For customers
Taking care of business with NoCowboys’ help
Paul Toschi has been in the painting industry for years and in 2016 launched his own company – Brushy Bee Ltd. When looking to market his business, he decided that NoCowboys was all he needed, and for the past two years, with NoCowboys’ help, Paul has built up a solid...
A brave new world
My dad didn’t listen to what other people thought about tradespeople they'd employed. Instead, word of mouth to him was listening to what his friends said about the things we wanted to make our lives easier and telling us they were all death traps. Microwave? Nah....
Keeping the home fires burning
It’s hard to beat a roaring fire in winter but ensuring that your fire delivers the performance it should and is safe as possible means you need to be vigilant in keeping your chimney clean and regularly inspected for any possible repairs. Though the idea of needing a...
Negative reviews are part of an honest assessment of a business
Because I am in the online review business, I read as much as I can about reviews, how consumers read and use reviews, and how much reviews help businesses online. Personally, I find the whole thing fascinating and so many times when I'm reading about consumer...
Paperless travel leaves some of us behind
For the past few weeks I've been travelling in Europe, accompanying my father, on what may well be his last trip. He's a few weeks shy of 80 and the advancing years have slowed him down, without diminishing the joy he experiences from new adventures and encountering...
We want to be heard!
So why leave a review? Recently I was re-reading an article from a few years ago focused on the reasons consumers leave reviews and one part of it perfectly expressed an element that is isn't given the attention that it deserves - that we leave feedback because we...
Why your feedback counts
If you're reading this then it's likely that you have left feedback for a tradie or business on NoCowboys before. You may have done it because you were asked or you may have done it unsolicited because you were delighted with the work done, or perhaps unhappy. Either...
Not all reviews are the same
We've written before about the importance of knowing which online reviews have more voracity than others and treating reviews on a business' own website with a good degree of suspicion. Again a New Zealand company is in the news for allegedly creating a false sense of...
Want to refer a great business? We make that so simple
Since NoCowboys began in 2006 our focus has been providing the best information for Kiwis to make informed choices before commissioning a business or tradie and now you can share your favourite businesses with family, friends, acquaintances, or, well anybody really!...
Why do we leave feedback?
Each year a company in the US publishes the results of an annual survey examining online reviews and consumer behaviour. It's always a fascinating read and it continues to affirm how essential reviews are to consumers making online purchasing decisions. This year's...
We are not all leaders but not all of us know that
Following the deadly climate event unleashed upon Auckland and current mayor, Wayne Brown's much criticised leadership 'performance' I have been thinking about leadership, leaders, and the people who are incredibly good at leading and those who, well, aren't. In doing...
Tune out, turn off, drop out – how to remove online anger
There's been a lot of discussion about online abuse in the past week, since the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern resigned and it is a sobering reminder of what online is, what it could be, and what it shouldn't be. It's important to remember that online is a human...
What to look for in online reviews
Every now and again we will get enquiries from Kiwis using our site or seeing NoCowboys reviews online. I thought it would be useful to point out a few important factors about online reviews and ours, in particular, to make the process of reading them easier. How are...
Nonu Breaking Records and MPs In Car-alition
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. Four MPs in a car-alition The fighting, name calling, and turmoil that often dominates our parliament is very often...
Keeping the home fires burning
It’s hard to beat a roaring fire in winter but ensuring that your fire delivers the performance it should and is safe as possible means you need to be vigilant in keeping your chimney clean and regularly inspected for any possible repairs. Though the idea of needing a...
Bystander Saves Boy and Strangers On A Plane
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. Hero bystander Being a part of a society sometimes requires us to do difficult things and oftentimes the danger of...
OCR Cut, Clever Cat Burglar, and World Record Cyclist
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. OCR cut cause for optimism On Wednesday the Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50 basis points to 2.5%,...
Father and Son Moment and Fantastic Singer of National Anthem
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. Father surprises son at All Blacks test Before last week's test kicked off between the All Blacks and Australia at...
Incredibly Generous Builder and Stupendous Toy Collection
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. Builder saves couple's dream After losing nearly $100,000 in deposits to a building company that entered into...
Time Capsule Unearthed and KiwI Runner Wins Gold
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. Huge win for Kiwi runner New Zealand runner George Beamish achieved an incredible win this week at the World...
Bees Rob Honey Store and Lightsaber Sells For 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. Bees rob beekeeper's shop This story is yet another astonishing example of the ingenuity of the other creatures on our...
Rescuing food waste to feed hungry Kiwis
NoCowboys has recently signed up to sponsor a fantastic Kiwi charity that rescues and distributes food waste to help feed needy families. For September and October NoCowboys will donate $1 for every job posted on our site and 10 cents for every review. We are very...
Talkative Tūī, Sunken City, and Card Sold For Record Price
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. Talkative tūī a big hit Pleakly - a young tūī with a gift for mimicking human speech has become a big hit online, as...
