How to be a better listener

Asking multiple questions is a powerful listening tool, Jo Robertson says. Photo: Unsplash Listening is about trying to fully understand the other person’s position, not trying to assert your own, a therapist says. Effective listening is a muscle that must be developed, Auckland therapist Jo Robertson tells RNZ’s Nine to Noon. Being quiet for long […]

Still hungry after porridge? How to make it more filling

By Nicola Heath, ABC Add a scoop of protein powder, nut butter, or a handful of chopped nuts or seeds to boost your porridge. Photo: Unsplash When the weather turns cooler, many of us switch from cereal and smoothies to a warm bowl of porridge for breakfast. Porridge – or oatmeal, as it’s known in […]

How to enter the property market without a First Home Grant

Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey The First Home Grant might be gone, but there are still options for people wanting to enter the property market, brokers say. The government has scrapped the grant, which could provide buyers up to $10,000 if they bought a new build, and says it plans to redirect the money to social […]

Open banking: How to opt in – and out – of the new payment system

The deadline for the country’s four major banks ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac to be ready for secure payments through open banking is 30 May. Photo: RNZ / 123rf Open banking is a new way to pay for items online – but how does it work? From 30 May, New Zealand’s four major banks – […]

Burnout recovery: ‘We don’t really know how to rest’, specialist says

Many of us are driven by productivity and do not take our own need for rest and recovery seriously, says clinical fatigue specialist Vincent Deary. (file image) Photo: 123rf.com When recovering from burnout it helps to prioritise doing whatever restores your spirit, says clinical fatigue specialist and “really skilful worrier” Vincent Deary. “I would encourage […]

How to tell if your preschooler is autistic – the new tool being trialled in Wellington

Early signs of autism are often missed, with the average diagnosis not happening until children are around 6-and-a-half. Photo: Unsplash A first of its kind one-to-one support programme for pre-school children showing signs of autism is about to be trialled in Wellington, with aspirations of going nationwide. Professor Josie Barbaro pioneered the most successful tool […]

How to make sure your leftovers are safe to eat

First published on By Primrose Freestone* File photo. Photo: 123rf Eating leftovers can be a great way to save money, diversify your cooking repertoire and reduce food waste. But eating leftover food can also be risky as these foods have already been exposed to bacteria in the environment. If you haven’t stored and re-heated leftovers […]