QUIET PROFESSIONAL

A Night n Day employee in Hamilton has been praised for her professionalism after serving the same customer four separate times in one day without once asking what was going on.

The man, believed to be in his early 30s, made a series of increasingly casual visits to the store, each time acting as if it was his first appearance.

Worker Olivia Chen says she recognised him immediately by the second visit but made a conscious decision to say nothing.

“You just know not to say anything sometimes. Same hoodie, same walk, same ‘just this thanks’ vibe,” said Chen, calmly scanning a can of V and a packet of lollies. “But it’s not my place to mention anything.”

Chen says the third visit confirmed her approach.

“That’s when you double down on being normal. You keep it friendly with no raised eyebrows and no ‘back again?’ chat. Just good service.”

By the fourth visit, which included what could only be described as a fairly ambitious combo of a pie, chocolate milk and a family share bag of chips, Chen remained composed.

“He looked me dead in the eye like it was the first time we’d met. So I just went with it. Sweet as, that’ll be $14.80.”

The customer, who declined to be named, says he appreciated the discretion.

“Sometimes you just need a few trips, you know. Like obviously I’ve got something going on, but I don’t want it expressly mentioned,” he said. “She handled it well. Didn’t make it weird.”

Retail behaviour specialist Mark Henderson says the situation highlights the value of consistent customer service.

“A good store front person should be approachable and non-judgemental,” said Henderson. “It creates an environment where customers feel comfortable making multiple visits without fear of scrutiny, which is clearly important for some people.”

At the time of writing, the man was reportedly considering a fifth visit later that evening, with Chen expected to greet him as if nothing had happened.

More to come.

The post Convenience Store Worker Heroically Asks No Questions After Seeing The Same Guy For The Fourth Time Today appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

A new study from the NZ Nutrition Foundation has reluctantly discovered that the traditional healthy breakfast of cereals, grains and fruit is not the killer combo we all thought it was. 

It found that a pie and a can of V energy drink contained the perfect balance of protein, fat, carbohydrate and caffeine that’s needed in the morning, particularly for people with physical jobs that involve fixing and building things. 

Lauren Gable, a seasoned dietitian from the Nutrition Foundation, was suitably surprised, disgusted and appalled by the findings. “This goes against everything we thought we knew about nutrition and I can barely believe it,” she said. 

“Apparently tradies, in particular the ones who do all the work on a given job site, are able to stay perfectly healthy, fit and strong by having this breakfast each day on their way to work.

“I personally haven’t had a pie in 20 years, and I’ve never once had an energy drink. But if this is what the science says then I suppose I have to go with it,” she sighed as she slunk back in her chair, defeated. 

Dylan Rigby, a strong and trim specimen in his late teens, stopped as he was coming out of a Dunedin Night n Day to explain his food of choice. “On my way to a job in town, just labouring but building my skills up. Went with the mince and cheese, plus a standard V. Sometimes get the blue V or just a strawberry Up and Go. Fuel in the tank!” he said as pastry crumbled down onto his hi-vis. 

“You don’t need science to know that this is a good brekkie if you’re out getting shit done,” he said, firing a subtle shot at the ‘laptop class’. 

“Energy in, energy out”.

More to come.

The post Pie And Can Of V Found To Be Most Nutritionally Optimal Breakfast For Tradies appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

RECOVERY MISSION

24-year-old Caleb Tomkins from Dunedin is facing the ultimate post-party challenge: outrunning a hangover using nothing but convenience-store food from Night ‘n Day.

“I’ve been up since, well… let’s just say it was a big night,” Caleb admits, nursing what he describes as a “throbbing head and a questionable suite of decisions made at a mate’s party and night club last night. By 2 pm, he had already made two trips to Night ‘n Day Regent.

“My first trip you ask? I grabbed a meat pie and a blue Powerade,” Caleb recounts. “The classic combo. It hit the spot, got me feeling semi-human and in a state where I could talk to my flatmates and possibly take a phone call from Mum without sounding violently hungover.”

By lunch, he was back. “Round two, I went for the chicken ‘n’ chips box. And yeah, I threw in some Criss Cross chips for good measure,” he says, munching contentedly.

Despite his current state of physical regret, Caleb was already plotting his third foray for the evening. “I’m eyeing up those pulled pork nachos,” he admits. “ Hangover vs. convenience food, so far, food’s winning.”

Night ‘n Day Regent staff say Caleb is a familiar sight on weekend afternoons.” He’s got a look about him that screams hungover. Sunglasses indoors, moving at half-speed, and treating hot food like medicine,” a staff member confirmed.

Caleb, for his part, remains optimistic. “It’s all about recovery, right? You can’t outrun a hangover with just a few hours of sleep. You need pie, chips, and maybe a bit of nachos. Gotta always back Night ‘n Day’s food for the win.”

More to come.

The post Man Attempts To Outrun Hangover With Multiple Trips To Shop To Buy Convenient Ready-To-Eat Food appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

SWEET SHAME

Sophie Wilks, 27, had a simple plan: buy six Biscoff chocolate eggs from Night ‘n Day, eat just one, and save the rest for the week. By the time she finished her “one,” the plan had spectacularly collapsed.

“I thought I’d just have one… maybe two if I was feeling rebellious, especially if I’ve earned it,” Sophie admitted, staring at the empty wrappers of her biscoff eggs. “Next thing I knew… well, there were no more. They were gone. I blame the biscoff eggs for being so damn good.”

The Tahunanui local with a previously respectable self-control record, reportedly entered her home triumphantly with her haul of six eggs. But within minutes, the eggs had mysteriously disappeared, leaving wrappers strewn across the kitchen like the aftermath of a chocolate tornado.

