Sideswipe: A 'protected' tree

Photo / Supplied

Ouch!

A "protected" tree outside the courthouse in New Plymouth. David says he knows it's protected because of the sign nailed to it.

Fleecing old ladies

A TV ad for a magazine subscription for The Art of Crochet, entices readers to join up and crochet a throw, says Leanne Schou. "The initial magazine is $3.99, with subsequent issues at $9.99 and each week you get wool and instructions for each square. But wait! The small print explains that there are 120 issues, so that's 2.3 years to complete the throw, costing a whopping $1192.80!"

ASB Bank gets lost in promo

It seems ASB Bank is only interested in creating its own future, says a reader. "After watching the ASB ad on TV where this dorky guy gets help starting up his phone gaming business, I had the feeling ASB is there to help me! Guess what? Got turned down for my small business loan solely because I don't have a mortgage ... Not even wanting to listen to me about my cash flow forecasts or my business proposal. I'm sure the guy in the TV ad wasn't a homeowner either ... Any real investors reading this?"

Keeping it simple

John writes: "My mother [from UK] claims that putting a NZ$10 note in a poker machine on the Gold Coast was accepted, giving her A$10 credit. I guess it could be possible that the machines are running the same note identification software in both countries and haven't bothered to take account that there is an exchange rate difference. She failed to come out with any winnings though."

Gentle sexual harassment?

"Another job name ... In the printing industry before digital the film to make printing plates was cut and altered by hand. The people who did this were called strippers. Most of these staff were female so they got quite a ribbing at times."

Port Waikato hits back

Lianne Gray, Lynda Rouse and Kathryn Babe, workers from the Port Waikato Wharf Store, say they sell petrol for $2.40 per litre not 'around' $2.55 as reported. "We make nothing on our petrol - it is merely a convenience for the community."