For customers
Lucky Kitten, Unhappy Sunfish Revitalised, and Pompeii Reveals Hidden Gem
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Abandoned kitten survives gruelling ordeal This is a good news story with a whole lot of bad news at the beginning of...
Key questions for every business owner
NoCowboys has been in business long enough to know what works and what doesn't when it comes to marketing. We pioneered online reviews from the days when online feedback was in its infancy. Since then we have helped tens of thousands of New Zealand businesses grow and...
You don’t need to bang your head against a wall
Apparently it was Einstein who coined this phrase - although that's up for debate - either way it's prescient when I think about business owners spending their marketing budgets and getting little in return. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and...
Don’t let misconceptions stop you from building your business with NoCowboys
Of all the questions we are asked by business owners new to NoCowboys, the most persistent concern reviews and competing with registered businesses who have been with us for years. Both queries are linked and the answer to both explains that while our platform is a...
Marketing is all about attracting new customers – so choose wisely
Whenever I explain what marketing is, I simplify it to its most basic element: marketing is the bridge that closes the gap between a business and the customers they want to attract. Today, there are numerous options and marketing businesses that promise remarkable...
Be very careful when promised the earth by certain website and hosting outfits
We started NC Web a few years ago because we kept hearing similar tales from registered NoCowboys business owners about dissatisfactory and unsavoury experiences some of them had with website developers, SEO companies, and hosting platforms. We decided that we could...
Think like a customer and reap the benefits
I've been in this game long enough to have learned quite a few things from customers and business owners alike about what makes a business successful, or not. Apart from the obvious factors, such as having the correct business apparatus - equipment, staff, tax...
Reviews are the essential piece of the puzzle
Over the past month I've been planing an overseas trip and whilst all of it has been done online, I have found myself occasionally drifting into the occasional desire to actually speak to a human being, like one would have done in the not too distant past. What I...
What are NoCowboys points of difference?
We didn't invent online reviews but we did pioneer their use and acceptance here in New Zealand and our platform is not only respected but trusted. We keep improving our services to keep in step with online developments so that Kiwis can choose the best tradespeople...
Processing criticism leads to productive outcomes, if handled properly
We've all experienced criticism, it's part and parcel of human interaction but it's worth noting that there are stages of processing that feedback and how it is a journey toward resolution and something more valuable - acceptance. A recent article by Esther Bintliff...
Stay safe when shopping online
Online shopping is not even the new normal - it's just the normal. The past few years of the Covid pandemic has further increased consumer online spending to the degree whereby consumer behaviour has radically shifted. That means it pays to heed a few tips and...
Plasterboard supply chaos easing
The plasterboard supply debacle that has hindered the building industry and caused needless delays is slowly dissipating, signalling good news for Kiwi builders and consumers. As reported by Nicholas Pointon in RNZ this week, "The plasterboard shortage has eased...
Things to do to spruce up your house this Spring
Sure, it's been snowing where it usually doesn't this time of the year but it's Spring - the time to pay some attention to your home, inside and out. With the weekends hopefully warning up, there will be time to take care of small and large jobs that'll have your...
Maligned Kiwi Classic, Love Rekindled, and Dinosaur Highway Found
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Kiwi classic gets rough treatment Obviously we all have different tastes when it comes to food and we don't all like...
Kiwi in Top Form, Miracle Survival and Marathon Effort
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Kiwi striker is the real deal The English Premier League is arguably the most difficult football league in the world...
New Year Promise, Football on the Rise, and Spooky Predictions
New Year Promise Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. As 2024 draws to a close it's time to both look back and to look forward. New Year is that special...
Lost & Found: Scooters, Cash, and Treasure
Scooters, cash and treasure - taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. This will be the last installment of Good News NZ for a few weeks, as we redesign the...
World Records, New Reefs, and a Tradie’s Triumph
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Haka world record claimed at huge event at Eden Park Last weekend over 6,500 people took part in a mass haka that...
Time Change, Panda Fakes, and Baby Aisle Kindness
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Daylight savings starts this weekend This Sunday clocks go forward an hour and we begin a period of daylight savings...
Feline Escapes, Kiwi Houseguest, and Buffet Revival
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Cat tries to escape 'diet centre' In Russia, a rather portly feline named Kroshik, or Crumbs, had had enough of the...
