Article Three of The COVID Files follows the documentary trail behind New Zealand’s extraordinary pandemic powers. The Epidemic Notice was renewed ten times as circumstances, scientific knowledge and available evidence changed. This investigation asks what justified each continuation, how testing and vaccination requirements were assessed, whether their consequences were adequately monitored, and when the evidence ceased to support…

Dr Guy Hatchard examines new emergency department data showing a sharp rise in patient numbers and serious presentations across New Zealand. He argues the deterioration accelerated after 2021 and challenges claims that increased funding and staffing alone can resolve the crisis. Linking the trend to Covid vaccination and wider biotechnology, Hatchard calls for a fundamental reassessment of health policy and greater emphasis on diet, exercise…

New Zealand’s political parties broadly agree the country needs substantially more electricity and that households need relief from rising power costs. The real election argument is over who should finance new generation, how much control the major electricity companies should retain, and whether household solar can finally give consumers meaningful power of their own Power has become more than another election policy. It sits underneath…

With New Zealand voting under MMP on November 7, Andy Loader argues that centre-right voters should think strategically about their two votes. Challenging calls from Christopher Luxon and John Key to give both votes to National, Loader contends that voters should back National electorate candidates while giving their party vote to ACT or NZ First, arguing that securing a centre-right parliamentary majority must come before protecting individual…

Labour says its 2026 election promises are fully funded and independently reviewed. But New Zealand enters the election with weak productivity, rising debt, a falling dollar, high living costs and an economy dangerously exposed to imported energy and geopolitical shocks. Report by eLocal · Labour says its election programme is paid for. · Its fiscal plan contains about $24.5 billion of spending over five years, partly funded through almost $11…

What if the greatest transfer of wealth in New Zealand's history required neither invasion nor the outright sale of the country's assets? What if its citizens retained ownership on paper while gradually losing the authority to determine how their land, water, minerals, forests and infrastructure were used? Imagine, for a moment, that you were writing a political thriller. Your fictional objective is the acquisition of a prosperous island…

Who won, who struggled, and who gave voters a reason to back them? · Duncan Garner goes LIVE from 8pm Tuesday 6 October with reaction and analysis following the TVNZ leaders’ debate between Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins. · Joining Duncan are Ani O’Brien and former Labour minister Stuart Nash to unpack the biggest clashes, strongest answers and unanswered questions. · Who made the stronger case on the economy and cost of living? Who stood…

As part of Election 2026 coverage, Bob McCoskrie sits down with NZ First leader Winston Peters for an extended interview covering social conservatism, wokeness, gender ideology, conversion therapy laws, abortion, euthanasia, anti-smacking laws, prostitution, a proposed social media ban, immigration, multiculturalism, strategic voting, further COVID-19 inquiries, Labour and post-election negotiations, and the momentous 2017 decision. It’s a…

Discover European comfort made for real life with Josef Seibel at Halliwell Shoes. With German shoemaking heritage dating back to 1886, the collection combines quality craftsmanship, modern styling and everyday comfort. Explore versatile men’s and ladies’ styles, including extra-wide fittings and larger sizes, with features such as quality leather, removable footbeds and lightweight, flexible soles. Visit Halliwell Shoes in Pukekohe and let the…

Finding quality menswear shouldn't mean travelling into the city. At Lewis’ Mens Fashion in Pukekohe, men from across Southern Auckland can find clothing, footwear and accessories for work, weekends, special occasions and everyday life, all under one roof For men who appreciate good clothing, the difference is often in the details. · The right shirt. A well-cut jacket. Boots that are made to last. Smart casual clothing that looks good without…

Discover retirement with more time for what matters at Acacia Cove Village. For resident Jill, village life has brought new friendships, activities close at hand, freedom from home maintenance and the reassurance of a safe and secure community. With independently owned Acacia Cove able to make decisions locally, residents can spend less time worrying about everyday responsibilities and more time enjoying the people, activities and experiences…

Estonia is moving combat forces closer to its Russian border while acquiring long-range missile systems capable of striking targets hundreds of kilometres inside Russia. The change forms part of a new "active defence" strategy intended to confront a Russian attack immediately rather than surrender territory while waiting for NATO reinforcements INR Report: Based on reporting by the Financial Times, RT and official Estonian defence sources. ·…

