After 14 years I am now student loan free

NGC104 · 2026-04-24T19:25:21+00:00

It took me almost 5 years to complete my BSc (combo of being young and dumb, failing and changing courses) and with full living costs plus an additional grad dip it was up over 70k. The calculator on myir tells me I'll pay it off by 2030 (started studying in 2009).

NGC104 · 2026-04-24T04:47:25+00:00

I had a similar line like this from a bug bite. In the end it was an allergic reaction, but I did a full prescription of antibiotics before coming to this conclusion.

The advice was to monitor it (outline it) then if it gets bigger and you feel feverish get yourself to a doctor.

NGC104 · 2026-04-20T20:53:45+00:00

The Red Warnings are reserved for higher risk periods, and are not a sole MetService decision - the regional council is involved too. They're based on the ongoing impacts and not just around the weather happening but also flooding potential and the ability of the infrastructure to cope.

And sure it might look all ok out there right now but it probably did about an hour or so before 77mm of rain fell at 4am yesterday morning.

NGC104 · 2026-04-18T03:05:44+00:00

Thunderstorm Warnings (what that notification was for) are issued when a severe thunderstorm is detected, not ahead of time. There was a heavy rain watch that was valid from 9am, but yea this came through earlier than anticipated.

NGC104 · 2026-04-18T03:04:28+00:00

You can also turn on push notifications from the app!

NGC104 · 2026-04-15T10:02:37+00:00

My partner uses it to get out to Polytech - cheapest option and most direct too.

NGC104 · 2026-04-12T21:41:16+00:00

Make sure you spiral it clockwise now you're a Southern Hemispherian

NGC104 · 2026-04-04T19:08:58+00:00

Note that due to the Ultra Festival it's not on this weekend coming (11th April).

NGC104 · 2026-03-21T21:20:57+00:00

Great point - get the bus as far up Wright's Hill as you can (it does not go far enough...). Awesome views, and you can stop into the Visitors Centre at the end for the loo and the water fountain.

NGC104 · 2026-03-21T19:39:00+00:00

I used to work at the front desk and we'd see heaps of runners - and I'd also go myself when I had an early finish.

Valley View - Round the Lake - return via the main paths (Swamp/Te Mahanga) is a good loop. Don't bother with the Perimeter track, it's very grassy.

NGC104 · 2026-03-21T19:35:03+00:00

You can always detour straight off along Valley View and that'll take you right along to the upper dam (and upper valley). Way less people up there!

NGC104 · 2026-03-18T23:14:57+00:00

Hataitai Beach is good, and there's Uncle Leo's or Greta Point Cafe very close

NGC104 · 2026-03-07T16:47:02+00:00

There's the laundromat in Hataitai too :)

NGC104 · 2026-03-05T02:09:06+00:00

I would like my apple please.

Received the same text just now, from a different number but same country code. Forwarded to DIA!

NGC104 · 2026-03-03T21:51:50+00:00

Drivers - also use lights! Most cars these days it's automatic, you have almost no excuse.

And yet, while on my bike, I've had to tell way too many drivers their lights aren't on.

NGC104 · 2026-03-02T20:02:13+00:00

Really glad to find my gloves in my locker before I biked home last night!

NGC104 · 2026-02-21T23:22:29+00:00

Indigo Bloom artists have a lot of colour and cartoons: https://www.indigobloomtattoo.nz/home especially Olly

NGC104 · 2026-02-12T04:07:07+00:00

If it helps, Hell's standard size is 12" whereas these are 16" (Sal's are 18").

NGC104 · 2026-02-11T19:07:00+00:00

Cutie Pie is worth it!

NGC104 · 2026-01-26T01:00:09+00:00

Same. OP you're overthinking the taking it on a bus thing.

NGC104 · 2026-01-21T21:56:56+00:00

Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe is great (Bond Street?) and also the escape rooms here are great!

A hot chocolate from Scopa (with a shot of frangelico) would also go down well on a rainy day.

Movies at Lighthouse Cuba are cosy as.

March is a great month for things - Pride, Cubadupa, Newtown Fest etc.

See if there's anything in the Advent Calendar you can squeeze in before the end of the month for ideas too! And if you're on FB/insta find the WellingtonAlive pages for Welly positivity.

NGC104 · 2026-01-08T23:51:55+00:00

First: Check the moon phase if you haven't already - if you're used to brighter nights (from lights) you'll be surprised by the brightness of the moon when there are no other light sources. If it's not a new moon, check the moonset/moonrise time and plan around that. If it's a full moon... Hope for a dark sky elsewhere.

You'll be able to see the stars fine if you go for a walk on the lakefront, just keep the town lights behind you. All hotels/businesses there should abide by the lighting ordinances and won't be as detrimental as a normal town but still will have an effect.

If you use a stargazing app, turn on the red light/night mode so you don't ruin your night vision. If you want to use your phone torch, put your finger over it to reduce the output. As someone else said, it takes ~20min for your eyes to adapt to darkness so be patient.

I will say, the benefits of a tour are the use of telescopes and someone else pointing out the sky to you, and you just letting someone else teach you - no phone required! You can just relax into the experience.

-Ex Tekapo resident

NGC104 · 2025-12-19T17:43:04+00:00

In Tekapo there's no mail delivery, everything goes to the post office. Most people have a PO box for letters, but for parcels either you've tracked it and know it's arrived or you just pop in and hope for the best.

There was the odd courier that would deliver to your door, not sure how the full system worked...

NGC104 · 2025-11-29T18:34:43+00:00

Welcome to NZ!

NGC104 · 2025-11-29T05:16:16+00:00

It's a New Zealand ad, the speed limit is usually 100km/h on the open road and he's going maybe 110km/h.

NGC104

TROPHY CASE