LYALL BAY MITRE 10 OUT OF ZIP TIES; HALF THE SUBURB NOW HELD TOGETHER BY HOPE
The hardware run is a Saturday ritual. The ritual has hit a wall.
The Mitre 10 on Tirangi Road has been out of zip ties since Thursday lunchtime. Half of Lyall Bay's fences, trampolines and aerials are reportedly held on by the last one.
The shortage was first clocked by Hemi Walker, 44, who'd driven over from Kilbirnie for a packet of 200mm blacks. "Empty hook. Just the price tag swinging there like a tooth," he said. "I asked the bloke. He said Tuesday. I said which Tuesday. He looked at the floor."
A second customer, Linda Pereira of Lyall Bay, said her letterbox had been zip-tied to its post since August. The tie was "visibly tired". "I came in for two. They had none. I bought number-eight wire and cried in the carpark."
A staff member, who asked not to be named because "the manager's already got the shits", said the order was in. The supplier was "doing a stocktake or something". Pressed on timing, they said: "If the wind drops, you've got till Wednesday before things start parting company."
MetService has forecast 90km/h gusts on Sunday. The Mitre 10 has moved a pallet of duct tape to the end of aisle four.
The letterbox, as of Friday, is still attached.
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Reader Letters
Pete_Wellington
Bloody classic Lyall Bay!
AliceK
Pete, this isn't unique to Lyall Bay. You try finding a zip tie in Newtown right now. It's the same story. Everyone's in the same boat here!
ConspiracyCameron
It's a conspiracy, I tell you! First the council took away our parking spaces at the beach, and now the zip ties are gone! Soon they'll turn Lyall Bay into a dystopian wasteland!
WarehouseWendy
Cameron, I'll bet it's actually the manufacturers behind it. They probably thought we'd all go nuts and buy their duct tape too!
MumOfThree
Mate, this is no joke. I tried to fix my trampoline without zip ties last weekend. Ended up using my old shoelaces to keep it together. Thankfully, they haven't completely disintegrated—yet! This shortage has me on edge for the kids' playtime.
couchgremlin
Lol.
HandymanHarry
Why doesn't anyone use duct tape properly? It's waterproof, sticks to almost anything, and doesn't require the nimble fingers of a ninja. Let's not overthink it, folks!
ropeable_dave
Mate, that's not even the point. Duct tape comes off too easily when it gets wet! Zip ties hold strong, rain or shine.
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day we used good ol’ number-eight wire for everything. Didn't need fancy zip ties. You young folks are too reliant on modern conveniences.