You have a young woman, Indigo working for this store. She is just lovely. Everything you want in a…read morecustomer service professional. She is extremely friendly, efficient & I have noticed her tact in dealing with some very rude customers. I hope the SPCA management is supporting her in training to deal with some really unpleasant people. A hard job, she does wonderfully. Always a pleasure to shop there. We selectively shop as we find this branch overpriced & in Puke not the best on price. Otherwise on customer service, faultless.

Love this cute op shop!! So many cute items in here and for good value. Also, the shop assistants…read morewere really helpful when I was struggling to find something. Will def come back here again!!

From the owner: Sweet Charity Home Store is a not-for-profit, collaboratively owned and run Charity shop. We…read moreshowcase quality new and preloved treasures. Offering our clientele a next level in store experience.

Rainbow Youth has been advocating for young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer…read moreyouth for decades - ensuring that those who wish to come out, are having trouble with coming out, or would just like to find some likeminded people have a place to go. Friday nights at Rainbow Youth are the best time - school is over for the week and people will pile in to have a good time and be themselves. I interviewed the kids of Rainbow Youth about the issues that were facing them once - I ended up coming away feeling good about how LGBT children are faring. While their stories weren't all sunshine and rainbows, it was easy to see that having spaces like Rainbow Youth around makes life all that more bearable, while helping to create stronger, happier queer kids.

From the owner: LGBTIQ Queer & Gender Diverse Young People…read moreSupport Peer-support Groups Referral

Sunday morning had a different twist of affairs this weekend, I ended up along with my family…read moretracking down the closest Bird Recovery Centre to our home on the North Shore. Why you may ask? A little baby Kingfisher about three weeks old had somehow managed to fall out or be scared out of its nest in a near by Phoenix Palm and become trapped on the balcony. A Quick internet search found a phone number in Green Bay, West Auckland - a Bird Rescue Centre, the lovely lady directed me to my closest rescue centre called SPCA BirdWing, no need to call the phone number she said- just show up. We Arrived at Rothesay Bay, and easily parked at the front of the house, with easy to read signs directing you along the side, and to a back door which was open. Met an eccentric knowledgeable lady called Sylvia and she was able to take the wee bird in, put some powder on his feathers to get rid of any bugs or fleas, and put the baby bird into a special room on its own till it got big enough to share with the other Kingfishers she had recovering. Amazing to see Morepork Owls, Blue Penguins, Baby Seagulls, Ducks, Lovebirds, and Tui's all at the centre healing together.

The bird lady!! Sylvia is famous around here for the amazing things she does for poor injured…read morebirds. According to Sylvia, up to 20 injured birds can be brought into her shelter each day! That is a heck of a lot of birds! I have to admit I have brought in quite a few feathered creatures over the last ten years. As my cats have gotten older the birds have stopped coming but when they were kittens I tell you... we were often running around putting birds in shoe boxes and racing them up to the bird lady. It's so good to know that there's actually something you can do to help these birds and give them a chance to survive! Even if you don't have a hurt birdie to take in it's worth poking your head in to have a look at the birds in the cages at this house in Rothesay Bay. There are penguins and owls and all sorts of birds, some of which I've never before seen in my life. Would be an awesome place to take the kids! Go Sylvia... still doing an awesome job here!

Wesley Community Centre is a great asset to the local community. They have many things on offer…read moreincluding a a market that has been running for 16 years! Every Tuesday and Friday 7 am - 1 pm you can drop in and pick up some produce, some hot food, new and used clothing, bric a brac and much more. The centre is also very well utilized by local groups for adult and youth classes, including holiday programs. It has a strong multi-cultural feel to the place and whatever ethnicity your background is, I am sure you will be made to feel welcomed. I have hired rooms in the not-so-distant-past and I can honestly say that it is one of the most attractive community centres around Auckland. It is spacious, clean and well maintained. Organize to have a look at the rooms available if you are searching for a space needed for a conference, regular meetings, or a once off celebration to hold a number of people.

