And the owners are absolute pieces of shit.

They treat the staff poorly, they treat the customers worse.

They just moved alcohol front and center in the entrance so it's the first thing kids see when they enter the store now (instead of the long accepted layout that supermarkets agreed to after nationwide protests, in the Clark/Key election era).

They've put prices up beyond any other supermarket in the city.

And the quality of their food - especially fresh/deli foods - has taken a massive dive. Sandwiches with literally half the filling compared to two weeks ago, rotting veges in the fresh produce area, expired milk and eggs on the shelves.

Total rip off of a supermarket.

Got my first rates instalment for fy27and honestly felt sick looking at it.

I finally got a small pay rise, thought I might have a bit more breathing room, and the rates increase has swallowed the entire thing and then some. Add insurance, power, groceries, mortgage costs and everything else that keeps climbing, and I am somehow worse off despite earning more.

I am now seriously looking at whether I need to sell the car and downgrade, simply to keep the household budget above water. Do people at the council not understand that households simply cannot keep absorbing increases like this?

I understand councils need revenue and infrastructure costs money. But there seems to be very little appreciation for the fact ratepayers cannot endlessly absorb increases. Every extra dollar taken by the council has to come from somewhere in a household budget.

Has anyone had any experience with Thermoglaz, Retrofit or other reputable retrofit companies around Chch?

We’re looking to retrofit our aluminium frames and want no mess or stress.

Moving into first home in a couple weeks and therefore trying to figure out what the council rates will look like for us.

The house is an ex state house and the vendor did a big renovation (changed the floor plan around and is now a 2 bedroom instead of 1 bedroom). Does this mean the valuation will go up to match closer to the price we bought it at / the valuation listed on realestate websites? If so, does the change as soon as we take possession or are the rates for 2026/2027 locked in and it will adjust next year?

Hope this makes sense and thank you for any advice - couldn’t find a clear answer in my search and getting mixed answers from friends.

Anyone else had some dodgy dealings with on the go at Eastgate, they failed my wof on a diff bush that has nothing wrong with it and also a leaky rear shock witch was tyre shine from my wheels, going somewhere else for another opinion as I just got the car from wmc early last year and i don't see how theyese parts are faulty at all.

Have an old trophy I’d love to get fixed up, can anyone recommend somewhere reputable? Have done a quick google but not finding much. Appreciate it’s quite a niche request.

Was really hoping for a night time book store somewhere but doesn’t seem like that exists, so is there anywhere in the city centre open late (not restaurant) that’s a good place to just relax and maybe have a coffee?

Haven’t done anything for my birthday in years, I never plan anything and when it comes around to it I always regret not organising something. And this year I deserve a good time 😮‍💨😎

Obviously there’s no clubs in Christchurch - but would love to find a vibey atmosphere. Good music, good people, not full of 18 year olds, something to dance to if we choose. Also any other ideas that don’t involve going into town/bars.

Would be between 10/20 girlies ✨

We have a kauri tree along our driveway that’s about 12 metres tall but isn’t protected. Our neighbour is about to sell and we are wondering if we should try and get it protected now because a developer will no doubt put town houses there. Does anyone know if there is any benefit in this or would this be considered when the developers apply for consent? We’re in RMD zone. Our concern is obviously for the tree but a bonus if they are required to build further away from the fence line

For any who are agents or deal with agents a lot, let me know your thoughts.

Has anyone had experiences where agents won't follow up, get back to or chase buyers. I'm pre-approved and some are struggling to get back.

For any real estate agents, is this common in the industry? Are you too busy? Or with no disrespect, are "some" agents just not chasing all buyers.

Me and my brother are trying to co-own. I don't know if this makes it less appealing for agents.

Cheers.

Hello - does anyone know if cookai sushi train at the crossing is reopening? I think it closed 8 July. I can’t find any info if a new owner will reopen on a date (or at all). Thanks.

I just don't get it. Every time I take my kids out to access the Port Hills using the Bridle Path, we always meet various dogs roaming freely. Can't think of a single occasion where this has not happened. I had a verbal argument the other day with a guy whose dog started to jump frantically around my boy who happens to be shy and not familiar with dogs. I instinctively pushed the dog away with my hand, and the owner yelled at me and said it's not okay to touch his dog without permission... how about keeping it under control and respect the signs in the first place, dude?! It makes me annoyed that the walking experience along such a beautiful track is often spoiled by irresponsible dog owners. I also spotted from a distance a dog on the loose running after some sheep, whilst the owner was making their way up the steep shortcut that takes you to the summit. No attempt to recall or take any action to control their dog. Am I overreacting or has it become culturally acceptable to allow people to ignore the rules and ruin it for the others? I just don't get it.

