Tower became the world’s first commercial bungy site at Kawarau Bridge in 1988.

Discover how AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch helped pioneer an adventure that would inspire millions around the world to live more and fear less.

Read the full story behind the leap and the legacy that continues today.

Finance:.   NZ dollar firmed over the week but remains a very weak currency. The Brent Crude has moved above $US90 over the week and is $US94.11 this morning up from last week

Wool:  This weeks wool auction saw a lift in the crossbred wool prices and a slight easing in the finer wools.

Beef, Sheep & Venison schedules: The meat schedules remain steady to slightly firmer across all categories. The international demand for red meat is very strong pushing the local prices higher.  There are grumbles about the price of mince!!!.

Dairy Prices.  The g/DT lifted 2.3% with SMP up 7.6% and WMP up 3% to $US3591/tn. The Pulse Auction had indicated a reasonable increase which flowed through.  The lift should put some confidence back into a stronger Farm Gate Milk Price!!.

The cost of supplements for the season is still an unknown.  The purchase of maize & grass silage must include the increased cost of fertiliser and fuel and the shipping costs of PKE have also increased.  Grain costs will also increase with higher fuel and fertiliser costs.  The benefits of the supplements must be carefully analysed to ensure the feeding is profitable.

Quote:    “It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”       

Need Help. If at any time you just want to talk & need someone to talk to, just call - Male Support Services (Waikato) 0800-677-289,  or Rural Support Trust 0800-787-245.  Crisis TXT – HELP (4357).  A shared problem can be a problem solved!!

Jims Rant

The election promises are coming thick and fast and the pollsters are in full swing along with the left-wing media.  We hear the right of center seeking sound fiscal management and the left to the very left wanting to tax us all more and they seem to be having a competition to see who can dream up the most ridiculous tax to impose on us.   I would have thought that a party seeking power would be looking at ways to reduce the taxation burden on everyone offering a long-term process on how they could earn enough from off-shore royalties and other government imposed levies on things like oil, gas and mining to have us all living a life free from taxation with a minimalist government.  A dream that no politician wants to aspire to.  I was intrigued during the week when the Labour Party ruled out any additional taxes other than their Capital Gains Tax (CGT) if they were to create a coalition, thus limiting any coalition negotiations with the Maori Party, The Greens and the Opportunities Party as they all have some wacky taxation ideas.  The Opportunities Party are keen to tax all residential and commercial landowners 1.75% of the land value annualyl so you would pay $1,750 per $100,000 of land value in taxation annually and on rural land 0.5% being $5,000 per $1,000,000 of land value. The proposal is nuts as any landlord would immediately require the tenants to pay the increase in taxation so their profits are not reduced and farmers cannot afford more costs when operating just above breakeven. It is amazing how the public, 8% of them, have decided that it is a good idea to tax landowners more and have house rentals increased for the most vulnerable.  And with regard to Labour’s CGT, I feel I must again restate my understanding of CGT.  They are all promoting the CGT which is only an inflation tax as true capital gain is over and above inflation.  If all houses increase in value by 10% over a fixed common period there is no gain in capital, you have only maintained your capital against the inflationary movements.  Please understand this and challenge all the politicians you can as they don’t seem to understand what they are talking about, I know that Chris Luxon understands it, but allows the left to get away with the rhetoric.  We have about 80 days before the election and it is important that we all understand what we are wanting and while no party is perfect, you need to understand the underlying aspirations of each and challenge the stupidity of others at meetings or when they arrive on your doorstep to berate you about their greatness.  In spite of their rhetoric the coalition has not done enough to get rid of the Maorification of our country, it has failed to dump Net Zero, and the RMA reforms have not been clearly set out or implemented, but the fiscal management has created a clearer path to economic recovery after a disastrous 6-years of reckless spending.  

Some of the other policies of the looney left by the Opportunities Party, & 8% of the population like them!!:

A $370-a-week Citizen’s Income for almost every adult.
Replacing most existing benefits with that payment. Eventually replacing NZ Super with the Citizen’s Income plus a top-up, with wealthier retirees potentially receiving less later.
Compulsory KiwiSaver, eventually requiring 6% from employees and 6% from employers.
New income-tax rates of 28%, 34% and 39%.
Citizens’ assemblies influencing major political decisions.
Greater Treaty-based devolution and autonomy in health and justice.
More te reo Māori teaching and compulsory New Zealand and Treaty history throughout education.
Reversing parts of the present Government’s Treaty and foreshore-and-seabed program.
Greater climate intervention, environmental regulation and public investment.

The problem is that Opportunity’s flagship economic package is already being rejected and their other policies are nuts!!.

Enjoy the Political BS over the next 2-months and challenge the promotors of the idiotic ideologies of some!!

