Nor'West News: June 07, 2016

PEGASUS POST Tuesday June 7 2016 5
News
Fantastic Home Show returns
THERE IS less than a month to
go until the doors open on the
The Star Home & Leisure Show.
More than 12,000 people
visited the show last year, which
runs over Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, July 1 to 3.
The show features the latest
trends and technology for home
building or renovation, as well
as special deals on everything
from spa pools to campervans.
You can talk directly with the
experts there to get advice or
tips, or take the opportunity to
try new products or technology.
There will also be plenty of
prizes on offer, including a
$25,000 central heating system,
thanks to Central Heating NZ.
•The show will be held at
Horncastle Arena from
July 1-3 from 10am to 5pm.
For more information, visit
www.starhomeshow.co.nz
SHOW
HAVING A remote control
home is no longer the stuff of
science fiction.
If you have the technology,
you can now turn your heating
on while you’re on your way
home, set a crock-pot to start
your dinner cooking, and check
up instantly on your home if a
security or fire alarm goes off to
see if it’s a danger or just a false
alarm.
Although the technology has
existed for several years, it has
been expensive and complicated
to install.
Startup company Morepork’s
goal is to make the technology
accessible to anyone.
Chief executive Gemma
Croombs said its systems could
be installed simply yourself,
with simple plug in cameras
and control panels and wireless
alarms and sensors.
“People have the perception
IN YOUR HAND: Chief executive Gemma Croombs using
the Morepork app, which allows you to remotely control
your security system and home automation technology. ​
you can only have them if
you’re building and you can put
cable all through your home,
but it doesn’t have to be like that
anymore.”
The company, which was
backed by Spark, launched in
August last year, but she said
the technology was already
growing.
“One of the things we’re testing
at the moment is a smart
door bell which sets up voice
call, so if someone’s there to
drop off a package you can say
just drop off, don’t leave me to
pick it up from the depot on my
weekend. Or if you have a smart
lock, you can just remotely open
the door and let them in.”
As new technology was developed,
she said it could be added
on to the same system.
She plans to be at The Star
Home & Leisure Show with her
team, with several systems set
up for people to play with there,
and special deals on offer.
In Brief
QE II DECISION
After a city council hearings panel
recommended the sale of 11.5ha
of QE II Park to the Ministry of
Education, a community group is
considering their options to put
a stop to the sale. Christchurch
Concerned Citizens chairman
Garry House said the group is
not pleased the city council plan
to go ahead with the sale, in spite
of “overwhelming evidence” that
the land was meant to be used to
be used for recreation, and not
education.
BURGLARIES SPIKE
A large rise in the number of
burglaries and family harm
incidents has been seen by police
around the Aranui and Wainoni
areas. New Brighton police station
Sergeant Dave Robertson said it
is unusual to have the amount
of burglaries that are currently
being seen, at this time of year. He
said burglaries and family harm
incidents generally spike in July
and August.
WARMER HOMES
The Community Energy Action
Charitable Trust has hit their
target of warming 250 homes,
six months ahead of schedule.
The Repair Well project, funded
by New Zealand Red Cross and
implemented by CEA.