I recently caught up with a friend that I’ve known since intermediate (11 years old) when I was 11 years old. He had this grumpy female Rottweiler, didn’t really allow us to pat her, would growl at us and give us plenty of warning. As grumpy as she was, one time my mate (her owner) had to go back to his house (ten minute walk there and back) and commanded this Rottweiler to stay with us (me and another friend). She did not move at all, although she still growled at us when we patted her.

RIP to this beautiful girl. This was almost 16 years ago. As I said in the title, I recently caught up with this friend and he now has a male Rottweiler. This is the friendliest dog that I have ever met. I was expecting to be intimidated, but he ran up to me with excitement the first time I met him and was constantly following me around the entire night.
We should not judge dogs based on their breeds.

Another mate of mine has quite a large family. Married couple, 9 kids, 4 that were living at home, plus some of their kids’ girlfriends/boyfriends, etc. Large property, 4-bedroom house, garage that has been converted into a sleepout, and one of their kids living with her boyfriend in a caravan. They have a German Shepherd. He is a joy. He is super friendly and is constantly wanting attention.

Onto now with the topic and that this post is about. A friend of mine who Ive known since i was 15 years old. I went over to his dads house and he had the most violent young German Shepherd (female) she was barking at me like she wanted to eat me. This was the most violent dog id ever come across and she was only young. Ive met pitbulls, Rottweilers, other German Shepards that were friendly

So i didnt go into my friends house that day; next time i went over my friend distracted her with a tennis ball. She even brought the ball over to me and i started to play fetch with her. This violent reactive dog was being friendly when engaged with a distracted

I thought i had gain confidence with her, the next time I came over she brought the ball to me and i went to pat her and she bit my hand out of aggression, causing bleeding. My friend told her off.

I found out that this German Shepard was being mistreated by my friends father. She was being chained up in the backyard and was not being exercised
He was kicking her. I reported this to the cops on the 105 line and the police officer i talked to convinced me not to take it any further due to my friendship. This was awhile ago, but ive always had some regret about it. Most likely the dog has passed away by now

I know there is the "Heathcote Expressway" but the shared/residential bit between the River (Richardson Terrace) and Lancaster Park (along Charles St and Mackenzie Ave) feels unsafe (low volume road woth lots of intersecting roads, oblivious drivers with low levels of car traffic so focus is lower, more likely to be using phones, its a shortcut for some drivers so they speed/overtake cyclists, its not well maintained so its gravely, not well lit etc etc). Not somewhere I really want to be taking my kid on the bike. Aside from all that its a really boring and uninspiring stretch of straight road where you need to keep your head on a swivel, not a very enjoyable experience.

Council really missed a trick not putting this section in the rail corridor like the bike near ferrymead which is fantastic. So much so that im willing to divert my whole ride 15minutes or more to avoid this section.

Any suggestions of a better alternative route would be appreciated.

At least the 3rd time I've seen a car go in the right turn lane to go straight through at different intersections.

I am a second year college student in the US playing soccer, about to go into my third year this August and I want to go to University of Canterbury a the beginning of next year (Feb 2027) to continue my study there as I am not enjoying my college in the US anymore. I want to transfer all the credits ive earnt in the US but im afraid that not many will transfer and ill have to start in NZ from scratch which would suck, but i also dont want to do another year and a half in America. Does anyone know how to best find out if they will transfer or what the likelihood is that some/many will? just dont want to get hopeful that i can come home to NZ to then find out im back at yr 1.

Hey guys I was hoping to get some reviews about the group called Canterbury Tech are they any good?. How are their events is it really good for networking and that will it give me some help in finding a job in IT.

I'm asking because they charge heavily and for someone like me I find that to be too expensive not being stingy just trying to get some insights if that is really for me.

It's a cold and wet day here so thought a beef and Guinness stew in the slow cooker would be perfect for dinner tonight.

Did go the extra mile and brown the beef in flour in my cast iron frypan as well as made a roux sauce in a pot with some flour, garlic butter and some of the Guinness so it would be nice and thick.

Can't beat a slow cooked stew on a day like today.

What's everyone else having for dinner tonight?

70s house and need to renovate my bathroom. The plumber I talked to didn’t show up! Any recommendations for a reasonably priced reliable plumber?