Living in Nelson-Tasman: Tackling the Region's Most Stubborn Household Pests

Living in Nelson-Tasman brings unbeatable sunshine, stunning coastal views, and a relaxed lifestyle. But from the sunny hills of Stoke and Richmond out to the beaches of Ruby Bay and Mapua, our unique regional microclimates also create ideal conditions for some notoriously stubborn household pests.

Whether you are managing a rental property, maintaining a heritage villa, or settling into a new coastal home, keeping local pests at bay requires more than just a supermarket spray.

Busting the Coastal Pest Myth One of the most persistent myths across coastal Tasman is that certain pests, particularly large native and introduced cockroaches, are impossible to eradicate once established. Residents moving into coastal spots like Ruby Bay are often told by neighbours that rampant cockroaches in sheds and subfloors are just a fact of life you have to accept.

However, local property owners are proving this wrong. Targeted, professional barrier treatments don't just reduce numbers; they break the lifecycle entirely. Even in high-density areas and outdoor wood sheds, professional treatments create a long-lasting barrier that keeps homes pest-free for months on end.

Handling Unseen Hazards: Wasps and Borer Many homeowners only think to call in specialists when they see an obvious trail of ants across the kitchen counter, but two of Nelson's biggest threats are often hidden:

Subtle Borer Damage: Nelson’s rich stock of historic and character homes provides prime territory for borer beetles. Larvae quietly weaken floorboards and structural timber for years before exit holes become visible.
Sudden Wasp Swarms: German and common wasps frequently build massive nests in garden banks, wall cavities, and roof spaces. Because wasps become aggressive quickly, fast out-of-hours support and prompt nest removal are essential to prevent painful stings.

The Power of Complete Home Maintenance For busy property owners and local landlords, pest control is rarely an isolated job. It often overlaps with general property upkeep, such as carpet cleaning, flood recovery, or seasonal deep cleans. Working with a versatile local team that handles both structural pest proofing and specialized home care ensures your property stays in top condition inside and out.

Rather than waiting for an emergency, proactive prevention is key. Consulting with JAE Nelson-Tasman’s pest control team allows you to secure your home against seasonal invaders before they take hold, giving you year-round peace of mind across the region.

Give JAE Nelson-Tasman a Call and get those pests sorted!

When Paul Carroll inspects a property, he brings more than two decades of hands-on building experience with him.

As a Building Inspector with Method Building Inspections, Paul has spent more than 21 years working across residential construction, site leadership, large-scale renovations and complex recladding projects. Having physically built, repaired and renovated homes throughout his career, he understands how buildings perform over time and where issues are most likely to arise.

That practical experience sits at the heart of Method Building Inspections, a Waikato-based business that is quickly building a reputation for delivering clear, reliable property assessments backed by genuine construction knowledge.

Established in May 2026, Method Building Inspections provides pre-purchase and pre-sale building inspections, thermal imaging and moisture detection, Healthy Homes assessments and meth testing for buyers, sellers, landlords, investors and property professionals throughout the Waikato and beyond.

As a new member of NZ Business Connect, Method Building Inspections is looking forward to building stronger relationships with business owners, property professionals and industry leaders across the region while contributing its expertise to the growing network.

NZ Business Connect Founder Phillip Quay said Method Building Inspections brings valuable practical knowledge to both the property sector and the wider business community.

“Buying or selling a property is one of the biggest financial decisions many people will make, so having confidence in the information you're receiving is incredibly important,” said Phillip.

“Method Building Inspections stands out because its inspections are carried out by experienced Licensed Building Practitioners who understand homes from the inside out. Their commitment to providing practical advice and clear communication is a real asset for homeowners, buyers and industry professionals alike. We're excited to welcome Paul and the team to NZ Business Connect and look forward to supporting their continued growth.”

For Paul, joining NZ Business Connect is a natural step as the business continues to expand throughout the Waikato.

“Property transactions involve a range of professionals, from real estate agents and mortgage brokers through to lawyers and property managers,” said Paul.

“Being part of NZ Business Connect allows us to build genuine relationships with those businesses while also contributing our knowledge and experience to the wider business community.”

Method Building Inspections conducts all residential inspections in accordance with NZS 4306:2005, New Zealand's recognised standard for residential property inspections. The business also uses technology such as moisture meters and thermal imaging to support on-site assessments where appropriate.

For Paul, one of the biggest challenges in the building inspection industry is helping clients understand not only what issues exist, but how significant those issues really are.

“Building inspections aren't just about identifying defects,” said Paul.

“They're about understanding how a home performs, recognising the warning signs of future issues and giving clients the information they need to make confident decisions.”

