North Taranaki Neighbourhood Support

04/10/2026

We are a week into the school holidays and if you are home looking after kids right now here are a few reminders worth keeping in mind.

Screen time tends to increase significantly during the holidays and with it comes more exposure to online risks. Know what your kids are watching, who they are talking to online, and what apps they are using. It is not about monitoring every move, it is about staying in the loop.

With warmer weather arriving more kids are heading outside too. Make sure they know the road safety basics if they are out on bikes or scooters, keep an eye on younger children near water, and know where your kids are and who they are with.

If you are heading out as a family this holiday, plan ahead. Busy parks, beaches, and public spaces are great but they are also places where kids can get separated quickly. Have a plan for what your child should do if they cannot find you, and make sure they know your phone number or home address.

Enjoy the break. A little awareness goes a long way.

Learn more at pmgt.org.nz/child-safety

01/10/2026

🚨PREPARED FOR ANYTHING⛑️📋 Here at Neighbourhood Support we know first hand that connected and prepared communities fare better in emergencies and natural disasters than those without a plan.

For the month of October we want to see how you tackle emergency preparedness. From getting first aid training and stocking up on essentials, to putting together a grab n’ go bag and working with your neighbours to create a neighbourhood emergency resilience plan - a little bit of planning goes a long way to make sure you and your community can get through any situation.

Joining or setting up a Neighbourhood Support group is a great way to keep in touch and work together to look out, reach out, and help out one another, no matter what life may bring.

And don’t forget! This month also coincides with New Zealand’s national earthquake drill and tsunami hikoi, ShakeOut, which will be taking place on Wednesday 21st October 2026, at 1:30pm (for more info head to getready.govt.nz/involved/shakeout)

Let us know how you’re getting prepared this month in the comments below 💬

NZ Civil Defence

01/10/2026

Don't forget these new road rules come into effect Thursday 1st October 2026

01/10/2026

24/09/2026

A lost or stolen phone can be more serious than losing the device itself. If your phone doesn't have a PIN, password, fingerprint or other screen lock, someone who finds or steals it may be able to access your messages, emails, photos, banking apps and social media accounts.

Act quickly

1. Contact your mobile provider

Ask your provider to:

*Suspend or block your SIM/eSIM.
*Prevent the stolen phone from being used on the mobile network.
*Arrange a replacement SIM or eSIM with your existing number.

If your phone number is connected to banking or two-factor authentication, getting your number secured quickly is particularly important.

2. Lock or locate the phone remotely

Use the phone's built-in tracking service if it was enabled:

*Apple: Find My
*Android: Find Hub

You may be able to remotely lock the phone, display a contact message, locate it, or erase its contents.

Don't attempt to recover the phone yourself if the location shows it somewhere you don't recognise. Give the information to Police instead.

3. Contact your bank

If you had banking apps, saved cards or payment apps on the phone, contact your bank and explain that the phone has been stolen.

Ask what security measures they recommend and check your accounts for any transactions you don't recognise.

4. Change your important passwords

If the phone wasn't protected by a passcode, change the passwords for your most important accounts as soon as possible.

Start with:

*Your email account
*Online banking
*Apple Account or Google Account
*Social media
*Shopping accounts

Any account that contains personal or financial information.

Your email account should be a priority, because someone with access to your email may be able to reset passwords for other accounts.

5. Report the theft to Police

Report a stolen phone to NZ Police through 105. If the theft is happening now or there is an immediate threat to someone's safety, call 111.

Keep the phone's IMEI number if you have it. This is a unique identifier for the device and can help identify it. You may find the IMEI on the original packaging, your receipt, your mobile provider's records, or through your Apple/Google account.

Don't forget your SIM card

Your SIM card is linked to your phone number. If someone has your unlocked phone and SIM, they may be able to receive text messages containing security or verification codes.

Contact your mobile provider as soon as possible to have the SIM blocked and your number transferred to a replacement SIM/eSIM.

If your phone currently has no password...

This is a good reminder that a screen lock is one of the simplest ways to protect your personal information.

Set up at least a 6-digit PIN or password, and where available use fingerprint or facial recognition as an additional convenience.

Also make sure Find My iPhone or Find Hub is switched on and that your phone is backed up.

A few minutes spent setting these up can make a stolen phone much harder for someone else to use.

24/09/2026

Having your wallet lost or stolen can be stressful, especially when it contains your bank cards, driver licence, SuperGold or Community Services Card, and other personal information.

The most important thing is to act quickly. Cancelling cards and reporting stolen identification can help reduce the risk of fraud or identity theft.

1. Contact your bank immediately

If your wallet contained an EFTPOS, debit or credit card, contact the bank that issued each card as soon as possible.

Ask the bank to:

* Cancel the stolen card.
* Arrange a replacement card.
* Check for any transactions you don't recognise you can do this in your online banking apps.
* Tell you what to do if you notice unauthorised transactions.

Don't wait to see whether your wallet turns up. NZ Police specifically recommends notifying all banks that issued cards in a stolen wallet.

2. Report the theft to Police

If your wallet has been stolen, report it to NZ Police.

You can report theft by calling 105 this is the Police non-emergency number and is available 24/7.

If the theft is happening now, the person responsible is still there, or there is an immediate risk to someone's safety or property, call 111.

When making your report, include as much information as possible, such as:

* When and where you believe the wallet was stolen.
* A description of the wallet.
* What identification and cards were inside.
* Any other identifying details.
* Any CCTV or other information that could help Police.