Tom cruises Olympics, Rare Coin Windfall, and Mystery Deepens
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Tom Cruise 'performs' at Olympics closing ceremony for free Sure, he's one of the richest actors on the planet and may...
Takeway Heritage, Happy Ending, and Joyful Postcard
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Boy who breaks ancient museum exhibit gets to see it restored We've all done it - accidentally smashing something of...
Feud Ends, Stars Collide, and Jersey Makes Millions
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Historic baseball jersey sold for astronomical price News from the United States this week reveals that a baseball...
Top Toastie, Antarctic Artefact, and Gamer Goes Large
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Top Kiwi toastie revealed Now, I'm not sure which nation lays claim to inventing the toastie but for the sake of this...
Breakdance Spat, OCR Fall, and Cop Delivers
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Breakdancer creates stir that's still ongoing Well, the Olympics are done and dusted and there were many, many...
Super Dog, Olympic Triumphs, and Historic Car
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Historic vehicle up for auction If you have a penchant for classic cars, history, and royalty (as well as some cash in...
Kiwi Icon, Olympic Spirit, and Milk Mystery
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. It's important to remember what the Olympics actually are As you are no doubt aware, the Olympics have kicked off in...
Local Celebrity, Rarest Whale, and Bear Necessities
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Local personality passes away after years of sharing joy Last week I read about the passing of a Christchurch...
Local Celebrity, Rarest Whale, and Bear Necessities
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Positivity is a real booster to well-being When I started putting together this In reviews blog over a year ago I...
All Blacks deliver, Parrot On The Run, and Living Legend
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. All Blacks grind out win against plucky English The All Blacks kicked off the international season and the tenure of...
Big Cheeses, Super Gardener, and Changing Times
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Kiwi icons discontinued I noted the passing of two Kiwi food and beverage items with a note of nostalgia this week....
Runaway Donkey, Sense Prevails, and Mistaken Identity
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Blame it on the cow This is a rather heartwarming tale about an elderly gentleman in Shropshire, UK who lost his...
Special Tree, and Truly Amazing Canine
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. World's tallest dog goes weak at the knees when the vacuum cleaner comes out As the cliche goes, the bigger they...
Miraculous Necklace, Historic Milk Powder, and Balloon Fight
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Historic milk powder not dissimilar to today's This is a rather nice tale with a bit of history involved, as well as...
Treasure Find, Bee Rescue, and Cheesey Adventures
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Cheese and daredevilry - a winning combination It's hard to beat a centuries old tradition that combines a steep...
Chicken Run, Record Haka, and Poignant Discovery
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Chicken gang torments village In a happier sidestep from the usual stories about gang violence in our country, I...
Beevers Return, Football Beerfest, and Heroic Tale
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Hero does the right thing, despite fears of getting in trouble As we know, citizens do not have the power to detain...
Germans Protecting Kebab Price, Phoenix One Game From Glory
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Germans want subsidy to keep kebabs affordable The cost of living crisis in Germany has motivated some to demand that...
In reviews – 5th May ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Man loses best friend and hopes for speedy return A man in the United States formed an unusual connection with an...
In reviews – 28th April ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Late night ice cream revelries cancelled Some cities and towns face noise issues from boy racers, drunks, and...
In reviews – 21st April ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Not a level playing field - Overseas Monopolies in NZ One entity is a state owned broadcaster forced to cancel or...
In reviews – 14th April – ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Animals really are incredible Last night as as I was driving home I approached a zebra crossing and had to take a...
In reviews – 7th April ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Christchurch Cathedral rebuild slowed down by huge budget blowout I was raised in Christchurch, so like many others...
In reviews – 31st March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Easter trading rules are a bit of a mess For years, the rules over Easter trading have been a bit of a hodge podge...
In reviews – 24th March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Frozen pie sold for ten times its price I grew up in the South Island and we were introduced to fast food chains a...
In reviews 17th March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Anonymous benefactor brightens strangers' lives A lovely heartwarming tale of faceless generosity opens this weeks...
In reviews – 10th March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. We all lose when tech giants get a free hand In the past few weeks our two major broadcasters have announced cuts...
In reviews – March 3rd ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Dad found in the bush after son's gut feeling and help from a goat This one is a real beaut. 72 year old Brent...