Looking ahead, Method Building Inspections aims to become the leading independent building inspection company across the Waikato while continuing to build trusted relationships throughout the property sector.

The business is focused on becoming the preferred inspection partner for homeowners, property investors, real estate professionals and lending specialists by delivering detailed inspections backed by practical building knowledge and clear communication.

Through its membership with NZ Business Connect, Method Building Inspections hopes to further strengthen its local network, create new partnerships and support businesses and property professionals across the region.

Connect with Method Building Inspections:

Paul Carroll
Phone: +64 21 268 0175
Email: paul@methodinspections.co.nz
Website: methodinspections.co.nz
Instagram: @methodbuildinginspections
TikTok: @methodinspections

Media Contact
Phillip Quay
Founder, NZ Business Connect
027 458 7724
Phillip@nzbusinessconnect.co.nz

With calving in full swing across Canterbury, here are the blood urea questions I get asked most often.

I'm a soil scientist. Why am I talking about blood tests in cows?

What happens inside a cow's rumen doesn't stay there. It ends up back on the paddock, exactly what I track in the soil all year.

What actually is blood urea nitrogen?

Rumen microbes break dietary protein down to ammonia. What they can't use is converted to urea in the liver, circulating in blood and passing just as freely into milk. That's why blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) track each other closely.

Why does this matter more at calving?

Freshly calved cows are often pushed onto high-protein spring pasture before energy intake catches up, the classic recipe for elevated BUN. That excess nitrogen is excreted in urine, landing on the paddock in concentrated patches, the leaching risk I manage in the soil.

It's the same pattern I've watched with potassium and downer cows. Heavy nitrogen fertiliser on calving paddocks drives up pasture potassium, suppressing magnesium and setting up downer cow risk. Push too much N and you load the system twice: potassium-magnesium, and wasted protein. Holding off heavy N addresses both.

What's a healthy milk urea reading?

Most farmers aim for bulk milk urea around 20 to 30 mg/dL. A bulk sample mixes the whole vat, so a herd averaging 25 might have cows ranging 15 to 50. NZ and Australian herds have recorded bulk milk urea between 8.5 and 37.2 mg/dL. Below 17 usually points to a protein shortfall; above 33, and especially 40, is where nitrogen loss risk climbs.

How closely does milk urea track what's excreted?

Very closely. Milk urea nitrogen strongly predicts daily urinary nitrogen output. The graph below shows this for a typical 500kg cow, using Kauffman and St-Pierre's 2001 equation: urinary N (g/day) = 0.0259 x bodyweight x MUN. As milk urea climbs from 15 to 50 mg/dL, urinary nitrogen more than triples, from around 194 to nearly 650g a day.

Is there a fertility risk too, around November-December mating?

Elevated blood and milk urea is one of several metabolic markers worth watching in early pregnancy, alongside excessive ketone formation. For herds mated through October-November, the late embryonic and early fetal stage, roughly 30 to 60 days post-conception, falls right in that window. Research on noninfectious pregnancy loss has flagged elevated BUN as a signal that can threaten an established pregnancy.

The takeaway

Urea testing isn't just a calving-time check. It's an early indicator of nitrogen use efficiency on farm, with fertility implications into mating. Get the protein-to-energy balance right, and you set cows up for a better lactation while cutting the nitrogen load on your soil, and protecting the pregnancies you're about to establish.
 

For more information, please contact:

Dr Gordon Rajendram
Soil Scientist
Phone: 021 466 077
Email: rajendram@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.gordonrajendramsoilscientist.co.nz

Phillip Quay
Media PA
Phone: 027 458 7724
Email: phillip@mediapa.co.nz

NZ Business Connect members will have the opportunity to hear directly from leaders involved in one of Hamilton's fastest-growing residential communities when the organisation hosts its next Hamilton networking event at Te Awa Lakes.

Proudly sponsored by Megan Smith & Co. and Lodge Real Estate, the exclusive members-only event will be held at Te Awa Lakes, bringing together business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs for an evening of networking, insights and connection.

The event will feature guest speakers Megan Smith of Lodge Real Estate and Richard Coventry, Managing Director of Te Awa Lakes, who will share their expertise and perspectives on residential, lifestyle and development sales, as well as the continued growth and future vision for the Te Awa Lakes community.

“We’re really pleased to be supporting NZ Business Connect and hosting this event at Te Awa Lakes. It’s a great opportunity to bring local business owners and professionals together, share insights from the property and development sector, and showcase the growth and opportunities we’re seeing across the Waikato. We’re looking forward to connecting with the local business community and having some great conversations on the night,” said Megan Smith.

The event will provide members with the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals while gaining valuable insights into one of the Waikato's most significant residential developments.

