All articles

*By the Editor – elocal magazine - Photo Dave Mills* Across Auckland, homeowners are opening their insurance renewal letters only to find shocking premium increases — not because their properties have suddenly sunk, but because a bureaucratic map now says they sit on a “flood plain.” It’s a growing problem created not by nature, but by policy. The latest victim is long-time Pukekohe resident Dave Mills, whose property on Buckland Road has…

After 38 proud years gracing New Zealand’s skies, one of the nation’s most cherished warbirds is preparing to embark on a new chapter. The iconic Douglas DC-3 “Betsy” (ZK-DAK)—a symbol of aviation’s golden age and a living link to our wartime heritage—is set to leave New Zealand for Darwin, Australia, marking the end of an extraordinary era. A Last Hurrah Before the Journey North! Before she departs, Fly DC-3 NZ and the NZ Warbirds…

Iron is an essential mineral for your body. Iron is needed to produce red blood cells, which are important for: A healthy immune system Mental function Muscle strength and energy In red blood cells, iron forms part of a protein called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin transports oxygen through your blood. It carries oxygen from your lungs to all the cells in your body so they can work properly. Your body can't make iron, so you…

Supporters say Tory Whanau’s treatment shows sexism still shapes New Zealand politics. Critics say her downfall was due to chaos and poor leadership, not misogyny. The left calls out structural hostility toward women, while the right sees victimhood used as a shield. You have to decide on your own “truth” along the empathy/accountability line. A victim or a failed leader Tory Whanau’s political downfall has exposed a divide in how New…

In 1990, a British Airways pilot was sucked out of a cockpit window mid-flight. He spent 20 minutes partially dangling out of the plane as the flight crew held his ankles. Miraculously, the co-pilot plane landed and the pilot survived. British Airways Flight 5390 took off without a hitch on June 10, 1990. But just 13 minutes into the flight from Birmingham, England, to Malaga, Spain, disaster struck. In an instant, a windscreen panel blew…

On the remote Yamal and Gydan peninsulas of western Siberia, the landscape is marked by massive craters that look as though the Earth has blown holes in itself. While the origin story of these gas-emission craters (GECs) has remained somewhat of a mystery since the first one was discovered back in 2014, scientists now believe they know what's causing them. These fascinating GECs – all rocky cylinders plunging as deep as 164 m (538 ft) and…

Large weight swings or weight loss in later life aren’t just physical health risks, they’re tied to fast memory and cognitive decline, a new study has found. It underscores the importance of weight stability for brain health in older adults. As we move through life, we’re told to maintain a healthy weight to address the risk factors for so many conditions, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. But what effect does losing…

A new report from the US Department of Energy is challenging climate orthodoxy, drawing condemnation from activist scientists. However, Professor John Raine argues it brings long-overdue balance to the debate. According to Raine, the report “offers strong and reasoned counterfactuals to the climate catastrophising”, including IPCC assumptions regarding the extent of warming caused by human greenhouse gas emissions. “It is not possible to tell…

This is such a nice way to serve tomatoes whether they’re the best of the haul from the veg patch or a slightly poor supermarket imitation. You’ll roast them whole, slowly, on a low heat with olive oil, thyme, fennel seeds and salt. Then when they are on the verge of losing their shape, you’ll pour cream in the base of the tin and scatter over plenty of grated Parmesan. The result is a very fragrant, absurdly delicious thing which you can have…

Open Letter To the Hon. Winston Peters, Party Leader and NZ Foreign Minister, and NZ First MPs Dear Winston Peters and NZ First MPs I understand the Health Select Committee is due to report on the Gene Technology Bill in the next few days. It appears that there have been vested interests lobbying NZ First to support the Bill. It is entirely premature to vote ‘yes’ to gene technology deregulation prior to the report of the Royal Commission on…

<figure><img src="https://static.voicemedia.global/storage/channels/08bfb160-f8a1-462b-8454-0977ca140d17/" data-image="8hxs82g9o0ij"></figure> If you're hoping that we can avoid the attention of alien civilizations by lying low, it's a bit late now. A new study released by the Royal Astronomical Society indicates that our radar systems are already screaming our location to ET eavesdroppers. The question that keeps cropping up in SETI circles…

New research has identified the mechanism by which air pollution damages the lungs’ self-cleaning system, leaving us vulnerable to infection. In doing so, it has also identified a way to reverse that damage and restore lung function. We already know that exposure to air pollution is bad for us, and it’s particularly damaging for our lungs. However, what happens at the molecular level to cause that lung damage hasn’t been well known until now. …

National minister Chris Bishop has apologised for his outburst at the NZ taxpayer-funded Aotearoa Music Awards. However, Bishop stood by the substance of his comment labelling Stan Walker’s performance “a load of crap”, a reference, he said, not to the music itself but to the overt political symbolism on stage. His remark came during a segment featuring tino rangatiratanga flags, and banners linked to Te Pāti Māori, promoting Māori…

Budget 2025 has drawn a muted response from the public, with a Talbot Mills Research poll showing more New Zealanders think it will hurt rather than help. However, business leaders and even opposition MPs have welcomed the new investment tax break. According to the poll, 33% said the Budget would be bad for New Zealand, while 22% said it would be good. Asked about personal impact, just 9% felt it would benefit them. Talbot Mills described…

New Zealand has joined 23 countries – including the UK, France and Canada – in demanding that Israel immediately allow foreign aid into Gaza, as warnings mount of a humanitarian catastrophe. Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ’s Morning Report that the blockade had become “intolerable” and that Israel had gone “far too far” in its response to Hamas terrorism. “We’ve had enough of this and we want the matter resolved—and now,” Peters…

For businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis 2025 Budget’s headline policy is a new tax incentive that allows them to write off 20 percent of new asset purchases, such as equipment or tools, against their tax bill. The Budget also includes large savings from the recent changes to pay equity rules. The government’s move to make it harder to pursue industrial pay equity claims is expected to save nearly $3 billion per year. From April next…

Mexico has sued Google for changing the Gulf of Mexico’s name to Gulf of America for Google Maps users in the United States. Announcing the legal challenge, Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president, said: “The lawsuit has already been filed,” without saying where and when it was submitted. The move comes after Donald Trump instructed the US Board on Geographic Names to change the gulf’s name within hours of taking office, after arguing that…

On April 29th, 1881, the steamer Tararua, en route from Port Chalmers to Melbourne, struck a reef at Waipapa Point, Southland. Of the 151 passengers and crew on board, 131 were lost, including 12 women and 14 children. The Tararua grounded only about a kilometre from shore, but would-be rescuers could not reach the stricken vessel because of high seas. Most of those who perished were washed overboard and drowned. The Court of Inquiry into the…

The US Space Force has a contract worth up to US$60 million to develop and fly a kind-of aircraft carrier in space. No, it's not the result of a major typo. It's intended as a way to station space vehicles to quickly counter orbital threats. During the last century, as wars raged on the surface of the Earth, space was seen as something of a sanctuary – a safe haven free of conflict. Even during the Cold War and the Space Race, weaponry in…

Earlier this week marked five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Immunologist and Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, AC, who is also patron of the medical research institute that bears his name, spoke to 360info Senior Commissioning Editor Suzannah Lyons about attitudes towards public health today, how we best prepare for the next pandemic and the still great potential in medical research. You've been…