A view of Auckland – from across the ditch

[If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [stuff header]( Hi {NAME}, The surprises in looking back at Auckland from across the ditch Travel, they say, broadens the mind – but a recent hop to [Sydney served more]( to simply reassure that life in Auckland and Aotearoa might not be the global horror story some would have us believe. [Sydney is of course a city on a different level]( a world city with a population bigger than New Zealand. We are now being told its locals have put Covid-19 behind them and “moved on”. Well not entirely. [Mask wearing may be less prevalent]( than in Auckland, except on public transport where it is still mandatory, but nearly 11,000 new Covid-19 were reported in New South Wales on the last day of June, a rate slightly higher than New Zealand's. Downtown Auckland might be quiet, but so is Sydney. Still bustling, [but without the usual level of tourism]( and with stay-at-home office workers, street life was far short of our previous visit exactly three years ago. Major tourist attractions were closed Monday-Wednesday and [restaurants were mostly quiet at lunchtime]( around Darling Harbour. Local news stories during our visit included an [electricity crisis on the east coast]( and warnings of outages with the market regulator stepping in to ensure the generators did their bit. There are also labour shortages, queues at airports due to a lack of staff, small businesses struggling with staff off sick, the cost of living crisis and the likely hit on the [housing market of rising mortgage rates](. The point of these observations is not to gloat or to suggest for many people Sydney might not be a more attractive place to live, [offering higher wages and bigger-city drawcards](. And yes, a trip to an Aldi supermarket confirmed tasty cheese is [in fact much cheaper than in New Zealand]( although not all supermarket items are. But as we emerge from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic in Auckland, it would be wrong to think that we are alone with our challenges and that we should blame someone for life not being back to “normal”. Join the global club. [user profile pic] Todd Niall Senior Stuff Journalist [See more Auckland news]( [Privacy Info]( [Privacy Info]( [Watch this video now] The Last Stand: Will NZ's kauri survive dieback? One in six kauri in Auckland's Waitākere Ranges has symptoms of kauri dieback, the disease that threatens to wipe out an iconic Aotearoa timber. Now, Auckland Council is trialing innovative ways to combat the disease, like sniffer dogs, which detect the disease much faster than a lab test. But the council is still having to battle 'self-entitled' walkers who are spreqading the disease through the ancient forest. [Read More]( [Privacy Info]( More Auckland stories you might have missed [Article Image] Mayoral candidate Viv Beck wants more bus options, not light rail [Read more button]( [Article Image] Watch: We join a ballet class for septuagenerians [Read more button]( [Article Image] The White Lady food truck might be shut down by council regulations [Read more button]( [Article Image] Auckland family gagging after sewage floods property for a fourth time [Read more button]( [Support Stuff]( [Discover more Auckland news at Stuf]( You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive the Your Auckland newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( [Manage your profile]( [Privacy Policy]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get Your Auckland in your inbox]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland, 1021, New Zealand