Fighting intensifies in Yemen as Saudi-backed government forces push to reclaim Houthi-held territory and secure the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. We examine the Houthis’ rise from a religious movement to a regional power. The Kremlin dismisses reports of a supposed plague outbreak in eastern Russia as “false information.” Meanwhile, Malian troops, backed by Russia’s Africa Corps, retake the strategic northern city of Kidal from separatist…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Ukrainian membership of NATO is "not on the table" as Washington concentrates on ending the war. But the apparent closing of one potential route towards direct NATO-Russia confrontation comes as another flashpoint is emerging around Kaliningrad, where Moscow has warned that any attempt to isolate the Russian exclave could provoke an extreme military response. INR Report: Based on reporting by RT HERE, with…

Thousands of sexual offences involving children have been reported at or near schools in England and Wales, with police recording at least 8,500 offences against children aged 12 and under between 2021 and 2025. The figures expose not only the scale of alleged abuse, but a difficult safeguarding problem in which many identified alleged offenders are themselves children INR Report: Based on reporting by The Guardian and RT. · Police recorded an…

WikiLeaks transformed the relationship between governments, whistleblowers and the public by publishing primary-source documents on wars, surveillance, diplomacy and intelligence operations. Twenty years later, its legacy is inseparable from Julian Assange's prosecution and a question democracies have still not resolved: when classified information exposes wrongdoing, who should be punished, those who reveal it or those responsible for what it…

One of Russia’s most prominent foreign-policy strategists says nuclear deterrence has lost credibility and must be restored by convincing European governments that Moscow is genuinely prepared to use its arsenal. His argument exposes a much larger danger: Russia and NATO increasingly appear to be relying on the same proposition, that peace depends upon convincing the other side that nuclear retaliation is credible INR Report: Based on an…

The death of British financial whistleblower Simon Andriesz has prompted demands for an independent examination of how Britain's Financial Conduct Authority treated him during a years-long battle over alleged misconduct at his former employer. His death also comes after he helped uncover previously undisclosed business dealings involving Jeffrey Epstein and current US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, although Andriesz's family says there is…

The arrest of former German intelligence chief August Hanning has opened an extraordinary investigation into how highly classified information allegedly continued flowing to one of Germany's most senior former security officials years after he left government. The case also intersects with a separate kidnapping investigation involving private intelligence operators and former Israeli security officials, although those allegations remain…

Discover space, privacy and versatility on an impressive 3,372 sqm section in Paerata. Recently refurbished, this three-bedroom home offers comfortable family living, while substantial shedding and workshop space provides exceptional room for vehicles, storage, trades or hobbies. Surrounded by established greenery, yet around three minutes from Paerata Train Station with easy access to Pukekohe and the Drury motorway, it combines lifestyle…

Generous family living meets a peaceful Karaka setting in this substantial five-bedroom home. Spread across two levels, it offers a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living hub, flexible ground-floor fifth bedroom, multiple outdoor entertaining areas and attractive water views. The master suite includes a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, while double internal-access garaging, easy-care grounds and convenient motorway access complete this…

Set in a sought-after Pukekohe location within the Valley School zone, this substantial 250sqm family home offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two generous living areas on approximately 780sqm. Designed for easy entertaining, it features expansive decking, a swim spa and excellent indoor-outdoor flow. A home office, double garage, solar and battery system and EV charger add everyday practicality and impressive energy efficiency to this…

Privately positioned amid beautifully landscaped grounds, this substantial residence delivers relaxed luxury and exceptional space for family living. Three bedrooms, a dedicated office and three versatile living areas flow to expansive outdoor entertaining, manicured gardens and a stunning in-ground pool. With generous garaging, ample parking and a private resort-style setting, this is a home designed for entertaining, unwinding and enjoying…

Tucked away in a quiet Pukekohe cul-de-sac, this beautifully presented four-bedroom home offers relaxed, low-maintenance living with plenty of space for the family. Open-plan kitchen, dining and living flow effortlessly to a sunny deck and private easy-care grounds, perfect for entertaining or unwinding. With a master ensuite, family bathroom, double internal-access garage and Tamaoho School zoning, everything is in place to simply move in and…