Keep your Police reference number. It may also be useful if you need to make an insurance claim.

3. Replace your driver's licence

If your NZ driver's licence was in the wallet, contact NZTA as soon as possible on 0800 822 422

Replacing the licence cancels the old one, which helps reduce the opportunity for someone else to use it for identity crime.

You can apply for a replacement through a driver licensing agent, and eligible people can also apply online with a verified RealMe identity.

If you are going to drive, remember that you are required to carry your driver's licence.

4. Replace your SuperGold Card

If your SuperGold Card was stolen, contact the SuperGold Centre.

SuperGold: 0800 25 45 65

A replacement SuperGold Card is free and can be ordered if your card has been lost, damaged or stolen.

If you have a SuperGold + Community Services Card combo card, let SuperGold know that the card has been stolen so a replacement can be arranged.

5. Replace your Community Services Card

If your Community Services Card was in your wallet, contact Work and Income to report it missing and arrange a replacement.

If it was a combined Community Services Card and SuperGold Card, contact SuperGold as well.

Work and income/Ministry of Social Development: 0800 559 009

Don't assume that cancelling your bank cards is enough — government-issued cards should also be reported and replaced.

6. Think about what personal information was in your wallet

A stolen wallet isn't just about the physical cards. Your identification may contain information that could potentially be used in identity crime.

Think about whether your wallet contained:

* Driver licence.
* Community Services Card.
* SuperGold Card.
* Credit cards.
* EFTPOS/debit cards.
* Membership cards.
* Work identification.
* Insurance cards.
* Loyalty cards.
* Any notes containing PINs, passwords or other personal information.

If you had passwords or other sensitive information written in your wallet, change those passwords immediately.

7. Keep an eye on your accounts

For the next few weeks, pay particular attention to your:

* Bank accounts.
* Credit cards.
* Online shopping accounts.
* Email account.
* Other accounts containing personal or financial information.

If you notice something suspicious, contact the relevant organisation immediately and keep a record of what happened.

8. Check your insurance

Your contents insurance may provide cover for belongings stolen away from your home, depending on your policy.

NZ Police recommends checking your insurance and keeping the Police report/reference number, as this may be required when making a claim.

A quick checklist - what to do

☐ Cancel EFTPOS/debit cards
☐ Cancel credit cards
☐ Check recent transactions
☐ Report the theft to Police via 105
☐ Keep your Police reference number
☐ Replace your driver's licence through NZTA
☐ Replace your SuperGold Card
☐ Replace your Community Services Card if applicable
☐ Change any passwords or PINs that may have been exposed
☐ Contact your insurer if appropriate
☐ Keep an eye on your accounts for suspicious activity

Remember: act quickly

The sooner stolen cards are cancelled and identification is replaced, the less opportunity there is for someone else to use them.

If you're not sure who to contact, start with your bank and Police, then work through the identification cards that were in your wallet.

24/09/2026

⏰ As daylight saving approaches, we want you to check your smoke alarms

Every second person who dies in a house fire is over 60.

To give yourself and your older family, friends and neighbours the earliest possible warning, you need smoke alarms installed in every bedroom, hallway and living area.

One of the most commonly overlooked places for a smoke alarm is the bedroom. When you’re asleep, you can’t smell smoke, but smoke alarms can and they’ll wake you up if a fire gets started – so you can get out fast.

✅ Test your smoke alarms by pressing the red button
✅ Check they're less than 10 years old
✅ Install alarms in every bedroom, hallway and living area

💚 While you're checking yours, help others check theirs too

17/09/2026

ARE YOU EXPECTING A TRADESPERSON?

Be particularly cautious of unexpected visitors claiming urgent repairs, inspections, or maintenance work.

Remember: Legitimate tradespeople will understand and respect your request to verify their identification and appointment.

Remember to always;

✅Verify a tradesperson's identity
✅confirm their appointment before allowing access
✅ Ask to see official photo ID
✅ Confirm the company they represent
✅ Verify the appointment by contacting the business directly
✅ Keep doors locked while checking credentials
✅ If you're unsure, do not allow entry
✅Ring 105 to report if they are fraudulent
✅Ring 111 if you feel threatened

Stay safe. Verify ID and confirm appointments before granting access to your home.

North Taranaki Neighbourhood Support

17/09/2026

POLICE ALERT

With the upcoming release of tickets and announcements of acts for summer concerts Police are predicting in an uplift in summer concert scams.

This pattern of offending can be seen around the world.

Consider the following advice and share with friends’ family and whanau who maybe looking at buying tickets for events.

Planning to attend a concert or festival this summer?
Be aware that scammers often target people looking for tickets to popular events.

Protect yourself:

✅ Buy only from authorised ticket sellers
✅ Be cautious of tickets advertised on social media and online marketplaces
✅ Avoid bank transfers to people you don't know
✅ Be wary of heavily discounted tickets or sellers creating urgency
✅ Ask yourself: "Could this be a scam?"
Many scam victims only discover their ticket is fake when they arrive at the venue.

If you think you've been scammed:

- Contact your bank immediately
- Report the scam to Netsafe
- Keep screenshots of messages, advertisements, and payment details

Helpful Resources
-Netsafe Scam Hub: https://netsafe.org.nz/scams [netsafe.org.nz], [netsafe.org.nz]
-Check if a website or link is suspicious: https://checknetsafe.nz/ [checknetsafe.nz]
-Get help from Netsafe: https://netsafe.org.nz [netsafe.org.nz]