KEY POINTS:
A reader writes: "As the Targa Rally starts next Monday in Manukau and heads to Wellington, we pass through Gladstone in the Wairarapa. Each year they have a Scarecrow Festival and this year Targa NZ is awarding a 'Targa Plate' for the best scarecrow. This one is worth a mention."
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A first-time buyer who paid £30,000 for a disused Ministry of Defence water tower to convert it into a dream home has found he can only legally access it by plane or helicopter. Ashley Parsons, 20, wanted to turn the tower in Somerset into "modern and funky pad" for him and his girlfriend. But he has been told he would be breaking the law by walking or driving up to it because it comes with no access rights and is on private land. The company that bought the land around it from the ministry last month said it would not grant access rights because the directors do not want the tower to be redeveloped. (Source: Telegraph.co.uk)
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A reader reckons NZ Post must realise a very large percentage of its customer base sending personal letters are pensioners who don't know how to turn a computer on, let alone check their website for post codes. "They certainly haven't made it easy for them to find out. The last time I was in there the man behind the counter had to haul out a very large book, finger through it and find the code for me, all the while holding up people behind me."
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Harry Porten hopes others have better luck than him using the post code finder on the NZ Post website: "I tried to find the codes of two of my daughters only to be told that their streets had "no matches". I found one by typing the name of the next street to hers but didn't know the name of the other daughter's next street so was out of luck. Come on NZ Post, put ALL the streets and their codes on the site!"
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Same frustration for Neil Hilford of Whangarei. "I have a sister living in Pukekawa, just outside of Tuakau south of Auckland. I have tried entering the road (Main Road); the town (Pukekawa) and the RD number (1 RD Tuakau) plus all sorts of combinations. I am going NUTS! The closest the site could give me included: Moana Heights, Okawa, Picton, Tirau or Owaka in South Otago. Sis tells me they have used about three post codes which have been supplied by their Post Office. It would be helpful if someone could make his/her mind up."
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Today's Webpick: Driving a three-wheeled Mercedes. On the Motorway. And fanging it. Watch it here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.