NZ Business Connect Founder Phillip Quay said the event reflects the organisation's commitment to creating opportunities for members to learn from experienced business leaders while building meaningful professional relationships.

“Every NZ Business Connect event is designed to bring together quality people, quality conversations and valuable business insights,” said Phillip.

“We're excited to welcome Megan Smith and Richard Coventry as guest speakers. Both bring extensive experience within the property and development sectors, and their knowledge will provide attendees with valuable perspectives on growth, opportunity and the future of development within the Waikato region.”

The event continues NZ Business Connect's strong programme of networking opportunities across Hamilton and beyond, connecting business owners with industry experts and creating an environment where collaboration and business relationships can flourish. NZ Business Connect hosts regular networking events throughout the year designed to help members grow their networks, share knowledge and create new opportunities.

Phillip said the support of sponsors remains an important part of delivering high-quality events for the business community.

“We are incredibly grateful to Megan Smith & Co., Lodge Real Estate and our supporting sponsors for helping make these events possible. Their support allows us to continue creating opportunities for businesses to connect, collaborate and grow together.”

Media Contact:
Phillip Quay
Founder, NZ Business Connect
027 458 7724
info@nzbusinessconnect.co.nz

Finance:.   NZ dollar remained steady over the week but remains a very weak currency. The Brent Crude has stayed below $US90 over the week and is $US88.52 this morning up from last week

Wool:  The crossbred wool prices OK but the auction on 30th July saw an easing of prices from a month ago.

Beef, Sheep & Venison schedules: The meat schedules remain steady to slightly firmer across all categories. The international demand for red meat is very strong pushing the local prices higher.

Dairy Prices.  Dairy prices remain firm and the Pulse Auction is indicating a positive move in the coming g/DT.  WMP prices are up internationally and cheese prices are down.

The changes to the RMA are not clear & it appears as though there is still too much Iwi interference in the processes.  There are indications that the Wellington bureaucrats have had too much input & sideswiped Chris Bishop & Shane Jones who were eager to get the changes & took the advisors at their word without second opinions.   

Need Help. If at any time you just want to talk & need someone to talk to, just call - Male Support Services (Waikato) 0800-677-289,  or Rural Support Trust 0800-787-245.  Crisis TXT – HELP (4357).  A shared problem can be a problem solved!!

Jims Rant

Following on from last week the cost of power and the retailers profits have been in the news.  One of the power retailers posted a massive profit of over $600million and that is money out of our pockets, so where does it go.  The major power retailers are owned 51% by the government with the balance mostly held in various international funds!!! The power distribution company, Transpower, is wholly owned by the government and they make sure the power gets to the houses and the businesses. The line companies are separate from the retailers.  The retailers, and the distributor, all try and pretend they are commercial companies and charge accordingly.  Transpower does need to make a profit to maintain and develop its distribution infrastructure and the retailers also need to make modest profit to maintain and upgrade services but the real question is why do the profits have to be so large when they are screwing some major businesses out of business or to shift their manufacturing overseas and forcing some households to turn off heating.  We have seen the timber processors in the Central North Island and Northland close down and deals done with the Tiwai smelter and now with the proposed Data Centre in Southland.  Power charges seem to be at the whim of the retailers.  Many of you will have multiple supply points in the business and very few ever check them.  I have looked at 6 meters that are part of the Genesis retail network and I was surprised at the variation in daily charges and the corresponding unit rates.  If house 3, a staff house, below was on the same basis as house 4, the occupiers of house 3 would save +/-$150/month over the winter period and mine would have been down $24.  The employee has been questioning the power charges and comparing them against previous houses he has occupied and it appears as though his questioning was legitimate.   When the retailer sells you the Power Supply Plan, they always say it is the best available, but now I am skeptical. 

Not sure which window coverings will suit your Auckland home? The age and architectural style of your property can make a big difference.

From plantation shutters and Roman blinds for character villas and bungalows to roller, sunscreen and motorised blinds for modern homes, the right choice can complement your home's design while improving privacy, light control and comfort.

Find out more about choosing the right window treatments for your Auckland home, including options to suit different home styles and practical considerations before you buy.

Think you’re just strapped to a giant rubber band? There’s a whole lot more going on.

Before every jump, AJ Hackett Bungy NZ’s trained crew carry out rigorous safety checks, from inspecting equipment and bungy cords to checking harnesses, carabiners, attachment points and connections.

Every step is designed to make safety part of the experience long before you reach the edge of the platform. With multiple checks and experienced crew working behind the scenes, jumpers can focus on taking the leap.

Go behind the scenes and see what “safe” really looks like in Behind the Scenes: Equipment Checks, Strapping-In, and What “Safe” Really Looks Like.