Hotel To Be Redeveloped, Generous Stranger, and Thoughtful Postie
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. Christchurch icon gets new lease of life Growing up in Christchurch, Noahs Hotel on Oxford Terrace was a familiar...
Passport Eating Dog, Hodgkins’ Painting Discovered, and Inspirational Teacher Passes
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. Teacher who inspired and created leaders I recently stumbled across a story about a Wellington teacher and athletic...
Massive Lighting, Huge Aussie Insect, and Message Found A Century Later
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. Mother nature is truly amazing This story is rather mind boggling and proves yet again just how awesome - in the...
Board Game Awarded, Kiwi Loves Milk Tankers, And Fantastic Road Worker
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. A man who loved milk tankers This a lovely tale about a Kiwi with a rare illness and how one of our biggest companies...
Curious Whale, Norsewear Pushes Kiwi Made, and World’s Best Country
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. Whale of a time in Sydney Harbour Water traffic in Sydney Harbour faced a novel issue last week - a curious humpback...
Hero Coast Guard Swimmer, Lasers Sort Seagulls, and Tapestry Home On Loan
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. Hero swimmer saves lives during floods The recent floods in Texas, United States claimed over 100 lives and a Coast...
Small Pubs, Kiwi Ad Lauded, and NZ Gins Take Prizes
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. Tiny pubs a big hit A Christchurch business created during Covid lockdowns has grown to become a national enterprise...
Bird Survey Begins, Kiwi Record Breaker, and Beer Saves Pub
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. Beer douses pub fire This story sounds as if it comes from the lyrics of a country and Western song. When a minor fire...
Moth Navigation, Bear Rescued, and Endeavour 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. Migratory moths navigate by the stars From the amazing world of insects comes the story of the incredible Australian...
Kiwi Rugby Final, Ancient Tomb Found, and NZ Team On Big Stage
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. All Kiwi Super Rugby final A weekend of semi-finals in the Super Rugby Pacific competition saw the Canterbury...
Ship Fails To Wake Sleeper, Kiwi Speedster, and Otago Eatery Awarded
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. NZ restaurant makes influential list For the first time ever a Kiwi eatery, Otago's Amisfield restaurant, has been...
Lorde Surprises Fans, Moose Mystery, And Northlander Helps Troubled Youth
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. Lorde crashes Lorde party New Zealand musician Lorde was a very welcome and surprise guest at a party in Sydney...
NZDF Turns To Local Sock Maker, Cemetery Bust Found, and Kiwi Photographers Rewarded
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. Long lost cemetery bust turns up in police raid 37 years after it disappeared, the bust that once adorned Jim...
Scrapping Native Creatures, Copy Proves To Be Valuable Original, and Clothes Line Mystery Solved
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. Cheap copy turns out to be valuable original This story mirrors those best moments in 'Antiques Roadshow' where...
Local Hero, 70,000 Lollipop Carnival, and Heart Transplant Marathons
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 hero is a serial helper Most communities in New Zealand have local heroes who help out whenever they can,...
Tradies Charity Build, Champion Cheese, And Teenage Cricketer Hits Century
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. Build for charity in Christchurch What began as one building company owner's idea to pay something back after getting...
Auckland FC Win Title, Kiwi Conservation Effort, And Lost Dachshund 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. Auckland FC make history Few teams win the league in their debut season in any sporting competition but Kiwi football...
Centurion Eases Up, Kiwis Love Feijoas, Moose Migration
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. Centurion dials back competitive streak After reaching 100 years of age, croquet master Neville Sandiford decided it...
Hāngī Business Takes Off, Truckie Hero, and Tourist Hails Kiwi 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. Hāngī business fills gap in the market Hutt Valley local CJ Collier took a lack of local hāngī food and created a...
Inspirational Black Fern, App For Best Pies, and Amazing Channel Swim
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. Black Fern a true inspiration Rugby World Cup winner, Ruby Tui is more than just a force to be reckoned with on a...
All Whites Off To World Cup, Speedy Octopus, And Forgetful Pilot
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. All Whites going to the World Cup For the third time in their history, the All Whites will be competing at the World...
Speedy Kiwi Teenager, Fog Busters, and Lost Christchurch In Miniature
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. Teenager beats world record It's 71 years since Roger Bannister ran the first sub four minute mile and since then...
Impressive Native Insect, Last Metal Road Sealed, and Garden City Airport a Cracker
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. Bug of the year is an ancient handful From the 'I never knew we had a bug of the year competition' files comes the...
Busy Beavers, Hercules Last Flight, and Dump May Hold 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. Beavers get the job done This is a rather uplifting tale that yet again illustrates the pluck and ingenuity of our...
Pub Pays Out For Goal Fest, Banana Mystery, and Kiwi Cricketer Makes History
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. Pub pays for footballs club's success Nottingham Forest are defying expectations this year in the English Premier...