“I told myself I’d ration them for the week,” she confessed. “But, honestly, I just gorged. Every bite was like… heaven in biscuit-and-chocolate form. I couldn’t stop.”

Not one to dwell on mistakes, Sophie hatched a daring plan: she headed straight back to the local Night ‘n’ Day store later that evening, hoping the assistant wouldn’t recognise her for the second time in a single day.

“I was basically a Biscoff egg vigilante,” she laughed. “In and out, real quick. I might have blushed a little when they asked if I’d already bought some today. Ugh, the damn shame.”

Staff report that Sophie left Night ‘n Day Tahunanui with an undisclosed number of additional eggs, her chocolate mission far from over. When asked about her next steps, she smiled sheepishly: “Honestly… I think I’ll just… pace myself. Maybe.”

Experts warn that the consumption of six Biscoff eggs in one sitting, while delicious, may lead to temporary bliss followed by intense self-reflection, and perhaps a second trip to Night ‘n Day.

More to come.

The post Local Woman Who Said She’d Have One Biscoff Egg Ends Up Polishing Off The Lot appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

SWEET INVESTMENTS

For 35-year-old Jarrod Marshall, the glory days of his childhood were measured in 5-cent coins carefully saved up to buy a $1 lolly bag from Night ‘n Day Tahunanui in Nelson.

“I tell people all the time, those were the glory days,” Jarrod says, eyes misting over as he recalls his childhood afternoons. “I’d collect 5-cent coins from under the couch and the odd bit of pocket money from mowing the neighbours lawns.. And then I’d take them all down to Night ‘n Day and put them together to buy a $1 bag of lollies. Pure gold.”

Even now, over two decades later, Jarrod makes it a point to stop by Night ‘n Day Tahunanui whenever he’s in the area. 

“They’ve still got the magic touch,” he says, surveying the brightly lit aisles. “Fantastic. Reliable as ever. You know exactly what you’re getting, quality lollies, good vibes, bang for buck.”

Jarrod credits Night ‘n Day not just for their lollies, but for cultivating a sense of trust and nostalgia. 

“Back then, I was ten years old, learning the power of small savings. Today, I’m 35, and the lessons are the same. I can count on Night ‘n Day to deliver every time. Some things never change, and that’s the real investment.”

More to come.

The post Lolly Bag Remembered As Greatest Investment Of Childhood Money appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Benji Davies isn’t the type of person who is usually organised in his life. 

But that perception went out the window this afternoon, as the 27 year-old purchased a 750ml Mountain Blast blue Powerade from Night ‘n Day Hagley, in anticipation of being viciously hungover tomorrow morning. 

Our reporters were with Davies while was at the checkout.

“Gidday guys, yeah there’s no doubt I’ll be needing this haha. Got a get together with some of my old mates from school. It will be hard to take it easy. Nothing like seeing the lads!” grinned Davies knowing very well that he’s going to consume multiple alcoholic beverages into the early hours of the morning, resulting in a bone cracking hangover.

“Gonna be great to have this by my bedside for once when I wake though. I’m sure after the first few sips the taste will come back. Presuming my mouth will be dryer than the Sahara desert haha.”

Davies’ girlfriend Tara Evans was equally impressed with Benji’s premature Powerade purchase.

“Honestly it’s good to see him do something that’ll help him for once in his life, even if it is just alleviating a violent hangover.” 

“Usually, he wakes up and stumbles down the hallway to the bathroom where he runs the tap and just tries to cup handfuls of water into his mouth,” Evans explained, having seen Benji at his absolute worst multiple times. 

As reporters wrapped up, Davies was seen doubling back down the aisle.

“Actually, might grab some Panadol too,” he called out. “Night ’n Day’s got everything, don’t they? Might as well make the most of it.”

Davies later thanked the store staff on his way out, saying it was “good to know someone’s always got your back, even when you don’t.”

More to come.

The post Local Bloke Leans Into Tomorrow’s Hangover With Pre-Purchased Blue Powerade appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

LIFE SAVED

Wellington-based carpenter Miles Randall, 33, arrived at work with a full stomach and a full heart this morning. This was despite suffering a medium-grade hangover, which he has justified under the umbrella of “the silly season”.

Randall woke suddenly after what he described as “a fun but deeply unnecessary” midweek evening with a couple of clients, followed by a sleep so disturbed he claims he “aged five years”. The culprit, according to him, was five pints of craft beer and a sixth that “appeared out of nowhere”.

But just when life felt bleak, the convenience store chain Night ‘n Day on Cuba Street came to the rescue, its pie warmer glowing like a beacon of hope inside the otherwise cold Wellington morning.

“As soon as I saw that pie warmer, I felt something inside me heal,” Randall said, still visibly moved by the experience. “I wrapped my hands around a mince and cheese, and the heat filtered straight down into my soul. It was like being forgiven.”

The tradie says the journey from hating his own existence to actually looking forward to arriving at the job site took roughly three bites.

“You wouldn’t think a pie can change your outlook on life,” he said, “but that’s because you haven’t been hungover, cold, and spiritually lost outside a Night ‘n Day at 7am.”

Randall says he relies on the chain more than he relies on most people in his life.

“How good is Night n Day though? Honestly. I love a bakery or a dairy, but they have a bad habit of being closed right when you need them. Night ‘n Day? Always open. Always stocked. Always ready to catch you when you fall.”

After polishing off a cheeky lasagne topper “for balance”, Randall climbed back into his ute feeling like a new man.

“I’ll still say I’m never drinking again,” he admitted, “but at least I know Night ‘n Day will be there for me when I inevitably do.”

More to come. 

The post Night ’n Day Pie Warms Both Hands And Soul Of Hungover Tradie appeared first on The Whakataki Times.