Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Not too long ago, General Motors (GM) revealed the first of its three Corvette concepts – a pristine white beauty with gull-wing doors – designed by its UK design team. Now, just a couple of months later, out comes the second concept, and it comes from GM’s Advanced Design studios in Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. This one sports bold red accenting and features a detachable cockpit, a single-piece canopy, and front hinges. This…

It's well established that obesity significantly increases your risk of many types of cancer, but a decade-long study has uncovered that there are specific dietary fat drivers that promote tumor growth – and others that don't. In this landmark study, scientists found that animal fats – butter, lard and beef tallow – impair the immune system's response to tumors, while plant-based fats like palm, coconut and olive oils do not. Researchers at…

After NZ First leapfrogged Act last month in a Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll — which led to much media excitement about the party’s rising fortunes — it seemed odd for Winston Peters to be quite so tetchy with journalists seeking his opinion on David Seymour’s views on karakia, traditional Māori prayers or incantations used to open or bless events, buildings, or gatherings. Asked about the Act leader’s criticism of the use of karakia in “the…

Microplastics break off from a wide range of plastic objects in the home with day-to-day use, as well as from synthetic materials in our cars Research out of the University of Toulouse, France, has revealed that we're probably harming our lungs a lot more than we knew. Every day, we're inhaling teeny tiny bits of plastic that are smaller than a speck of dust without even leaving the house – and the findings show the amount is 100 times…

All great literature, in poetry and prose, is part of the great conversation which has animated Western civilization for almost three thousand years. Anything purporting to be literature which owes nothing to this great conversation is rootless and meaningless. It is not worth reading because it was not worth writing. It has nothing to say. Joseph, thank you for accepting my invitation to talk about literature. I would like to start with…

Golden milk – the ultimate Ayurvedic drink made with turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and other spices – is caffeine-free, warming and delicious. I’ve used the same flavours in this recipe, which makes the perfect weekend treat. You can make the golden milk mixture up to three days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Fresh raspberries work well instead of figs. INGREDIENTS For the golden milk - 1 x 400ml tin of…

The dream of the ancient alchemists may come true as Marathon Fusion announces that its tokamak fusion reactor technology can turn common mercury into gold as a byproduct of fusion operations in quantities that would make Auric Goldfinger blush. Since the days of the ancient Greeks, practitioners of alchemy pursued the goal of learning how to make the fabled Philosopher's Stone that would allow them to turn base metals like lead, tin, iron,…

In a country that exports 98 percent of its dairy, New Zealanders are paying $8.60 for a 500g block of butter. That’s nearly double the price just 14 months ago, and three times what it cost in 2015. Economists say the price hike is due to surging global demand and shrinking supply. Butter prices on Fonterra’s Global Dairy Trade platform rose 74 percent between August 2023 and May 2025. Droughts, regulation, high energy costs, and even a…

Across civilizations, few ancient statues survive the passage of time unscathed. Some sculptures lose their arms and others their head, yet a surprising number are missing just a nose. While this defacement is sometimes due to accidental damage, it’s more often the result of natural processes or deliberate destruction. Why would people deliberately remove statues’ noses? In many ancient cultures, statues weren’t just art—they held spiritual…

This is a must-try dessert. It is beautifully spiced and the filling has a velvety texture that melts in your mouth. It is lighter yet creamier than its pumpkin cousin, with a heavy dose of vanilla and subtle spices. Beyond tasting better, sweet potato pie is easier to bake. It doesn’t require cooking the filling, as the sweet potatoes are fully baked in advance, and the pie crust doesn’t require blind baking.  Additionally, the…

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more ? They called us fringe. Dangerous. Irresponsible. But we were right about saturated fat. For decades, defending saturated fat was considered scientific heresy. Suggesting that butter might be better than margarine—or that full-fat cheese wouldn’t clog your arteries—was enough to get you labelled as fringe, irresponsible, even dangerous. I should know. I was there. Catalyst controversy In 2013,…

When you crunch into an apple, take a scoop out of a melon, or pop a grape into your mouth, you know that you’re doing something good for your health. Not only are they crisp, sweet and refreshing, but these fruits are full to the brim with vitamins, polyphenols and antioxidants that quietly keep our bodies running efficiently – powering our immune system, offering a helping hand to our brain and hearts, and rewarding us with glowing skin. …

New Zealand’s highest court is now deliberating on a landmark case that could dramatically reshape the way Kiwis work, and how businesses operate. The Supreme Court has heard the appeal from Uber, following the Court of Appeal’s decision in Rasier Operations BV v E Tū Inc [2024] NZCA 403, which confirmed a contentious Employment Court ruling that Uber drivers are employees, not independent contractors. This appeal is no minor matter. Its…

From the fiery chipotle to the sweet veg and creamy feta, prepare for a fantastic mix of big umami flavours You can mix and match ingredients to suit in this delicious. It’s delicious however you serve it. Ingredients For the marinated chicken - 500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs - ½ medium red onion, roughly chopped - 3 garlic cloves, grated - 2½ tbsp chipotle paste - 2 tbsp olive oil - 2½ tsp ground cumin - 2 tsp dried oregano -…

Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming resigned in May after investigators allegedly showed him child sex exploitation and bestiality material found on his work devices. Broadcaster Michael Laws noted that Linda Clark, a board member of TVNZ and a former political editor, acted as McSkimming’s lawyer and was behind the push to seek a rare “super injunction” that hid not only the material and McSkimming’s name, but also the existence of…

After over 21 months of live-streamed killings in Gaza that leading experts have unanimously called a genocide, even European politicians had begun to feebly question Israel’s inhumane offensive. However, Israel’s ‘pre-emptive’ strikes on Iran last month, which led to a 12-day war, tautly pulled European politicians back into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s embrace. Rehearsed statements about European values and Israel’s ‘right to exist’…

A by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau could lead to Labour gaining an extra seat in Parliament, not by winning more votes, but because of a strange rule in New Zealand’s MMP system. Te Pāti Māori currently holds the seat after a narrow win in 2023, but it is one of two “overhang” seats. That means the party won more electorates than its share of the party vote should allow. If Labour’s Peeni Henare, a list MP who lost by just 42 votes last time,…

New Zealand house prices remained steady in June, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), with median prices up just 0.6 percent from May and flat compared to a year earlier. Buyers are holding off for better deals, pushing listings up and sales down. Sales volumes fell nearly 5 percent from May but were up 14.8 percent on June last year. REINZ CEO Lizzy Ryley said the market showed signs of stability, with most…

A bold new plan from former Finance Minister Sir Roger Douglas and economist Robert MacCulloch would flip the tax system on its head to avoid what they call a slow motion car crash for New Zealand’s economy. Instead of paying income tax on your first $60,000, that money would go into personal savings accounts to cover your healthcare, retirement, and emergency costs. You would save around $21,000 a year, split between health, pension, and risk…