From the owner: Community Centre based in Mt Roskill providing programmes and events for local community.read more

Five stars? The Peace Place really deserves much more. It is also a difficult subject to to…read morecategorize, but it deserves a mention to get their name out there. It is a place of sanctuary in the centre of the city, to pray, meditate, research or find like minded people. I attended there through the Auckland Spiritual Discussions Group, they use the space to meet on the 27th of each month, in the evenings, having different speakers give talks and/or lead practices. The peace place is utilized by several different groups of different religious views,but all supportive of the same values. Pax Christi, an international peace movement being one of them. The venue has a large range of interesting books, a library that you can borrow from, on many esoteric subjects and/or about the peace movements, advocates past and present, religious orders, etc. I have not been able to add the opening hours as it really does depend on several factors, however I can tell you that Monday's at 5:30pm they offer a space for meditation and occasionally lunchtimes too; and on Sat's they celebrate the Eurachrist, you don't have to be catholic to attend. Have a look at their website and/or contact them directly if you want to know more.

Definitely worth four stars!…read more This place is amazing! They really do support the community in everyday possible. From sporting areas to childcare to youth support. It really does do new Lynn a great service. I know some friends that hire out some space in there from sporting events during the week and I also know of some youth groups that run awesome activities during be week which is great for the New Lynn area and its youth. It is a modern space, well designed - both architecturally and in its interiors. There is plenty of parking surrounding the venue as well. And you know your car will be safe because the police station is right next door. Handy! Great spot overall.

It gets four stars for what it stands for! Community centres are great! They offer everything from…read morePlunket playgroups to line dancing, environmental groups to mediation groups, so much on offer, it is as good as your local library! Plus they do play a large role in helping new migrants in Auckland, an important service for such a multi-cultural city. This centre has some great rooms/halls that can be hired and some rough-around-the-edges too, so worth going and having a look for yourself. Also, make sure you state clearly everything you need, kitchen? whiteboard? no-one else using that room? Are you sure no one else is using that same room!? Ask lots of questions! Word is on the street that the New Lynn Community Centre will be the venue for a new Night Market soon to arise every Thursday night too, cool bananas!

This is a very well utilised community centre with clean spacious facilities if any local…read moreorganisation or group wanted to hire a space for a regular night of the week or temporary meetings, functions, etc. The staff have always been very friendly and helpful when I have been involved with hiring the facilities for regular set periods of time. The payments have generally been smooth and communication professional. It always seems quite busy, whatever the season, with various groups occupying the many rooms available, so if you want to set up a meditation or yoga course you might want to double check that karate or zumba are not also taking place that same night right next door! They also hold a farmers market at the centre on Sunday mornings that is worth supporting.

A great place to host events for different numbers of people. Whether your group is large or small…read moreGreylynn community centre will hook you up! The first time I went to the community centre was for a youth talent show. The room was perfect as it accommodated the number of attendees. The kitchen was always clean and located inside the hall we where using. This made it easier at snack time as it was just a matter of taking items from the kitchen to the table we had set up buffet style outside the kitchen. The rooms are also built in a way that makes it flexible to arrange the room the way that suits you and your event. Although there is parking on site, it is limited. Luckily there are plenty of off street parking spaces.

Eden Creative Recycling is a wonderful asset to the Auckland Community, particularly early…read morechildhood teachers and artists. This is a trust organisation that collects unwanted materials from businesses that have excess or unwanted items and then offers this multitude of stuff back into the community for those that may need or want to work in a more ecological and sustainable way. It is a great resource to teachers on a budget, but also most importantly teaches children the value in recycling and enhancing creativity. I use to work in this field not so long ago, so I have dealt with this company personally. There were off cuts of fabric, cardboard cylinders, hard plastic tubes, plastic bottle caps, paper, boxes, light metal tube things - many items! As you will see by the note on their website, they are no longer located on Akiraho Street in Mount Eden, however if you call Yvonne on 0274 879 116 you can arrange a time to go see what is on offer and have a chat. Did I mention that this stuff is free?